Briggs and Stratton, Lawn Mower Engine Surges, Troubleshooting Surging, Low Idle RPM No Power Fixed!

Briggs & Stratton wont idle stable, rough low idle and it sounds like it is suffocating. Low Idle Problems With a LawnMower where it is surging and idling low then coming back up can be caused by numerious thing. In this video we troubleshoot and fix a Craftsman 190cc* Briggs & Stratton Platinum Engine, 22" EZ Lawn Mower. The repair is much easier then you might imagine. In todays case the mower surging up and down was caused by the engine running lean and we fixed it by removing the air cleaner to gain access to the carburetor, where we removed the carb bowl and inspected its contents. I found the Fuel to be in great shape so I decided to to do a quick clean of the jet. To clean the Jet I looked down the intake of the carburetor and identified the top side of the brass jet. Then I used carburetor cleaner to back wash the jet and clean it out. Then reassembled the lawnmower and it ran perfectly.
Here are some other recourses for trouble shooting you lawn mower.
Lawn Mower: Engine Rpm's Surge Up And Down
"If your lawnmower’s engine is surging it could be a problem with the carburetor. The carburetor mixes air and fuel to the perfect ratio for combustion. There are passages and nozzles (called jets) that route the fuel through the carburetor. The jets meter the precise amount of fuel that is needed for combustion. The jets have tiny openings that can easily be clogged by dirt or from corrosion caused by old fuel sitting in the carburetor. In the center of the carburetor, near the bottom of the carburetor bowl is the main jet. The main jet supplies fuel to the engine when it is at full throttle. When the main jet becomes blocked, the engine will stall at full throttle. Once stalled, the governor will close the throttle. At this point the carburetor’s idle circuit will begin to supply fuel and the engine will fire once again and the throttle will return to full. This cycle repeats over and over, causing the engine to die and surge. Fixing a surging engine is usually a matter of cleaning the carburetor..."
www.ereplacementparts.com/rep...
Does Your Lawn Mower Sound Like It Is Surging? Here Is Why & How to Fix It
"This the most common cause of surging issues. Grime and dirt can gum up the internal components of your carburetor, making it fail to receive the correct flow of fuel. Solution: You can take your mower to a small engine repair shop to have the carburetor removed and cleaned. However, if you’re comfortable with your repair skills, then here are the steps you should take:
1.Disassemble the carburetor. For you to reach the carburetor, you’re likely to have to disconnect the air filter, fuel tank, governor control link, breather pipe, and manifold seal and keeper ring.
2. Clean the carburetor with a carburetor cleaner that’s appropriate for your mower engine, paying special attention to the needle valves, orifices, and ports. You’ll need to replace the carburetor if its body is in poor condition or damaged.
3. Once you’ve given the carburetor a good cleaning, reassemble the mower components in reverse order..."
www.brainyadvisor.com/lawn-mo...
How to Troubleshoot Surging Lawn Mower Engines
"A Fouled Carburetor- Carburetors can also get fouled by dirt and grime that gums up its internal components. You can take your mower to a small engine specialist or remove just the carburetor and take it in for cleaning. If you are comfortable in your machine repair skills, you can disassemble and clean the carburetor yourself. Check the float for pinholes and free movement, and clean the orifices, ports and needle valves with carburetor cleaner approved for your engine. Use a carburetor kit if you find any damaged components or torn gaskets. Replace a carburetor that is in bad condition or has a damaged body..."
www.hunker.com/12363720/how-t...
Low Idle Problems With a Lawn Mower
"A lawnmower engine will idle around 1,200 to 2,000 rpm. This idling system will allow just enough fuel into the carburetor for the combustion process to continue. When the mower has trouble idling, or idles too low, the mower will shut off. Often this is caused by a decrease in air or fuel to the carburetor...Carburetors on lawnmowers generally need cleaning and servicing only once every few years. However, if the operator left gas in the tank during a storage period, the dried gas may have damaged the fuel system and dirtied the carburetor. The sticky substance left by the gas will cause the idling system to be out of alignment. A dirty carburetor should be removed, disassembled and cleaned. A service professional should perform these duties..."
www.gardenguides.com/12574616...

