Briggs & Stranton engine won't start on splitter

[Ricko1937]

I just purchased a Huskee 35 ton, 12.5HP B&S engine used but like new condition. The engine was starting just fine on 1st or 2nd pull. I noticed the drain plug on the hydraulic tank was dripping so I jacked up on side to shift the hyd fluid to one side so I could remove the plug without draining the system. After doing that I could not get the engine to start. I have spark and the plug was wet from fuel after checking it. I even tried ether. It just won't start. By tilting the engine did it screww something up. Anyone have this happen to them? Thanks

 

[lone wolf]

I just purchased a Huskee 35 ton, 12.5HP B&S engine used but like new condition. The engine was starting just fine on 1st or 2nd pull. I noticed the drain plug on the hydraulic tank was dripping so I jacked up on side to shift the hyd fluid to one side so I could remove the plug without draining the system. After doing that I could not get the engine to start. I have spark and the plug was wet from fuel after checking it. I even tried ether. It just won't start. By tilting the engine did it screww something up. Anyone have this happen to them? Thanks

Try a new plug if that fails bring the machine in to a heated garage if you can and let it warm up.Does it have spark?

 

[hondaracer2oo4]

No you shouldn't have 'screwed' anything up. Pull the plug like you did and dry it off. While it is out pull over the engine a bunch of times to clear out any fuel that has leaked into the motor from the carb while it was on its side. Confirm that you have spark by attaching the plug to the plug wire and touching it to somewhere on the cylinder head while pulling over. Once you have confirmed that you have spark, reinsert spark plug. Now try pulling the motor over a few times. It should fire. If not try a little bit, I mean a LITTLE bit, of either in through the carb. Try pulling over again. It should atleast pop over a few times. Let us know how that goes.

 

[mga]

check your oil and see if you drained gas into it.

 

[danrclem]

Try a new plug if that fails bring the machine in to a heated garage if you can and let it warm up.Does it have spark?

I agree.

Jacking it up on one side shouldn't hurt it at all.

 

[Ricko1937]

I just replaced the plug before I worked on hyd. leak. Yes I do have spark. I removed plug and attached plug wire to plug and cranked over to see spark. The garage I'm storing splitter in has been around 40 degrees, I don't think anything is froze up.

 

[thenorth]

engine oil has ran into the bore and valves, let it sit for a couple of days it will all drain back down. i would install a new plug.

 

[Ricko1937]

hondaracer, I did exactly what you suggested. I pulled plug, cleaned it, found spark by grounding it while cranking, sprayed one shot of ether in cyl and replaced plug. Got nothing. Something should have fired or sputtered. I'm stumbed.

 

[Ricko1937]

It did sit for 2 days before trying to start last night. I did exactly what hondaracer suggested to do. I can try a new plug but I'm already getting spark. I can't figure out why when I sprayed ether in cyl and replaced plug it didn't try to sputter or fire.

 

[hondaracer2oo4]

thenorth is right that you have had oil run up into the upper end of the motor but that shouldn't keep it from starting. Just will smoke a bit when it gets going burning off that oil. A little bit of either through the carb throat should give you a pop over.

 

[Ricko1937]

thenorth is right that you have had oil run up into the upper end of the motor but that shouldn't keep it from starting. Just will smoke a bit when it gets going burning off that oil. A little bit of either through the carb throat should give you a pop over.

hondaracer, I did try the ether shot in cyl before replacing my cleaned spark plug and got nothing. I can't figure out why it won't at least try to fire with the ether.

 

[dave_dj1]

One thing to keep in mind is that spark plugs today are not built like the old days. The new ones don't seem to take kindly to a cleaning. I would just buy a new plug and try it.
The plug is most likely fouled and may show spark until it's under compression.
Good luck.

 

[EXCALIBER]

When you tipped the splitter it flooded the engine, pull the plug and then pull the cord with the fuel shut off till your tired. Now install new plug and turn fuel on and pull should start I did the same with mine.

 

[Ricko1937]

When you tipped the splitter it flooded the engine, pull the plug and then pull the cord with the fuel shut off till your tired. Now install new plug and turn fuel on and pull should start I did the same with mine.

That is what we just did. I bought a new plug, pulled out the old plug and blew air in cyl. as we rotated engine. Put in new plug and it fired on first pull. Must have been the plug along. Thanks everyone for the info.

 

[lone wolf]

How about the valves are set to tight?If it is an adjustable type setup.

 

[xrayman]

does it have a low oil shut off? check your oil level

 

[ss~zoso~ss]

pull it over a few times without the plug in, may help dry out any "flooded" situation from trying to start, or it may help relocate the oil that may have flowed to where it doesn't belong

 

[4seasons]

Just because a plug will spark while not under compression (i.e. out of the cylinder grounded) does not mean it will fire when installed. Plugs are cheep. When a small engine wont hit a lick put a new plug in first even if the old one will fire laying on top of the head. I spent way more time and trouble on more than one occasion thinking that if the plug would spark out of the cylinder that I was getting fire. Kinda odd feeling of happiness combined with disgust when putting a new plug in solves all the hours of cussing that you were blaming on electronics and carb problems. Don't ask me how many times it took me to figure this out.

 

[firewood guy]

KISS theory

If that motor has low-oil shutdown, and the eng oil level is OK, disconnect the wires to acheive spark. If still no spark, the mag coil should be checked for proper clearance.. if still no spark, coil is bad or flywheel mag is bad . Is the flywheel magnet blue or discolored? Seldom is the problem so simple as a spark plug. Thats the dumbest part of any engine. Maybe ( but VERY rarely) an ignition lead could to be to blame. If you have good spark, most every time a small engine has issues it is the fuel system. (KISS) check the fuel line / filter first, then go after the carb . Most times they don't even need a kit, just disassemble, clean out all the orrifices & jets, check the needle & seat and the float level, Put back together with a clean spark plug and let 'er rip. Just my .02 since we have about 25 small gassers around here and can't afford a mechanic. Whoops thats me...

 

[BrokenToys]

As dumb as this may sound; is there a fuel shutoff ? LOL. By your post and everyone'e elses it sounds like there's something simple that's not right. That or maybe a wire came off? I doubt anything is wrong with the engine.