I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

"Phil" <x...@y.com> wrote in message news:hb2fi8$rmd$1...@aioe.org...
>I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
> When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly 
> for
> only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs 
> more
> than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
> I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does 
> get
> fuel to the engine.
>
> Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
> It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. 
> Maybe
> some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a 
> new
> bad batch.
>
> Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
> would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
> away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove 
> the
> air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
> Thanks for any ideas.

I think you answered your own questions.  Ran out of gas, sucked up dirt, 
now it won't suck gas.  The primer bulb is a seperate gas circuit, it'll 
never blow the dirt out.  Pull the fuel bowl, check the jets for dirt, 
carefully blow it out without damaging the float, and it will probably start 
working OK.  You may want to do the fuel tank while you're at it.

HTH, Lefty

On Oct 13, 2:05=A0pm, Phil  wrote:
> I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing=
.
> When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly=
 for
> only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs =
more
> than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
> I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does =
get
> fuel to the engine.
>
> Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
> It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. M=
aybe
> some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a=
 new
> bad batch.
>
> Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
> would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on i=
t
> away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove=
 the
> air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
> Thanks for any ideas.

Sounds like it is not getting gas.  Somewhere a line is broken or
clogged.  Primer bulbs usually have their own line into the tank.

On Oct 13, 11:05=A0am, Phil  wrote:
> I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing=
.
> When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly=
 for
> only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs =
more
> than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
> I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does =
get
> fuel to the engine.
>
> Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
> It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. M=
aybe
> some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a=
 new
> bad batch.
>
> Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
> would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on i=
t
> away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove=
 the
> air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
> Thanks for any ideas.

I just had a similar problem with my 30 year old King-O-Lawn front
throw.


I empty the gas tank as best as I could, filled it up completely with
fresh gas,  noted the idle (or maybe it was the mixture screw(?)
position)
unscrewed a couple turn, a couple pulls & it was trying to start. Re-
set screw position and it started & ran fine.


no trip to the lawnmower shop

cheers
Bob

Lately mowers do not come with fuel filters. This clogs the carburetor!

Install a fuel filter if you do not have one and clean the carburetor.


"Phil"  wrote in message
>I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
> When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly 
> for
> only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs 
> more
> than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
> I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does 
> get
> fuel to the engine.
>
> Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
> It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. 
> Maybe
> some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a 
> new
> bad batch.
>
> Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
> would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
> away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove 
> the
> air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
> Thanks for any ideas. 

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:05:55 -0400, Phil <x...@y.com> wrote:

>I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
>When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
>only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
>than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
>I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
>fuel to the engine.
>
>Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
>It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
>some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
>bad batch.
>
>Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
>would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
>away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
>air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
>Thanks for any ideas.

Might have water in the gas. 

Just enough time to cut 5 acres.

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:05:55 -0400, Phil <x...@y.com> wrote:

>I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
>When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
>only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
>than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
>I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
>fuel to the engine.
>
>Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
>It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
>some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
>bad batch.
>
>Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
>would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
>away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
>air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
>Thanks for any ideas.


A dirty filter won't help.  Use fresh gasoline.  Blow out the gas
lines, clean tank.  Check spark plug/gap.  Do a cleanup with
kerosene/toothbrush.  I'd avoid physical messing with the carburator,
maybe carb cleaner spray will help.

On Oct 13, 2:05=A0pm, Phil  wrote:
> I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing=
.
> When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly=
 for
> only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs =
more
> than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.
>
> I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does =
get
> fuel to the engine.
>
> Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine
>
> It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. M=
aybe
> some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a=
 new
> bad batch.
>
> Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
> would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on i=
t
> away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove=
 the
> air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)
>
> Thanks for any ideas.

Ideas on what?  You have the perfect situation.  Wife asks, "Did you
mow the lawn?" and you say, "I did as much as I could.  Are you going
to the store?  Get some beer.  Thanks."

R

Try primer 2 times, instead of 10. You're likely flooding 
the engine badly. Unscrew the spark plug, and pull the rope 
a couple times, and then try two pushes on the primer.

I'm remembering a boy I knew years ago. Had one of those 
little micro tiny scooters. He primed it about a dozen 
times, and when it wouldn't start, would prime it a couple 
dozen more times. No matter how much I talked at him,  he'd 
be pushing and pushing the primer. I finally quit and left 
him to his futile efforts.

-- 
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
  www.lds.org
.


"Phil" <x...@y.com> wrote in message 
news:hb2fi8$rmd$1...@aioe.org...
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few 
times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower 
runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. 
It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the 
primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have 
this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as 
before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, 
then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement 
to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or 
else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.