How I fixed a primer base that wouldn't prime. (quantum Briggs)

[@filstoy]

I have a new primer base on the way because I knew that's what the problem was but it won't be here until the weekend. Even added two gaskets and it still wouldn't seal but I wanted to get it running today while I have time. Added the two washers like you said and now that primer squirts like Old Faithful. Got the lawn mowed. Great tip and thanks a lot !!!

[@gravelyman]

That's great and Thanks for watching 👍

[@cliffcowdell9760]

Thank you for showing that. After hours of fighting with it. This worked to perfect. Thank you

[@gravelyman]

You're very welcome. I'm glad it worked out for you. Thank you and Thanks for watching 👍

[@moodymac7297]

I just use a small piece of duct tape over the groove (but not covering where the air enters the carb). This seals the air passage independent of the gasket. It also helps the gasket seal better due to the breather plate being warped. Very fast, I have even done this if I feel it may be a problem. But I do like this idea with the washers, put pressure on a larger area, and it seals the gasket.

[@gravelyman]

Your idea sounds pretty good too. What ever works is better than buying a new base. Thanks for watching 👍

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

what is a groove ?

[@moodymac7297]

@@sinabagherisarvestani8924 It is a canal that the air flows through when you depress the fuel bulb. The gasket between the back part of the filter plate and the carburetor seals this canal so that the air is forced into the carb. Sometimes if the plate is warped (common), you have to put two or more gaskets on, or it will not seal and air will not enter the carb. I put a small piece of duct tape over the canal, then I only have to use one gasket, regardless of the plate being warped or not.

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@moodymac7297 true , makes sense , I think I have an idea of what your trying to explain although I still don't know what a canal is , any diagram ?

[@moodymac7297]

@@sinabagherisarvestani8924 Just follow from the bulb to where the air escapes, the passage it runs through to get to the carb is the canal.

[@Part_121]

It doesn't have to be a "guessing game" as to whether or not the primer is working. When you have the air filter removed, just direct your eyeball toward the open intake hole, behind the metal (or nowadays white plastic) tab and look for a little spurt of gas shooting out of the small brass tube. It will be plainly obvious as to whether or not you are successfully priming the engine.

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

Just used this procedure AGAIN on another mower and worked fantastically again!!

[@gravelyman]

I'm glad it worked again for you. Thanks for watching 👍

[@randomwrenching]

A simple fix for a very, very common problem. If it works one time out of ten, it's still a good solution to remember for future repairs.

[@gravelyman]

I will try it on the next one Wich should be soon lol. Thanks for watching!!!

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@gravelyman hi , why did you use a washer ?

[@gravelyman]

@@sinabagherisarvestani8924 The primer housing was warped.

[@ronniewetherington509]

I have a briggs that has the same issue. The problem began after I purchased a used mower that had been sitting. It had trash in the carb and tank. I got most of it out but was still having some problems. So, I removed the filter base and tore the gasket. I installed a new gasket but it won't prime. If I put a little silicone on the gasket it will work for a few times then it stops. The new gasket doesn't show any imprint of the filter base primer seal area. Apparently it's warped just enough to stop it from sealing. Thanks for sharing!

[@gravelyman]

Thank you. The method I used worked twice for me so far. Thanks for watching 👍

[@jamessanders7408]

Good job. I will try it on mine

[@gravelyman]

Thanks and Thanks for watching 👍

[@davebliss6436]

Nice going dude!!! I’ve wrestled with this problem a few times!

[@gravelyman]

Thank you I hope this video helped you out. Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@fixitorstripitGardenmachines]

Great tips my friend, it starts fine now and runs superb, great vid

[@gravelyman]

Thanks fixit. I'm hoping this works on the next one I get. Thanks for watching my friend. I look forward to your next video!!!

[@355PH]

Great advice. Many thanks from Paul in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍😁

[@gravelyman]

Thank you Paul and Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@philliphall5198]

Could the fuel cap cause this problem???? Sealed up cap and purg not strong enough to pull a vacuum??? I’m going to remove cap and see

[@gravelyman]

If the fuel cap is not venting it's possible. Remote line at the carb and and check for fuel flow of course with the cap on. Thanks for watching and good luck 👍

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

I tried this and it worked fantastically! I'd double gasketed it to no luck, but, using the washers worked great. Engine now primes and starts right up!!

[@gravelyman]

Very good and Thanks for watching 👍

[@kevincummings8211]

Can you say over^Tork...??

[@edblevins681]

He's gonna end up with a cracked primer plate or stripped out carburetor threads 🤔

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

hi I'm not sure I understand , I watched the video but what was the issue and how did you fix it ??

[@gravelyman]

The mower wouldn't prime so I used over sized washers on the mounting bolts. Thanks for watching 👍

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@gravelyman I have the same problem , first it was leaking from the primer , than when I took it apart and put it all together , it won't prime , it starts and and turns off

[@gravelyman]

@@sinabagherisarvestani8924 if it starts and Stalls after you prime it you may have a carb issue.

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@gravelyman it won't prime , no gas comes into the carburetor , I'll try the washer method , any other tips ? Maybe loosen the bolts ? It was fine before , it would prime but gasoline would come out of the rubber prime bulb , I fixed that issue but now it won't prime at all

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@gravelyman I cleaned the carburetor in soap and water for a few hours , I don't think its the carburetor , Also the drive cable used to keep the mower on , that cable is seized so I have to use a hammer and bring back the engage spring with a hammer , the cable is seized and it won't pull the handle back , I have to use a hammer to engage the cable back so it starts otherwise it won't start unless the handle is held back , as soon as you let go it turns off , its like a on and off switch but its seized

[@patandsandytrierweiler2440]

I've found that the primer bulb plate is easily warped and leaks air puff. ( heat & overtighted bolts) Adding a second primer bulb gasket works for awhile. So, what's next? Buy a new primer bulb base? Yes! But personally, I traced and cut out an aluminum foil version of the bulb primer gasket. Then, I applied automotive gasket sealer (using toothpick) to seal aluminum gasket around the bulb air channel. Replaced the two primer bulb gaskets and added washers to 2/3rds of the retaining bolts. Tighten only as needed. Ta da!

