Craftsman Lawn Mower With Priming Issue

[@drpete3]

Thank you for the help. I doubled my gaskets and started priming right away. Started first pull

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Glad it helped. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers

[@chicagobears9817]

Late last year (2020), my neighbor threw out a very similar Craftsman 6.75HP self-propelled lawn mower. He put a sign on it which read "Doesn't run, take it for scrap." Well, I took it home and quikly determined the problem to be exactly what your video stated. I installed two gaskets on the carb. primed it and it fired right up.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Love those easy, quick fixes. Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@gradyhernandez4699]

Good tips

[@Don_ECHOguy]

The first time I took my base plate screws out they were so damn tight and looked to have thread locker on them, just a little bit over kill I would say. Excellent video and very well explained. 👍

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

I do see thread locker on a lot of those air filter housings. I would assume that was like that from the factory. Cheers

[@hunter1953]

Just did the same fix the other day with a mower that someone gave to my neighbor and he didnt want it. A nice craftsman front wheel drive. In a pinch if you dont have an extra gasket i have used a strip of black electrical tape across the bottom where the air vane is and it sealed perfect .

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

I always keep these gaskets in stock since they tear quite often and for doubling up. Cheers

[@AllenDickenson]

Thanks for this video. I tried two, three, four gaskets to no avail, instead I siliconed the gasket to the air cleaner housing and used two gasket and viola.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Sounds like you have a warped air filter housing which is preventing a good seal. Glad you got it figured out. Cheers

[@Cmsnd]

Ok. In my case the float bowl O Ring gasket was leaking air. I also added a thin layer of RTV where the paper gasket seals the air channel on both sides. Back in business! Thanks again!

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Thanks for sharing. Cheers

[@maradavila4400]

Great video. I have the exact same problem. Going to try double gaskets.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Hopefully it works for you. Let us know how you make out. Cheers

[@Cmsnd]

Replaced the bulb and gasket to no avail. Now that I've seen this, I have a good unit of how it works and how to fix it. Thanks

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Glad I could help. Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@PaulHenreid]

Not enough air gets through the airbox into the small hole in the carburetor. There needs to be enough gas to receive the shot of air. Some people double up the gasket on the backside of the airbox. I just tape the bottom part where the groove is located that carries the air. Maybe remove the screen behind the primer bulb to get more airflow. One bloke recommends a heat gun to warp the plastic more to the carburetor to seal air leaks better. Maybe remove the primer bulb and just blow on it with a straw to get airflow. Doubling up the gasket on the bottom portion might help. I hesitate to add something that might move a bit and block that small hole.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

I've always had pretty good success doubling up the gasket. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave your comments. Hopefully it helps some people out. Cheers

[@gilpicard6024]

The slightest damage to the base plate gasket to carb face will screw up priming pressure. Seal the passage up to the hole or soak the gasket pre install.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

I've never heard of soaking the gasket but thanks for the tip. Cheers

[@sonnyc3826]

yeah what happens when the gasket dries out? then you have the same problem all over again.

[@alzaidi7739]

Same problem and fix on my B&S 6.5HP mower. Thanks. Can B&S add anymore plastic to engines? I got mine free because the plastic wheels fell off. And a B&S snow blower that CAUGHT FIRE after a plastic fuel fitting FELL OFF while running. Just crap.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Seems all manufacturers are going that way these days. As cheap as possible. Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@alzaidi7739]

@@brantsmallenginerepairs Just bought my 1st Honda mower. Was pleased it had a brass fuel fitting, like B&S USED to have.

[@patandsandytrierweiler2440]

My corny solutions: I find that "warped" black primer base plate is often the issue. Step 1. Double up the gasket. If no go, I cut a base plate gasket out of aluminum foil and bond it directly (with spray adhesive or gasket sealant) to the reverse of the primer base plate. Helps.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Interesting tip. Haven't heard that one before. Thanks for sharing. Cheers

[@lzlz-xv6oe]

I've seen some videos on this issue. I've doubled the gaskets and won't work. also replaced carb and new housing. Still won't prime with double gasket. Added silicone as well. Still won't prime. Have to spray starter fluid still. 'PITA"

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Did you replace the primer bulb

[@lzlz-xv6oe]

@brantsmallenginerepairs Yes, that's the first thing I replaced. Then bought the housing that comes with primer bulb.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

@@lzlz-xv6oe you have replaced all the components of the priming system. So unless you purchased the wrong parts, installed them incorrectly or there's no gas, I'm all out of ideas

[@lzlz-xv6oe]

@@brantsmallenginerepairs Thanks, me too.

