Troy Bilt Riding Mower Won't Start

A simple removal and re-installation of the carburetor for the single cylinder rider is the focus of the video today. Of course there is the typical discussion during the small project trying to make the job go smoother for those less experienced.
So many problems with riders as well as push mowers are simple to troubleshoot and repair, but end up being pretty expensive to have it done in service shops. But that's ok too because they all have overhead to cover an we all know money is what makes the world go around. But looking at it the other way, as a consumer its my responsibility to keep my own expenses as low as possible because as we all know, money is what makes the world go around. Sound familiar...?? It should because that's just the way it is.
Neither myself nor my little old neighbor lady are independently wealthy, but I can give her a helping hand with her power tools and even her well pump and in turn she can keep the warm loaves of banana bread coming my way. Even if is only once or twice a year.... If no one keeps track, it always will come out even at the end of the year.
#troybiltridingmower, #smallenginerepair, #outdoors

[@mikeheilman2560]

Great job Wendell, another "Man of the Neighborhood" year award. Take care and I know your neighbor appreciates all your assistance. Be safe......

[@tractorman4461]

Hey Mike !! Good Evening my friend. I've missed the last two live shows with Ed. Dang. Worked late on one and just plain forgot on the 4th. LOL. Take care and enjoy the evening with Rose.

[@DIYMyWay]

Hi Wendell! Glad that was an easy fix! And very kind of you to help out your neighbor. Thanks for sharing!

[@tractorman4461]

Heck Martin, its gotta be easy or I can't do it !! That's the way I see it anyway. LOL. She was definitely happy for it to cost nothing to get up and running that's for sure. Thanks for watching !!

[@mafarmtown2086]

Little neighbor lady will appreciate you fixing her mower. A loaf of banana bread or two sounds like a good trade. For letting mowers or trucks sit over the winter, I’ve added Stabil for several yrs. This spring for the tractor Seafoam has been used with every tank full. Gummed up carb is most likely the culprit on my old front line trimmer because it has no oomph. Did a dandy job when newer with almost pencil size line. Taking it to a shop would cost as much as the thing did new 15 years ago.

[@tractorman4461]

That's the sad thing about having an old piece of equipment. My buddy that owns the local Cub Cadet dealership won't even take an old anything in for service. He realizes it's just too expensive with what he has to charge for shop labor for his employees pay+ benefits and knows most every customer will not be happy when billed. I'd keep running a heavy blend of SeaFoam and over time it may just open itself up and run good again. If you give it a try, you should run it wide open from start to finish, no low speed operation at all. With the heavy blend, the intense heat may burn through an exhaust carbon build up while also clearing partially restricted jets in the carb. Good luck !!

[@OldSneelock]

It just feels right to share what we know with our neighbors.

[@tractorman4461]

Well like I say all the time my friend... Information is not ours to keep, its just ours to use and pass along. Hopefully the recipient will build on it and do better for himself than I did.

[@tomfillmore9710]

great job buddy you got it fixed your neighbors are very lucky to have you I need a Tractorman 44 for a neighbor lol take care and have a great night

[@tractorman4461]

Well....you're a bit too far north for me to be too neighborly to you, but if you moved about 900 miles closer...... Hahahahahaha. Thank you for the visit and you and Gail have a wonderful week buddy !!

[@tectalabyss]

Hey my friend. great job. Glad there are people like you in the world. Liked,shared. All my very best.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahahaha....thank you Bobby for the first smile provided by the comment section today !!

[@jankotze1959]

Great video and thanks for making a video of it, where a garden tractor is you will find me there, love those small ride-on's, have a great day Wendell

[@tractorman4461]

Good Morning my friend, I hope the day finds you well. I get involved with them on a 'have-to' basis. The older ones are a lot more fun to work on. Some of the new ones are an electrical nightmare !! I do have a Simplicity from the late 50's or early 60's. Maybe even a few other old ones hiding in a shed too. LOL

[@FanjetRG]

Very informative. You are surely a jack of all trades…keep them coming

[@tractorman4461]

Good Evening Raymond, thank you for always a nice comment buddy. I pretty much make up stuff as I go along and rely on good luck most of the time for the outcome. LOL.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Good job on the fix. No need to fix lawnmowers here. Its so dry all the grass is dead.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahahaha...we've been paying the preacher every Sunday so we have thick green carpet all over the place up here Randy. We have been real lucky with rainfall so far. Just enough and almost perfectly timed. But that will change by months end I bet.

