Auto Choke Replacement On Briggs and Stratton Lawn Mower Engine

[@patmi8838]

Good find ! Very good info and thank you . One thing that shocks me with people posting on here about Mower/Engine repair ? If you have the engine that far apart why put it back together Dirty ? Would only take a few minutes to clean the carb, Blow off all the clippings under the pull start , etc . After 59 years working on engines I know they run better when clean . You did a great job finding and fixing the problem !

[@sam92teg]

Thanks James for making this video. I believe this might be my issue as well. At least I will be able to rule it out if it isn't. Always impressed by engineering and how simple you made the repair look.

[@lzh3131]

You should’ve labeled his video, “ Smoking Lawn Mower- Last Option!” I was about to wrap the starter cord around my neck, & try starting this stupid mower! Needless to say, this is exactly what the problem was! Mower running great! Thank you for this very informative, strait to the issue, & fix! Liking & subscribing!👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@leewhite100]

Hey thanks, watching this video helped me fixed a lawnmower I wasn't sure where choke control arm went but this showed me and now its fixed

[@jcondon1]

Lee White glad you were able to fix the issue.

[@larrycroft470]

James I have been watching all your lawn mower videos - and they are excellent. Well focused shots and very interesting and informative content. Thank you for taking time to make them.

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@Bobby-bo3zc]

This year old video. Helped me greatly today. Thank you for sharing. 👍

[@ChunkedElement]

Thanks for this, I have the exact same engine, when cold you need starting fluid or like 10+ pulls, when its warmed up starts with one pull, just ordered the part. Thanks again.

[@acgolem]

Thanks mate. I've got a briggs motor on the kids go cart. Just picked it up cheap. It starts but won't keep running. I noticed the choke is flopping around all over the place from the shaking of the engine. I'd say the auto choke is worn out as its got no resistance. Should be a good little project for the kids anyway. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'll video the progress on our go cart.

[@BushcraftingBogan]

I just replaced one on a power washer. I cleaned the carburetor and had spark and fuel. It would start, then die. I was able to catch the choke and keep it running and that’s how I was able to figure out the problem. It seems the more fancy features also means more possible issues. :D

[@jcondon1]

Yes. Would prefer just a manual choke lever.

[@davidblazevic3125]

Perfect,just what I needed to see,thanks

[@biomed2560]

Quite a nice idea for auto chokes is to heat them up with a hot air gun either to test them if in doubt or if they seem dead, to check if they really are.

[@cooksie0612]

Thank you for the video. I have a John Deere push mower with what looks like the same Briggs and Stratton engine. Mine has high idle at start up and then eventually idles fine. Cleaned carb and everything else so I will look into replacing the thermostat.

[@LuisReyes-eh1ex]

excellent tutorial...thanks for posting

[@isakwilkinson2491]

Awesome perfect man thanks for the video

[@carmelom269]

I noticed that you failed to calibrate the thermostat which is supposed to to sit between the the double hash marks on front and the double hash marks on the side of the plastic choke lever.

[@procellfox2]

I fixed the carburetor on that exact model today

[@brycek2033]

Hi James. Another excellent video! Question: I have a similar mower. I have cleaned the carb many times but I have to manually get the air vane just right (often wedging a screwdriver) to get my mower running ok. Any suggestions?

[@David-oh3rh]

Stupid nonsense by Briggs when a choke cable (which will literally never break for normal homeowner use) would work 100 times better. This "auto choke" will go on if you stop mowing and take a 10 minute break even though the engine is still at operating temp. Keep pulling and all you do is flood it because the choke valve is closed when it should be open.

[@tazmun]

It’s probably not a big issue on a Brigs exhaust, however it would be a good policy to actually clean the surfaces you’re putting the new gaskets on.

[@joseml3822]

Excellent thanks

[@Was-here2]

Did you just torque those muffler bolts? I thought I was bad.

[@jcondon1]

I may have. Normally cannot get a torque wrench in them but I do try.

[@daverivas1267]

Look at 5:37. See the shiny tabs They belong inside the cover. Other wise great video.

[@GoldenCup888]

I believe that part is called a Thermostat based on the E-replacement parts website. Does this mean it is an autochoke system? I ask because I'm looking to get the carburetor but they have 3 different ones for the same Briggs & Stratton engine that I have, so I'm not which is the correct one. It does have the same mechanism as the one in your video that you replaced. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[@susanmurphy4547]

Great Video

[@johnh9507]

what is the factory gap adjustment when its cold?

[@chrisnorden8043]

Picked one up off the street today. Still in the diagnostic process. You have the torque specs for the head bolts and the carb by chance?

[@tonyaperry4763]

What will cause that choke not to open?

[@StupidRalph]

The part replaced in this video is the thermostat. It opens and closes the auto choke as the temperature heats and cools.

[@frederickwhite6416]

James I have this exact machine along with a few others you've made videos for, question. It starts on 1st pull the majority of the time. Runs like a top, cuts well and it's great. Until the hills. It barely pulls itself on a level driveway. Is there a way to check the tranny? The axles are clear, nothing is binding but it won't get out of its own way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[@robstone5333]

Frederick White-Assuming the pulley is spinning, it’s likely the belt needs tightening. Adjust the cable to pull the pulley back further. This will tighten the belt, which will increase your self Propell speed/torque. (Note that a new belt may be needed as the belt will stretch with age.) Also check your drive wheels. Replace if tread is worn. Clean tread if tread is packed with mud/grass. Having good wheel traction is surprisingly important. Hope this helps. Greetings from Missouri.

