Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): 17HP Briggs Straton engine, briggs straton engine, ohv engine

Question
when i try to crank my riding mower it only turns over once and quits and it does it all the time
               Thank you Steve

Answer
Steve:

I assume what your saying is you go to crank your tractor with the electric starter and it only goes so far and stops is this correct?  If this is the case, make sure you have a fully charged GOOD battery.  Not having enough amperage will cause this problem.  Just because you have the volts, doesn't mean you have the amperage does this make sense?  You did not tell me did this problem start all of a sudden?  Did somebody try adjusting the valves..(if its an OHV engine)?

Another thing that may be causing the problem is fuel in the cylinder is causing a "hydraulic lock"  Remove your spark plug and crank the engine over and see if any fuel squirts out of the cylinder.  make sure you or nobody is standing near the engine when you do this test in case fuel does squirt out!  

A bad starter could cause this

and last but not least, you may have a bad camshaft.  There is a decompression valve that helps release compression during starting.  If this breaks you will also get this symptom your describing.

If I was working on this tractor, the first thing I would do is make sure the battery is good.  This is accomplished by charging the battery and having a load test put on it. Any automotive store can do this for you.

Happy Tinkering

David R