[@oilyragsgarage7200]

Great job Wendell, I'm sure your neighbour will be very happy 😀.

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, she was quite happy that her son (who's the same age as me) can get back to cutting her grass. Thanks for the visit buddy !!

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

Man yeah Mr Wendell!! Great fix!! Boy that gas sure has created issues with small engine carbs and fuel lines over the years! Have done the exact thing many times over the years of that "nasty" gas!! Awesome repair and details as always my friend! The neighbors are very lucky to have you around for sure!! Another great video my friend!! Look fwd to seeing what's next 😁😁👍👍

[@tractorman4461]

Well Nelson, I never know what's gonna be next because as I say a lot, things change with a phone call !! LOL This one was a simple one for sure so I got lucky yet again my friend. My little old neighbor lady is 90 now and is lucky enough to have one son keep the grass cut but I think his maintenance schedule is a little lacking...LOL Have a wonderful day and try to keep cool this week.

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

@@tractorman4461 You sir are a scholar!! Yes sir love every min of them, hope you do as well!!

[@tractorman4461]

@@Pennies_on_the_dollar Yessir I do. Your videos remind me of the things I miss from years long passed. Except your equipment is much more modern than what we had. You exemplify and ARE the embodiment of the American Spirit my friend and it is a pleasure to know you.

[@glenharper3136]

Good tip Wendell, I have an old Troy Built.

[@tractorman4461]

That's good Glen. I bet over the years they used different power units. This big problem today is almost always the gas gumming up the works...or oxidation in the carb due to the ethanol blend drawing moisture.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

A delightful Sunday evening lawn Tractorman 44 vid celebrated with the tippin of a CuppaJO your way! Interestingly enough, I must fool with my Craftsman mower and I don’t think it’s getting a spark, which I haven’t checked as yet. Did replace the very dirty air filter and new spark plug but it won’t turn over. So may be this week I’ll get to it so I can haul my log splitter to all those dead oaks I had cut down in the spring. I have seven sizable dead oaks to make into firewood. Won’t be too long until we’ll need it but not for a good while. But as we know all too well, time goes plum quicker than a 44 buck during rutting season! Do tractors have a rutting season? I don’t know, I’ve never seen a tractor factory video! Hummmmmmm, a true mystery, eh? I mean lawn tractors are off spring of the big ones right? Perhaps you have a 44 nursery there? Anyway, enuff of me DaveyJO foolery and it’s time to heat up me CuppaJO since I was busy buttoning. A tippin toast is headin your way! Squeezes to The Missus Pleasus! DaveyJO

[@tractorman4461]

Heck yeah DaveyJO...gotta get on them oaks buddy !! Shhhhhh....no talk about cold weather just yet. I'm just now getting thawed out from last winter !! LOL. My tractors only 'rut' in the mud. And boy do they rut deeply....occasionally all the way up to the axle!! That's why several of the old dogs I got run chains year round. Well, that's mainly because I'm too lazy to take them off and put 'em on every year. True story !! As always, I love your commentary....never know what's gonna come outta your creative mind. But its never a dull thought, that's for sure. I'll be enjoying some fresh black stuff in the morning my friend. I'll be toasting ya then my friend !!

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

@@tractorman4461 Toasting Monday morning! I’ll get it all ready to go in the morning so I can press the button on the Cuisinart (had to go look at the spelling) and be ready for drippin, tippin, sippin and rippin,,,,,,of course it all depends on what I ate this eve! The top of a fine Monday to yaz! DaveyJO

[@tractorman4461]

@@daveyjoweaver6282 Hahahahaha....crack me up DaveyJO. I'm starting the second pot for the morning as I go through and make my replies.... Have a great day no matter what you work on or do my friend. Stay cool and don't overdo it yet old buddy !!

[@ThoenWorks]

Good video friend. That crazy little solenoid has given me problems on a couple engines.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha...yes, they can be somewhat of a nuisance on occasion. I called for a price and I was quoted $94 on my daughter's mower that is almost this identical mower !! I was lucky enough to 'un-gum' her's and put it back on.

[@johnanthony2545]

Good going. They always have to add safety gadgets. Something else to go wrong. This wasn’t the issue this time fortunately so a good cleaning and back in business. We run ethanol free gas in all our small engines. Rarely have carb issues.