[@AROL232]

thanks a lot ! you saved my vacation with a very clear explanation, I had the same problem a thank you from Quebec

[@craigcarter2868]

I want to thank you for this video. We have a mower that’s almost identical to this one. Yesterday it began acting up. My first thought was to change the spark plug and the air filter, when the problem persisted, I turned to KZbin. I followed your instructions and the mower is running perfectly again. Thanks for posting this.

[@zackamanda9799]

It's bad enough I need to get a new weedwacker this year , I thought I was buying a new lawn mower as well. Thanks to your video my mower is running like new again. Thanks for posting this video my friend.

[@lselmes]

Ben! you are the man......thanks to your simple fix with the carb spray my exact same mower fired right up and is working like a top. Really apprecite these type of videos for the not so experienced mechanics like myself. Cheers!

[@johnvigil9175]

Ha! Same here. I couldn’t believe it worked just like he did. I have a craftsman as well with the same darn problem. You’re awesome dude. Thank you! Saved from taking it in for repair.

[@gordjohnson70]

Good video. Back flush the jet without taking it all apart..... GREAT IDEA !!!

[@UNKOWN12345]

Very good video. Would like to see more videos with more extensive repairs. You do a great job at explaining things.

[@richardmalouin9085]

I have the same 10 year mower, Store it in the garage over winter. Neglecting it over the year. The idle was like your example. Did what you did on mine. Now it even starts on the first pull. Thank you very much for the video. Was inspired, I also cleaned up my tractor mower. They are purring now. Tip of the week, get a can of carberator cleaner. Some day you’ll need it :-)

[@allanholmes5787]

Great video. Really informative and no background musical noise. I REALLY that. Thank you.

[@joanngreves5040]

Thanks Ben. This video was very helpful. Your friend was good at describing what was happening to my mower, suffocating.

[@danwubbens271]

Thanks it helped my lawnmower run smoother great idea with the carb cleaner into the jet 0:27

[@AbdulKhan-di4ei]

Great job I learned lots about mower carb issues from u tube videos 😮

[@thomasmagiera3283]

I'm surprised he did'nt blow the whole area clean 1st with compressed air. What a mess! Good instructive video.

[@lottiecaudillo2931]

3:41....loooooove the way you gave us a sample noise....you made me laugh.. Thank you

[@myobs]

Thanks for taking the time to produce and upload this video. Great explanations and it’s been really useful. Best wishes to you.

[@MisterG1610]

Just what I needed to learn ... since my small engine guy is on vacation. Thanks so much!

[@jaribartsch7110]

THANK YOU! This was extremely helpful troubleshooting a Craftsman B&S 675 21” garage sale find. Works great now.

[@dbcooper692]

This was a big help for me because If I can get away with what you did as far as a quick fix that's what I want. Thank you so much!!

[@marshallborder9089]

Water or trash is always a problem , most the time I always do a carb clean 99% of the time , and if there is signs of water in the carb I always take the gas tank off and clean it also . Never use carb cleaner , it hurts rubber items and its expensive .I usually dump old gas in a container with a good cleaning bush and I usually use it for cleaning carb's and follow up with a good blow out of air .and then I use my gas with fuel stabilization in it with seafoam also and gas with no ethanol in it ( High Test - its all I use in small engines ) . When it leaves my yard it got the best gas in it , now how's it's taken care after it leaves my yard I have no control over it .Good video - keep them coming - we never get too old too learn .......

[@morrizbetter1135]

R.

[@Amberlynn_Reid]

R.

[@gregnixon1296]

New plug twice a year, change oil every spring and fall, blow out the air filter from time to time, fresh non-ethanol gas, keep it garaged always, leaf blow it to keep down clippings…I don’t have problems. That’s just what it takes for upkeep.

[@meTimetraveler]

the jet is in the plug you unscrewed for the float bowl. should have a number stamped on it. they can clog up too

[@davidbell3432]

He totally missed that. I’ll bet 100% he unclogged the hole in the nut without even knowing it.

[@OCDRex11]

Exact same mower here and same problem. Happens every year or so. I take everything apart and clean it but man am I sick of doing it all the time. Isn't a complicated machine either, lol. Oh well, I will try and spray that jet as well. I have never done that one. I just can't believe I found a video of my exact mower and problem. Yay YT!

