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Lockedlawnmower stalling

posted on November 11, 2009 at 11:27AM Inappropriate?

my craftsman lawnmower starts then surges and stalls any suggestions

replies: 24 latest post: July 06, 2010 at 10:54PM by flipper99
Displaying posts 1 - 20 of 24 in total
posted on November 11, 2009 at 05:10PM
 

Are you using fresh gasoline? Did you change the oil and air filter this season? Have you checked the spark plug?

posted on November 15, 2009 at 04:22PM
 

My Craftsman model 917.388910 mower stalls out after it warms up.  I have to wait until it cools down and it will start again and run for a couple of minutes before it stalls again. This cycle continues.  I have changed the air filter, oil, and spark plug.  I have tried different batches of gasoline.  Is there an exhaust valve that needs to be cleaned/replaced?

posted on November 15, 2009 at 10:45PM
 
In response to EdwardMc's post from November 15 2009 04:22PM

Sounds like a vacuum in the gas tank caused by the gas cap breather being clogged. Loosen the gas cap next time.

posted on November 15, 2009 at 11:19PM
 

Three things for an engine to run: spark, combustion and fuel. You certainly ahve 2 of three--spark and combustion. Fuel has two components: gas and air. Mad has covered one possibility, lack of fuel, the other is too much fuel and not enough air. The choke could be hanging up. Pull the plug, if it's dry - no gas go with Mad, if it's wet -go with the choke.

 

Edit: two posters--you need to have changed the air filter first.

posted on November 15, 2009 at 11:57PM
 
In response to Firsttractor's post from November 15 2009 11:19PM

Actually 4 since fuel includes air... spark, compression, gasoline and air. 

posted on April 06, 2010 at 04:25PM
 

my craftman 6.5hp starts ok but only runs at half speed or half power i checked the cable and cleaned carbs need help

posted on April 10, 2010 at 01:58PM
 

Does Sears sell a walk behind mower with a dust blocker type of grass catcher? I've purchased a Honda self propelled, and can not us it. It raises so much dust, I have allergy attacks. I'm only mowing lawn, no dirt!! It must be pulverizing the lawn and sucking up the dirt underneath. I even watered the day before to see if that would make any difference....

I need a mower with a grass catcher designed specifically to stop dust....

posted on April 10, 2010 at 02:21PM
 
In response to Mickey1996's post from April 10 2010 01:58PM

Yes, all of our mowers have a Craftsman dust blocker bag that diverts any dust or dirt down towards your feet and away from your face.

posted on April 10, 2010 at 05:05PM
 
In response to mruby6228's post from April 06 2010 04:25PM

my craftman 6.5hp starts ok but only runs at half speed or half power

No primer? Then the auto choke is hung up.

posted on April 10, 2010 at 05:26PM
 
In response to Mickey1996's post from April 10 2010 01:58PM

Every Craftsman mower's bag is a dust blocker bag. Keep in mind that what this really means is that the dust is directed out the bottom of the bag, rather than out in all directions. This is the same for any brand of mower whose bags claim to block dust.

posted on April 12, 2010 at 02:00PM
 

My craftsman 6.5hp starts runs for a few minutes then it stalls, it only starts after i press the primer botton about 20-30 times, it starts againg, sometimes for a couple of minutes, then it stalls again, i've changed the sparkplug, the oil, the air filter, i don't know what else to do.

posted on April 12, 2010 at 07:41PM
 
In response to diazjos's post from April 12 2010 02:00PM

Loosen the gas cap.

posted on April 30, 2010 at 12:21PM
 

you probably have a needle n seat problem from not usin fuel stablizer pour about four ounces b-12 in tank to clean fuel system w/full tank fuel

posted on April 30, 2010 at 12:26PM
 
In response to madgolfer's post from April 10 2010 05:05PM

govener stuck not letting timing advance,brake cable might be streched not engaging all the way to allow it to work properly

posted on June 21, 2010 at 03:37PM
 

My 917.388910 mower starts up first pull, then dies after just 3 or 4 seconds.  I can keep it running by continually pushing the primer bulb.

It has new air filter, and keeping gas cover loose doesn't help.  It was just tuned up by a local mower mechanic, and ran fine the first use after the tune up.  It went the winter without gas conditioner or tank being drained.

Tanks for any help.

posted on June 21, 2010 at 04:09PM
 

You may have developed a little rust in the tank and now it's in the carb.  Put some fuel stablizer in the tank and start it.  Push the primer to keep it going until it sucks enough stablizer through it to clean it out.  If that doesn't work then you will need to rebuild the carb.

posted on June 27, 2010 at 11:42AM
 

My mod 38518 5.5 hp mower is just 3 weeks old and it has been used 3 times. It runs erratically by surging and then dropping off like it will stall and then surging again and falling back to idle and then surging again and this just goes on while you mow. The surge and fall back is not huge, but you can easily hear and feel it.

 

Is there any adjustment available on the carb?

posted on June 27, 2010 at 01:11PM
 

tmoore, please post your model number so I can take a look at the diagram of your engine.

posted on June 27, 2010 at 10:02PM
 
In response to tmoore52's post from June 27 2010 11:42AM

Hi Tmoore, it's the oil on the airfilter starting to clog the carburetor. Big black circle on the muffler? Clean the airfilter and squirt some wd40 in the carb til it smooths out. Good luck

posted on June 28, 2010 at 07:57AM
 

adam,

 

The model is 247.38518

 

Tim

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