Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): B & S wont start, broken bolt, heli coil

Question
QUESTION: I have had a lawn mower for about 10 years and it has served me well. i have been unemployed for quite awhile so cannot afford to take it to a repair shop.  It is a B & S engine with 3.5 HP and 20 ". Ace is the manufacturer. Model 95902;  Type 3107  01;  Code 93031605.  Two years ago, I tried to prime it and the "balloon" did not seem to have much backpressure. I bought a new diaphragm and it worked well after I installed it. This year it takes many pulls on the cord to start it. I cut the grass and the mower ran out of gas. I refilled the tank and pull the cord to start it but it would not pull at all. I lifted the mower up and moved the blade and the cord was still stuck or not pulling.   I did fix this as I took apart the starter assembly, pulley, spring and rope and reinstalled them.  It works fine now.  I had trouble putting the spring and rope back on and asked a guy at a mower repair shop and he said the mower had good compression.

However, it still will not start.  I got the carburetor and air filter and diaphragm all cleaned out.and put back together.  I checked the plug by taking it out and putting it close to the shroud and it had a blue spark.  When I put the bolt with the one inch spacer on the gas tank carburetor assembly, I turned it 2 or 3 times with a ratchet socket and not that hard and I heard a pop. Now the bolt will not tighten.  I took the bolt out and there was on and a half spirals of thread from inside the engine so it will not thread back on.  What should I do? I did try to start it 30 times or so and it "coughed" a tad but would not start.  I know the carburetor is clean.

Thanks for helping,
GB

ANSWER: For the broken bolt you will need to install a Helicoil.  Most likely you will need the 1/4 inch 20 kit.

http://www.bing.com/shopping/helicoil-5521-4-thread-repair-kit-1-4-20/p/CBE84AAC

Once the bolt is fixed I would try starting the mower by priming with fresh fuel, less than 30 days old.  I use a really small squirt bottle for priming.

If it tries to start by priming then you know you have a fuel related problem.  If it does not start I would start with a new plug.

Eric

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Eric,

I got the bolt back in.  I bought a new plug.  Even before i wrote you, I cleaned out the gas tank with gasoline and put new fuel in.  The engine will still not start.  I  even had a friend pull the cord and I stood on the mower and it would not start or sputter.  What next?

ANSWER: Did you try starting the mower by priming with gas squirted directly in the carburetor or spark plug hole?

Need to determine if it is a fuel problem or something else.

Eric

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Eric,

Thanks for the answer.  Whenever I push the primer bulb, the gas squirts into the carburetor.  I thought about squirting gas in but it already squirts in.  I did not squirt gas into the spark plug hole.  The mower is at a  friend's house.  I am using his mower to cut the grass so I dropped mine at his place.  Should I still squirt gas into the spark plug hole even if it already goes into the carburetor?

Answer
You can squirt some fuel into the spark plug hole and will not have to squirt fuel into the carb.  The point of using the spark plug hole is to make sure the intake tube is not leaking.

Did you check the see if the fuel in the mower will burn?  We usually dip a screwdriver in the tank to get it wet.  Remove and move from mower then try lighting with a lighter.  If the fuel will not light it will not burn in the engine.

Eric