[@lselmes]

Same here

[@gregnixon1296]

Use only non-ethanol gas and run out the gas completely on your last mow of the season. Might help.

[@STho205]

​@@gregnixon1296that does help, but the bowl gasket will dry up and crack stored empty. Then air leaks in. I have the 21" Sears back bagger the last year they had a Tecumseh motor. The carb bowl is similar to this. 20+ years still running. About every two years, this should be done. Clean the carb outside area well. Take off the bowl. Clean the nut jet. Wipe the bowl out. Backflow the main jet with spray cleaner and the effluent tube. Reinstall the bowl carefully to avoid bunching the gasket...(should get a new one every few years for $4) Fresh gas. If you're not filtering the gas on fueling with a funnel filter....best to occasionally remove and flush the tank. It has a mesh inside, but they break down.

[@marke.9822]

Thank you thank you! For a little over $20 I got a new carb on Amazon along with new air filter and 2 sets of springs just in case, but tried your fix first and the mower started and ran like a champ. 10 year old mower like new again. Really appreciate the detailed video!

[@billgray2237]

Excellent. Can’t wait to get carb cleaner. Pretty sure it’s my problem. Thanks so much.

[@billbright1755]

A clean engine is a happy engine.

[@casst346]

having the same issue, but i can see it has something to do with the throttle mechanism, when i open it up as you have, i can push it and it works fine.

[@snyderdad771]

Thanks, I had no idea how to place the thermostat arm.

[@badgn2002]

This is a decent mower just that ethanol fuel kicks its but. Pretty much plan on cleaning the carb every spring unless you use non-ethanol gas. Control cables seized up on mine just ordered the parts on amazon for $21.

[@davem1212]

I have the 7.00 platinum B&S. Basically the same as this one in the video. It’s ran for 10 years with no maintenance. Just change the oil and not let your gas in the can for more than a few weeks and it will last. This year I might have to buy a new carburetor or clean it. Takes a few pulls now instead of one pull like years past. Shelf life is 8-10 years on this mower but you can get 20 years of taken care of. Plastic parts on carburetors and other things on lawnmowers today piss me off. That’s why I don’t want to buy another one. Lol

[@cryengine_x]

looking, it seems theyre all electrical now anyway! at least for any small yard like mine, wal mart barely carries gas mowers any more. the electrics get great consumer reviews so i'm assuming theyre good.

[@ntsreviewsandvlogs9005]

Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower kzbin.infoUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.

[@rbobbyp99]

The sound effects got me lmao

[@nickrodriguez9867]

I'm about to try this tonight, because this has whats been plaguing me

[@fabmetal666]

Thx :) , carbs cleaner did the job well for me too.

[@tmg1262]

Sometimes if you leave the gas can out the spout will get water in it. If you don’t empty the spout before you open it up, water will go into your tank

[@dooky538]

3:40 “KZbin gold”

[@dschannel5273]

besides that piece I also cleaned out the other holes and it worked!

[@ThePathOfLeastResistanc]

Mine sounds the same. I’m gonna try this

[@zachriggs6628]

Nice quick easy fix!

[@jimmyrigged1292]

Nice job man!! I love these kinds of videos cuz they help a ton ..but can I pick ur brain for a sec? I have a 2008 snapper riding mower and I installed a new carb 2 weeks ago , it runs decent but its lean af and the idle surges after a few mins of operation...what do u think could be causing that ? The fuel air mix ??

[@STho205]

At 8:35 you can see the dirt glob fly out of the jet and land on the float. 8 times out of 10 this quick field repair will handle it in a 5 minute task.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Hi Ben, is that little tube you sprayed the carb cleaner into the venturi? Think it might be. Best regards. 🙃

[@dLLund]

thank you for posting. new sub.

[@whynot16384]

Good video

[@RichsMowersNBlowers]

Ben, nice fix I just subscribed...