[@jamesschreiner8649]

Thank You, for this 'informative & problem SOLVING Video...👏👍..'PRICELESS', to say the least...(You brought my z'blood pressure to th lowest/BEST, it's ever been !!! Bless You🙏🎉👏

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Glad to help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers

[@ralphwhitaker8761]

You say there is an electric start, where exactly in that model is the electric start? Mine is doing the samething, when i prime i dont see any gas.

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Not exactly sure what you're asking. If it's not priming, it has nothing to do with the electric start.

[@ralphwhitaker8761]

It's actually 2 questions 1- where is the electric start in that model 2-mine is not priming, I don't see any gas when I prime it, but it starts when I spray the starting fluid and I just install a new carb

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

@@ralphwhitaker8761 there are many components to the electric start. The starter is down on the engine and the key is on the handle. If it's not priming, there could be many reasons. There are also many different types of priming systems on different engines. If you have the same engine as in the video, did you try what I did?

[@ralphwhitaker8761]

​@@brantsmallenginerepairs yes I did

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

@@ralphwhitaker8761 maybe the primer bulb has a slice or cut in it

[@williamschroeder284]

Try replace or double up air gasket that is behind the primer nase

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Worked for this one. Thanks for watching. Amazing that a $4 part caused someone to throw this machine out. Cheers

[@reggiejordan4567]

MOWER DON'Y SAY RUNNING HAS A HOLE IN PRIMER BULB COULD THAT BE THE PROBLEM

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

The primer bulb shouldn't cause the mower to stop running once it starts. I would say you have bad gas or a dirty carburetor. Hope this helps. Cheers

[@jesusdrummer21]

Its got to be the gaskets on the cover or a spec of dirt b locking a channel

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

It ended up being the gasket but you are correct, a piece of crud blocking the channel could also cause this issue. Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@patmurphy6244]

Look at the sucked down gas cap?

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

Not sure I know what you mean? The gas cap is a hard plastic which would not be able to be sucked down.

[@robertmcmahon2744]

So why not show at the video the mower actually starting and running?? It would of added some credibility to the " fix".

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

The problem with the mower is that it wouldn't prime. I showed how to troubleshoot and fix that issue. The primer was working. The mower did start but even if it hadn't, I still showed a problem and how to fix that problem yo help others with fixing theirs. Thanks for the feedback

[@sonnyc3826]

ill tell you what it is,,,uits the same problem eveyr briggs and stratton has wiht this type of primer system its on the other side where the gasket is on the plate isnt sealing properly this is a design flaw by briggs and strattong and explains why they went out of business because they decided to go the shotty route and build sub par things instead of good quality designs...teh gasket on the other side isnt ocmpletely sealing that tube that push air through , the air is escaping and failing to prime...soemtimes those ridges on it get warped or worn down over time..if it was sealed properly it would start...this is briggs and stratton being in the business of selling parts rather than building quality lawnmowers,,, they made a bad plate so youre forced ot buy a new one in a coupld years...or fix it wiht soem creativity..i saw a vidoe on youtube a guy used seom tape and put it over the airway and then put the gasket on . i tried it and the one i have fired up... didnt work on the other one however..ive come across this nonsense over many briggs and strattong engines its rubbish...some peopel put 2 gasket son and it works some it doesnt just have to find what works..its a shitty design

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

You're spot on. I see this lots. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers

[@gradyhernandez4699]

Bulb

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

That would be a good guess. Wasn't our issue with this mower though. Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@gradyhernandez4699]

@@brantsmallenginerepairs I have a Toro personal pace mower..it won't prime by pressing the primer bulb. It starts with engine starter fluid and it surges. Brand new carburetor it has . What do I look for (?)

[@brantsmallenginerepairs]

@@gradyhernandez4699 for the priming issue, I need a bit more info. Is it a Briggs and Stratton engine like the one in the video? If so, did you try the trick in the video by doubling up the air filter housing gasket? The surging is a fuel issue, it's running too lean (not enough fuel being added by the carb). You said it's a new carb but is it the right one for the engine? Sometimes the chinese knock offs run lean straight out of the box. Did you drain the old gas before installing the new carb? These are the things I would check first

[@gradyhernandez4699]

It may have an adjustment screw somewhere hidden on no the carb.i ordered some gaskets already. I like the Toro mowers personal pace.