QuestionQUESTION: I have a Briggs 3.5 HP mower, model 95902, type 3701. I was cutting the lawn and ran out of gas. When I tried to start if again the rope will not pull. When I take the shroud off, the rope recoils right away. When it is on the shaft that the flywheel is on, it will not recoil. How do I fix this? I already took the spring out earlier and put the starter mechanism back together so I know that is not the problem. It is just when the shroud is on the flywheel.
ANSWER: Hi GB
when the starter cover is off, does the starter clutch engage when you rotate it clockwise ?
or is it engaged when you try turn it clockwise or anticlockwise
does the flywheel turn or is it stiff to move y/n ?
does the rewind starter rewind back in if you fit cover and loosely refitting mounting bolts y/n ?
if starter clutch rotates freely anti-clockwise and engages when you turn it clockwise it shouldn't be the starter clutch.
check that nothing has jammed your flywheel and or blades - then check your starter clutch is working correctly - should engage when rotate clockwise and turn freely when turned anti-clockwise if you cannot turn engine over by rotating flywheelby hand and starter rope / pulley & system works fine with cover off - check your engine oil level you may have siezed your engine or damaged it
please check and let me know
cheers paul
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Paul,
when the starter cover is off, does the starter clutch engage when you rotate it clockwise ?
Yes
or is it engaged when you try turn it clockwise or anticlockwise
Clockwise
does the flywheel turn or is it stiff to move y/n ?
I put a rope on the handle and the lever for the brake so the brake is off. It turns stiff when I turn the flywheel. I just had to readjust the distance between the magneto and the flywheel as it was right when I adjusted it last night. It is supposed to be a business card between both from what I understand. The flywheel seems to be rubbing or maybe off balance maybe a little.
does the rewind starter rewind back in if you fit cover and loosely refitting mounting bolts y/n ?
No, just when it is all the way off and it will not pull either
if starter clutch rotates freely anti-clockwise and engages when you turn it clockwise it shouldn't be the starter clutch.
check that nothing has jammed your flywheel and or blades - then check your starter clutch is working correctly - should engage when rotate clockwise and turn freely when turned anti-clockwise if you cannot turn engine over by rotating flywheel by hand and starter rope / pulley & system works fine with cover off - check your engine oil level you may have siezed your engine or damaged it
One guy who fixes mowers told when he looked at the mower I had said that this one has compression. I put oil in the first time I used it and it broke the second time I used it this year. I checked the level.
Answeralmost sounds like you may have aasembled tthe starter rewind assy incorrect -? might pay to recheck
check that flywheel brake system is not dragging on flywheel when trying to start , it should be fully open when the bail lever is pulled and held - because stop switch wire is on this brake system
or you have a faulty starter clutch ? check to flywheel du bearing by trying to move the whole flywheel assy foreward and backward in a straight line - any movement for/aft indicates a worn upper du bearing and could account for ignition air gap changing or none if that was the case
note starter spring installation - the spring should be fitted so that the coils wind up in the direction of rotation that the start pulley rotates when rope is pulled out,
is the timming key under the starter clutch ok ,
take plug out try to rotate engine by hand if engine is still stiff to turn & nothing is hindering rotation from top or bottom then its possible piston & bore have been damged
note insufficient oil , and excessive oil both can cause possible engine damage to piston and bore etc
let me know
still think you have a problem with either starter cluch or the engine has been damaged, piston has excessive dragg placed on it, ( should be evident by feeling engine rotation with plug out and turning flywheel by hand ) if it has a high friction dragg and feels stiff ! and nothing is contacting / restricting movement when it shouldn't be , then its quite possible -or there's a problem with starter clutch, can you try substitute starter clutch ? if its still stiff after a known good one is tried and blade is off and no other friction or dragg is placed on engine then it must be piston / bore damage - only way to find out is to take cyl head off and look at the bore.
its about all thats left from what you tell me
cheers paul