[@frederickwhite6416]

@@robstone5333 thank you for responding. Judging by the slack I'm thinking it's probably the belt. Although it's not an older model it gets a lot of use. My buddy has a landscaping business. A backhoe, a few 0 turns, Gravely mowers and a few Toros. He can't get anyone to work so he asked if I'd help out. Sure why not. None of the local shops can get anyone to work so they're way to busy. I'm mechanically declined so it's a trial and error deal. Thanks again for your help. I'll run through your suggestions and see what I get. Thanks again.

[@robstone5333]

@@frederickwhite6416 you’re welcome and good luck to you. Help wanted all over the place. They’d rather get gov money than work. I’m 60 years young and going strong, but do admit I SMH a lot. Take care.

[@frederickwhite6416]

@@robstone5333 indeed, it's too hot, too many bugs, it's dirty, it's too hard. High school kids get $150 a day under the table and won't do it. The next round of Covid is prepared and ready to go, gas prices are rising, inflation, borders open and 2 of my sons just returned and are doing a quick turn back to the far east with the Corps. Things are not going well.

[@Kube_Dog]

Mine doesn't have that arm-style piece. It has a bracket that comes up from the middle of the muffler, and on the top of that bracket it has a round button-looking piece about the diameter of a nickel, and on that "button" it has a little lever that moves left and right. Connect to that lever is linkage that opens and shuts the choke. Do you have any instructions for that type of auto-choke system? My mower starts after 2 or 3 cranks, but then won't start again when it's hot. When it's hot and turned off, the choke stays open, but should be closed to start I think. So I think it may be the "button" piece?

[@jcondon1]

I have only fixed the auto choke type in this video. It actually sounds like it is working correctly. It is not supposed to close the choke again until the exhaust is completely cool. I prefer the manual choke systems for that reason. If you have a briggs quantum engine, you can actually convert it to a primer system.

[@Kube_Dog]

​@@jcondon1 Thank you for the reply. I agree with everything you said. The more I fiddle with it, the more convinced I am the choke is working correctly. I cleaned the gas cap vent hole and will test the fuel flow when it stops raining here. Then I will get into the flywheel and see if the key is off a bit, because one time the pull cord locked up on me about a month ago when the problem slowly began to develop. I can't figure it out. Already changed the plug, gas never an issue (fresh, ethynol-free). Cleaned the carb at the beginning of the season, no issues found. It's crazy.

[@paulbillings1791]

Did you bother to explain the actual auto choke adjustment at the top end of the arm that engages the the vane? I don't think so.

[@florencioortiz3687]

Sir what is the name of the part that you replaced?

[@jcondon1]

Thermostat. Part number for this mower was 593208

[@stuartbear922]

I have done this, but now it won't start when warm or hot.

[@scrumthebum2451]

I want to eliminate my auto choke & make it manual. I have the problem three times this summer. Any ideas ?

[@jcondon1]

This engine does have version with a primer bulb. You would have to get a new airbox with the primer bulb and swap the carburetor for the corresponding one that does not have a choke plate.

[@williamsawyer9768]

I might not be informed about the auto choke operation, completely. Why could you not just take the old one apart clean it/fix it and reinstall the old one. I think that would have been a interesting video as well.

[@curie3938]

if you are talking about the thermostat mechanism, I have tried that for me it did not work. I suspect that button on the part measures heat so no amount of cleaning will fix that. I just received a new thermostat and am waiting for decent weather to work in the garage. Note, if you are replacing the therm make sure they include the gaskets

[@oatnoid]

Man the first thing I would do is blow off the grass and dirt and wash it. That air filter alone could be the problem.

[@docreaper6449]

Part numbers would help

[@lucianoraygoza6645]

😊

[@philliphall5198]

My says is pull and clean carb or you’ll do it very soon anyway

[@henrysmith8012]

What ever happened to a choke lever or pull cable. They dont fail much. Huskvarna s auto choke is junk.

[@jcondon1]

I with you there. Prefer the manual choke.

[@David-oh3rh]

It's a ridiculous way of starting an engine. You can mow and take a 10 minute break and the POS will cool down and put the choke back on even though the engine is still warm/hot. Then the ONLY way to get it started (if you want to actually FINISH mowing your yard) is to unscrew the air filter,tilt it down and put a long screwdriver in the throat to open the butterfly valve and get it started again. Then reinstall your air filter. STUPID beyond BELIEF!!!

[@Ray-lo4hr]

Hello, sign Canada

[@johnh9507]

Why doesn't anyone show you how to actually adjust the choke there's two tabs on that plastic vein

[@benrobles752]

Your wife sure does have a nice mower now. Hee Hee.

[@jcondon1]

lol! that would be the day. I saw my neighbors wife cutting the grass last summer. Was very impressed.

[@stevenlatre7934]

Part numbers!!!

[@jcondon1]

The thermostat part number is in the description.

[@rjjohnson9443]

Why didn't you give us the part number for the auto choke? You just shook the box in front of the camera. What is the part number?

[@jcondon1]

RJ Johnson 593208. It’s in the video description.

[@derpherpp]

Lol he used torque wrench on a mower

[@joshmouth]

This is not an auto choke. The official manufacturer name is called a ‘choke thermostat’. This is important because there are some carbureted small engines and even carbureted vehicle engines that use automatic chokes and others that use choke thermostats. I have not had much luck finding any videos on how to set or fix the mechanism on these if they are off and the Briggs & Stratton directions are not the best

[@theebalz]

I have the same engine and the auto choke seems to be fine. I had this running last year. Any chance we could talk??