Please help - lawn tractor won't start

Posted by Amamba on July 31, 2005, 6:21 pm

Hi,

I have an Ariens 1540H lawnmower tractor which ran fine for two months.
Today, I let it run out of gas. When I re-fueled it (within 20 min) it
won't start. It starts when I use starting spray (one of these things
they sell in Home Depot, that you spray into air filter to force engine
that won't start). But it dies once the starting spray vapors run out.

I checked fuel lines. The ones going from gas tank to air filter and
from air filter to fuel pump have some gas in them. The one coming out
of fuel pump to th e engine is dry. There were two other lines going to
the pump and both had some gas in them, although I can't say they were
full. I took the pump apart; it has a small membrane in it, there was
some gasoline in the pump, and the exit "stub" leading out of it was
free of obstruction. I put it back together but it still won't start.

So, I guess either the pump stopped working, or there's an air gap
somewhere ? I am not good with engines, so any help will be greatly
appreciated !

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on August 1, 2005, 2:15 am

> I have an Ariens 1540H lawnmower tractor which ran fine for two months.
> So, I guess either the pump stopped working, or there's an air gap
> somewhere ? I am not good with engines, so any help will be greatly
> appreciated !

When you say for two months, do you mean two months this season an a 10 year
old machine? Or 2 months since you bought it new and it is under warranty
and the dealer will fix this for you for free?

If the latter, don't touch it and screw up the warranty. If the former, I'd
guess an air lock of some sort.

Posted by Amamba on July 31, 2005, 9:21 pm

It's past warranty.

How would you deal with an air lock ? Should I try to flush gasoline
down the tubes ?

Posted by David Martel on August 1, 2005, 12:54 pm

Amamba,

Air lock is fairly rare and occurs in hot engines. By now your engine
should be ready to go.
You indicate that the line from the gas tank to the fuel pump has gas but
that the line from the pump to the carb does not. Disconnect the gas line at
the carb and try to start. If the fuel pump is working gas should squirt out
of the gas line. If it does then you have a blockage in the carb. Remove the
float bowl and see what's sticking. You may need to replace the float valve.
If gas does not squirt out of the pump disconnect the gas line from the
tank to the pump. Gas should flow out. If it does look for the fuel filter
and replace it. If gas does flow then the fuel pump needs replacing.

Dave M.

Posted by Pop on August 1, 2005, 9:09 am

> Hi,
> I have an Ariens 1540H lawnmower tractor which ran
> fine for two months.
> Today, I let it run out of gas. When I re-fueled it
> (within 20 min) it
> won't start. It starts when I use starting spray (one
> of these things
> they sell in Home Depot, that you spray into air
> filter to force engine
> that won't start). But it dies once the starting
> spray vapors run out.

....
Have you checked the fuel filter to be sure it's not
plugged or full of water?

Depending on tank design, it's possible you sucked
water into the engine. Or worse, dirt, which is
clogging the carb's jets.

If it has a fuel pump (not all do) disconnect the
output side and crank the engine; see if gas comes out.
IS it gas, and not water?

Water sinks to the bottom in gas; so if the tank has a
slight riser inside where the gas exits, that would
seem to say water was a good possibility. If it's a
flush connection, it's not likely water. But ... could
the gas you put in have had water in it? You'll
probably need direct sunlight to see inside the tank
enough to see if there's dirt and debris in there.

An air gap's possible I guess; I've never had that
happen to me as a problem.

HTH
Pop

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