[@drunkingsailor2359]

Carb area is too dirty for my liking

[@JoeNathan42420]

I have the same mower and it'll start an run for like 10 or 15 minutes and die. But if I start it and push it back and forth like you did it'll bog down, sputter and die

[@CorgiScarab]

So if my mower is like this but doesn't surge (it's always very weak) and instead actually stalls with any real thick grass or similar resistance is it the carb as well or is that some other issue?

[@edstorey4675]

Thx I think that is my issue

[@maradavila4400]

I did a whole carburetor tuneup on mine, it started up once, and now it doesn’t want to start up again. The first time I switched up the old spark plug with the new one and it ran. Now neither of them get it going. Any suggestions?

[@jamesrichardson771]

Why didn't you clean the carb' area up with brakecleaner ... Gheeesh !

[@danieljimenez728]

Did everything but my mower still surges.. could a dirty combustion chamber cause surging? Could bad compression cause surging? It surges at idles and dies after a couple of minutes.

[@philliphall5198]

AllWAYS clean the tank and replace fuel hose and install a cut off valve, The carb allway needs rebuilt or replaced 😊😊😊

[@billyariks8458]

You forgot to clean the holes on the bowl nut.

[@drunkingsailor2359]

Called an emulsion tube

[@Msleelee9487]

mine is doing this and smoking it was fine in april i had blue then white smoke and it revs up when its about to die i change the rubber gasket on the carburetor and it's been running terrible

[@EvoBlk]

With that flap closest to the outside my mower won’t stay on unless that is shut. Any suggestions?

[@fouadmohamad336]

It will be better if you clean around the carburetor so we can see clearly and won’t be contaminated with dirt

[@johnlanzatella4226]

Does all the crud on the gasget help it seal?. Lol

[@robertyearian227]

U should had cleaned that jet out that bolt you put in to hold float bowl on

[@stevejacobs3732]

Did you clean the main jet?

[@michaelsweat7951]

Wish you were my neighbor.

[@johncoscia5258]

Governor adjustment ? Running lean sure but will that cause hi-lo continues revs without a trickster doing some clever governor spring loosening ? Strange intermittent lean condition but he is right with multiple causes theory l guess as the big secret of any size engine l found , 100 s of little actions and reactions unfold rapidly for an engine to fire up, so logically just one missing detail is enough to give you bad days .LOL

[@tammyturtle4434]

I was told there’s no way to adjust the governor anymore. They have them preset and that’s that you can’t adjust timing at all!

[@stevejacobs3732]

You don't need 2 air cleaners!

[@bryanmiller5074]

I've flushed my carb and put a new filter on and it still goes up n down

[@davidrogers5180]

Tell ya another trick so you can just avoid all on this.... Every time you use your mower only put enough gas in it for the time you need it... When your done cutting let the mower sit and idle till ann the gas is used up in the carb... No gas no crap remaining

[@frankie7508]

The concept of the repair was good but the execution was terrible. Carburetor was absolutely filthy and he never bothered clean it inside and out. How do you taken the time to remove the carburetor and thoroughly clean it using his technique? It would have been a very good video. It's probably the slopiest carb cleaner I have ever seen.

[@matt_b...]

Hey just a note -don't ever put gasoline into a glass container like you've done here. That's a pretty basic rule you should never violate again.

[@toddh6234]

Why? The gas is already contaminated. He is not storing it, pretty sure he probably poured it back in the engine.

[@gregnixon1296]

@@toddh6234 I don’t see why this is a problem either. Just make sure not to drink it by mistake. Anything can happen.

[@scottwarren3300]

Money! That's what I'm saying, an American getting it done! For free! For his deadbeat neighbor! I'm kidding about the deadbeat, obviously, having never met him. But seriously, what neighborhood is that??!

[@BenHuttash]

😂

[@daviduk8090]

Had the surging ( hunting) problem on my 10 year old Hayter with this B&S engine. Did exactly what he did and now it's running great. Thank you!

[@puchmanwal1685]

hope u didnt get paid for that quick fix not a very good video,you should have at least blown the dirt from around the carb before u disassembled or reassembled poor workmanship

[@StupidRalph]

Need to find a video with this motor where they actually remove the carburetor. I removed mine sometime last year and cant remember how to put it back on.

[@Talachachannel]

Goofy jobs ….