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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco De Luxe 20" Trouble Starting

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Dear All,

 

I remain well out of my depth...  A couple of weeks ago, after a couple of hours of tinkering, my old mower spluttered into life and operated as new (?) for three full cuts of my small lawn.  I was pleased as punch. 

This week, without adjusting anything, I simply cannot get her to start.  Even during the tinkering a couple of weeks ago, she was closer to starting than she is now.  I'd be very grateful for any suggestions.  The next things I was going to try were:

 

(i) fresh petrol (the stuff I've fed it with is at least a year old, but worked a couple of weeks ago until it ran out right at the end of the last cut);

(ii) a new spark plug (on the basis that I've left the mower outside relatively unprotected over the winter - bad owner...)

(iii) changing the oil (there's plenty in there but I haven't changed it this year)

(iv) doing something with the carburettor (when tweaking, I was finding a lot of fuel was coming out of the pin-sized-hole at the back of the carburettor, both spitting out and dripping down and onto the top of the air filter container).  When I say, do something... I really wouldn't know what, so again I'd be grateful for any pointers!

 

In case photos are helpful, my previous thread is here:  http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/forum/general-topics/general-discussi…;

 

Many thanks in advance,

Tim 

 

 

 

Forums

wristpin Tue, 15/05/2018

The fuel flooding from the hole in the carb is telling you that the float needle is not sealing in its seat in the carb top. Probably due to dirt or corrosion between the needle and seat,  or It may be that some residue from stale fuel is preventing the needle from sealing properly. There is also the possibility of a leaking float. 

Have you checked for a decent spark off the bare end of the plug lead? I think that your machine will have points ignition and points have a habit of playing up and not necessarily straight after a winter layup. Remove the plug, unscrew the plug connector from the end of the lead and hold the lead quarter of an inch from bare metal and pull the recoil starter rope. the spark should jump that gap. If you have a spark, replace the cap onto the lead and fit the plug, hold the metal body of the plug against bare metal and repeat the test. There should be a healthy spark across the points of the plug. If not, suspect the plug cap/connector.

You may need to have the mower in the shade to observe the spark. 

TimF Tue, 15/05/2018

Thanks again wristpin.  Always the first and fastest to help!  I'll have a look at the carb and spark (not simultaneously!) this afternoon or tomorrow and will report my findings.

Cheers,

Tim

 

TimF Wed, 16/05/2018

So this morning I checked the spark.  That seemed to be fine but I gave the plug end a little clean anyway.  I don't know whether it's relevant or different to before, but the starter cord was quite difficult to pull.

 

Before I had a look inside the carb, I tried starting it up.  My happiness in hearing it kick itself to life was pretty short-lived though.  After a couple of seconds, a shredded fibre circular gasket / washer was spat out of the the side of the engine and it came to a stop again.  

 

I have since taken the carb off and opened it up.  It didn't look good inside!  There was what looked like white sand and some translucent gunge.  There are some slight deposits on the side.  I was surprised to find no gaskets / washers when I took the carb off and apart.  In the exploded diagram in the manual I think I can see two gaskets (one manifold and the other bowl to barrel) but nothing inside the carb expect for the black float.  Are these gaskets essential - if so, should I try to get them from http://www.villiersparts.co.uk/gas.html ?

Weirdly, neither of the two gaskets mentioned above are circular, and neither look like the one that seemed to come out of the side of the engine this morning.  Should I be concerned? 

As always, I'm very grateful in advance for pointers!

Tim

 

wristpin Wed, 16/05/2018

Yes, both are essential . The only circular one that comes to mind is between the exhaust box and the pipe from the engine.

 

Time to strip the carb and give it a thorough clean.