Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): MOWER WONT START, e3

Question
QUESTION:   I ORIGINALLY ASKED THIS QUESTION TO ERIC BUT HE WAS MAXED OUT AND TOLD ME TO SEND THE QUESTION TO SOMEONE ELSE SO I PICKED AN AMERICAN.I HAVE A MURRAY RIDING MOWERE THAT HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE AND EVERY WINTER I STILL START IT TO KEEP IT LOOSE UNTIL SPRING. IWENT OUT THE OTHER DAY TO START IT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE, IDON'T KNOW WHEN, IT WOULDN'T START. I CHANGED THE OIL AND PLUG AND GAPPED IT RIGHT AND IT STILL WON'T CRANK. SO, I CHECKED IT FOR FIRE AND THAT WAS FINE AND IT'S GETTING FIRE. THIS IS ALL THE NUMBERS I CAN FIND ON THE B& S MOTOR.
MODEL# 285707
TYPE # 1113-E1
CODE # 010912ZE
FAMILY # YBSXS.462VB    274818

ANSWER: Hi Glenn...

When you say it wont crank..do you mean it wont start?  Or the engine will not turn over?

I am assuming since you were able to check fire, that the engine actually "cranks" over.

Since you have fire there are only two other possibilities- your either lacking "fuel" or "compression".

Lets do the easy test first....place an open hand on the flywheel and try to rotate the engine backwards, you should not be able to do this if the engine has sufficient compression.  A compression test would not be real accurate, but if you have a compression tester you could check the compression as well.  If you have compression its off to the "fuel" test. (the reason the compression test is not real accurate is because of the internal compression release valve)  

Remove the air cleaner and spray a small amount of carb cleaner, into the carb and try to start your engine.  If the engine starts and then quits, you have a fuel/carb problem of some sort.  If you had it running not to long ago perhaps its just stale fuel.  Where in the world are you located?  Maybe draining the old gas out of the unit and putting fresh fuel in would solve the problem too.

Please let me know what you find.

Dave





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

QUESTION: HEY DAVE,

  I hate to ask such a petty question, but what is your opinion about the new E3 spark plug with the NEW DIAMONDFIRE technology? Have you had any experience with it and if you have is it worth the 10 dollars I paid for it?

Answer
Glen:

I have no personal experience with the E3 spark plug nor have i heard of anyone that does have experience.  I do think 10 bucks is a little steep though, but if it helps your starts especially in todays world of poor fuel blends then it may be well worth it.

Here is something to think about though....I used to own an outdoor power equipment dealership, every year I would have a pre season special to get people in to get their equipment serviced, including a new spark plug, I had many repeat customers so some of them i had hour meter readings on file for.  The most hours some of that consumer equipment was seeing was 25 hours per year.  Do you really think its necessary to change a plug every year??  Imagine if we changed the plugs in our car every 25 hours!  The spark Plug companies would love us!


Drop me a line in a few month and let me know how that plug is performing.

Dave