Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Trouble with mower engine, briggs and stratton, screw driver

Question
Hi, I am having problems with my Craftsman mower i am trying to repair. I have had to rewire some of the wiring on it, it has an 18.5Hp Briggs and Stratton OHV Intek Plus engine. Now that i have it back together for the most part, i have actually been able to get it to crank, but it wont start with the key, i have to jump it using a screwdriver. Plus once its running, it keeps wanting to die unless i pat my hand on top of the carburator hole, but it only lasts for a second then wants to die again. I obviously have something wired wrong somewhere. Is there ANY way that you could send me a wiring diagnostics for that particular model? I just need to figure out how to get the key to turn the motor over to start it, and to know about the small brass bowl that has the two wires running to the bottom of the carburator. cause i believe that is the issue with why its dying.

Answer
hi adam

as a test  connect the wire from the solenoid ( under carb bowl ) to a 12 volt negative battery terminal   then connect the other wire to a 12 volt positive  battery terminal  

this will pull open the plunger on solenoid  , then try and crank over engine using screw driver method - all being =  engine should continue to run



please send me model and type codes off engine and will do my best to get wiring diagram  for you


cheers hope it helps


paul