[@gravelyman]

Yes overttghtening will cause a problem. Thanks for your input and Thanks for watching 👍

[@thegusk520]

@@gravelyman LOL, when you were driving those bolts in I thought you were going to break your wrench.

[@terryhoffman2760]

Thank you sir You are a nice guy.

[@gravelyman]

Your welcome and Thanks for watching 👍

[@terryhoffman2760]

B and S should be sending a check to this guy.

[@turbineking7154]

Hello, use some gasket sealer on the gasket that covers the channel on the mounting plate. Just alight coat, don't want to plug the channel. It did the trick.

[@gravelyman]

Thanks for your input and Thanks for watching

[@joeo1352]

Good advice 👍

[@gravelyman]

Thanks Joe O I hope it works with every machine that has this problem.

[@AJPsWorkshop]

Great tip mate

[@gravelyman]

Thanks AJP!!!

[@emilyreid652]

Helpful, thank you! 👍

[@gravelyman]

I'm glad the video helped you and Thanks for watching!

[@acetech9237]

Thanks for the tip

[@gravelyman]

Your welcome and Thanks for watching 👍

[@ralphwhitaker8761]

install brand carburetor, it runs for awhile than stop and a lot of smoke from the engine

[@gravelyman]

Without me looking at it, make sure the engine is not over filled with oil. It could also be bad piston rings. Good luck and Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@willhisle8054]

great video

[@gravelyman]

Thank you. It worked again on a second quantum Briggs. Thanks for watching 👍

[@philliphall5198]

I’ve even super glue the gasket to the base and added other gasket that I socked in water or gas Works most of the time Don’t install with power tools dam it

[@gravelyman]

I've used the oversized washers a couple of more times after that and it worked. What ever works for you is good and Thanks for watching 👍

[@Turningwrenches85]

Not a bad fix my friend

[@gravelyman]

I'm hoping it works on the next one that should be coming along soon lol. Thanks John!!!

[@Turningwrenches85]

@@gravelyman your welcome sir 🔧

[@BrucesShop]

Just saw this today. thanks i will try it.

[@gravelyman]

I will be more convenient when I get a second one with this problem. Thanks for watching 👍

[@robstone5333]

You’re attaching plastic to metal. Relatively soft plastic.I couldn’t believe how you cranked down those small bolts with your ratchet. You have the air filter base so tight, you flattened the ridge lines of the primer conduit to the carb. Now the air flow from your primer is restricted. That’s why you “can prime it 50 times” and it doesn’t help. Buy a new filter base for a few bucks off Amazon and just snug it up. It will start on the first pull. More often than not, the solution requires finess, not brute strength. Good God.

[@gravelyman]

It worked. The mowers fine. Thanks for watching!!!

[@mattfleming86]

You have a point, Mr. Stone, but what you are missing is tact and civility. Manners go a long way.

[@PaulHenreid]

I have heard this before about not tightening the plastic air cover too much. However, it appears that what resolved this common problem was to use washers so it could be tightened more (unless priming while running the motor fixed it).

[@zenombereznicki]

​@mattfleming86 Mr. Stone said what needed to be said. He was not rude. You are just a sensitive princes.

[@sonnyc3826]

i cna see why briggs and stratton went out of business...they make shotty products..i come across this problem with many Briggs engines its more than likely this...they dont prime its just a bad design design flaw they more than likely did to save a buck its extremely annoying fixing everything how it should but it still doesnt work...i have this problem with 2 of my mowers right now and probabyl a 3rd that a custimer has and it jkeeps getting water in the carberator and wont wtart its incredibly annoying..ill try this with my 2...but these 2 it snot teh first time ive encountrered this..alos a tip tightening those 2 tight can break teh carb . so i dont tightrten them as much as this guy..im going to try this.. im just ready to take a sledgehammer to both of them i have a feeling on both mowers this is the problem..one has a new carberator, filter and eveyrhting but just wont start..extrememly frustrating

[@gravelyman]

Yes it's frustrating. Good luck with your mowers and Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@timothyproksch2915]

Thank god they don’t make these anymore

[@gravelyman]

Lol, your right. They were a real pain. Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@timothyproksch2915]

@@gravelyman I quit working on push mowers because of these things or any metal carb because of corrosion it took to long to clean them up just to find out they wouldn’t work. I like the nylon carbs they clean up easy . They also gum up over the winter if they don’t use them and I get to make money again . I wish the riding mowers had nylon carbs. Push mowers have got so expensive I don’t hear as much complaints about how much it costs to fix them anymore after they see how much a new one is. The 99 dollar push mower days are long gone.

[@gravelyman]

@@timothyproksch2915 Yes. Especially that people don't take care of their mowers and we end up with a host of headaches to fix them l. Thanks for watching 🔧👍

[@timothyproksch2915]

@@gravelyman I started working on them again now I fix a lot of them.

[@gravelyman]

@@timothyproksch2915 Very good. Good luck with your venture 🔧👍

[@captainbart]

Credit where credit is due buddy; I made this video 5 yrs. ago......its always the manly thing to do to fess up that someone else figured it out before you.

[@gravelyman]

I had no idea you made a video about it. How would I know? I figure repairs out on my own.

[@JosephLarosa-u8u]

I don't think you know what you doing

[@gravelyman]

I don't give a rip what you think