Mend > Lawn Mowers

I have a craftsman (Bob Villa) edition riding mower. model 917 274033?

I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING IT. THE BATTERY WAS GETTING OLD, SO I REPLACED IT AND THERE IS PLENTY OF JUICE. I TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE TURNS A BIT AND SEEMS TO GET HUNG UP ON THE COMPRESSION STROKES. IF I HOLE THE KEY WITH THE HOOD UP, AND MANUALLY HELP THE HORIZONTAL FLYWHEEL ON TOP 'OVER THE HUMP', IT WILL SOMETIMES CONTINUE TO SPIN ANDSTART RATHER QUICKLY AT THAT POINT. IS IT THE STARTER? AND HOW DO I GET A PART NUMBER FOR IT? COULD IT BE SOMETHING ELSE? THANKS.

DAVID
January 2009

Craftsman Garden Tools, Lawn Mowers Craftsman Mower Model 917

EPARKMOWERS,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUGGESTION! THAT WAS EXACTLY IT. I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THE STARTED BEING WEAK, BUT YOUR SUGGESTION SAVED ME MUCH TIME, EFFORT AND $$$! SO AGAIN, THANK YOU!
DAVID

DAVID
February 2009

Check you have really good clean connections between battery and leads so that you are getting good power from the battery. Make sure terminals are done up tight.

Check if it is a Briggs & Stratton OHV engine that valve clearances are correctly set. They decompress on the valves just before top dead center and if the clearance is too large it just locks up as you describe.

Clearance 4 thou inlet 6 thou exhaust with piston 1/4" past TDC

eparkmowers
January 2009