QuestionThis engine starts for about 10 seconds and then dies. You have to wait a couple of minutes for it to start again. Then it does it again. Whats up?
AnswerThere are a number of things that can cause this.
If you have low-oil protection, then be sure the oil level is about 1/16-1/8" above the full mark on the dipstick. Sometimes the sensor is a little too sensitive and will cause this sort of fault.
Probably there is a fuel delivery problem. The first thing to try is to run it with the gas cap loose. If that works, then the tank venting is faulty and will need to be addressed. Tanks vent through the caps, through the filler necks and through external vents. Yours is probably vented through the cap and maybe the filler neck.
The next thing to check is the fuel flow to the carburetor. Take the fuel line loose from the carb and catch the fuel in a glass jar. If the gas doesn't seem to be flowing steadily, then you have a clogged up fuel filter, fuel line or fuel shut-off/sediment trap, if so equipped.
If you have good flow to the carburetor, then you probably have an internal to the carb problem. The easiest way to resolve that sort of issue is to remove the carb and soak in a carburetor cleaning solution for at least an hour. Then clean all holes with a fine piece of wire and blow out with compressed air. The most common thing for cleaning to use is the carb vats you can find at auto parts store. Afterwards the carb should be reassembled with a new carb kit and the fuel lines replaced and tank cleaned.
If the engine will run with the choke half on, this points directly to a fuel delivery problem. So that would be one test you can try, but if choking has no effect, that doesn't rule out a fuel delivery problem.
This is where I would start. Other things to check would be the ignition and compression and any kill switches.