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, all the safety gadgets do add to the frustration on many occasions John. Like the safety switches on the mower deck. Some even have one that kills the mower deck when you put the mower in reverse. Now I understand the need for the seat switches, but reverse....?? If ethanol free was easily available, that's all that would go in my small engines.

[@johnanthony2545]

@@tractorman4461 believe it or not and you will. Reverse kill is to dummy proof so people stop backing up over children with riding mowers. I never let my children play or be in my vicinity when mowing just for shrapnel reasons. Many people have 0 concept of the power equipment has and the dangers and responsibilities that come with them. So we as knowledge people have to deal with their incompetence and or ignorance.

[@tractorman4461]

@@johnanthony2545 Ain't that something. I'm sure you are right about that John, and I can understand the concept. It is amazing how careless some people are, actually its truly amazing that some can't recognize the obvious danger of power equipment. Mind boggling. But it's a real thing.

[@OGAOutdoors]

Nice job sir gotta avoid that nasty gas. Take care, Ben.

[@tractorman4461]

That 'nasty gas' creates tons of issues with small engines. Many mowers and weedeaters sitting by trash cans for bulk pickup are being thrown away because of a problem caused by the gas.

[@tinkerinbruce6560]

The alcohol and ethanol they put in his gas today was just simply tear up the small engines. I always try to use 92 octane and that does seem to help. I like you’ve cleaned out many of those carburetors.

[@tractorman4461]

Ya gotta stay on top of all the small engines now a days. I see guys on forums continually saying they have NO issues at all with leaving gas in trimmers, mowers, saws and even tractors for years and suffer no issues at all !! I don't know how they do it Bruce. I don't get that lucky.

[@tinkerinbruce6560]

@@tractorman4461 yea me either. I worked for 10 years in Stihl and I couldn’t begin to say how many trimmers I and saws I have worked on. The older saws with the old Walbro carbs didn’t seem to have as much as an issue. I believe that the jets and one-way valves used larger ports.

[@richardjacques6370]

Your lady friend is lucky to have you

[@tractorman4461]

Thank you Richard for the kind words. I was sawing a good oak the other day and she stopped by to watch on her way to town. She's almost 91 now.

[@brycewiborg8095]

My 2 y o Troybilt is powered by Honda. So far no problem, but I drain, and run it out of gasoline. Thank you.

[@tractorman4461]

Man, Honda makes a good engine for just about anything !! With today's gas, doing what you do is probably overall the best solution to eliminating this issue Bryce.

[@mikeadams2339]

Learned a new one on the wrench. Thankz!

[@tractorman4461]

Heck Mike, I have quite a number of 'customized' wrenches. I usually use older ones to bend to odd angles or thin down or cut off to create a super short stubby for a tight space.

[@regsparkes6507]

Wendell, you explained about using a thin wrench for the anti backfire solenoid, of course I've had to do this too,.. but you reminded me of a dandy set of very thin wrenches that I happen to find at a local hardware / mechanical supply shop a few years ago. These were called 'tappet wrenches' and were of the open end box wrench style, but about 7 or 8 inches long too. Have you ever seen wrenches like these? These 'tappet wrenches' are not very commonly seen these days, but I'm glad I have them, I can tell you! They really come in handy for jobs like this. I wonder too, at how on earth did the owner of that Troy Bilt tractor mower get it so covered in mud? Was the air filter full of dust and dirt too?

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, I was foundering for the name as I called them 'thinnest wrenches you have'...LOL Brain fart, but that happens a lot while recording. I too have a 40 year old double end wrench set of long Craftsman tappet wrenches but as thin as they are they are still too thick to fit in the tight space between the float bowl bottom and the top of the solenoid. I'm sure the mower manufacturers have a specialty tool for sale just for this purpose though. I think its just another of the simple ways they use to discourage people working on stuff themselves. Remember the push mower with the extremely dirty filter a few weeks ago? Well this one, though pretty dirty, wasn't quite as bad as that one. My neighbor lady's son is the one that keeps her grass cut, then she asks me to look at the mowers when they won't start.

[@regsparkes6507]

@@tractorman4461 "Brain fart", how about this,.. I took a perfectly good wrench of mine a couple of weeks ago, and ground it down thin to fit in a job I was doing, then this video reminded me that I have that darn tappet wrench there in my tool box, yes it's 1/2 inch too. Hahaha.

[@tractorman4461]

@@regsparkes6507 Ok Reg, now I'm cleaning the screen and keyboard from the soda that spewed out trying to hold back a laugh !! LOL That's funny man.....funny.

[@regsparkes6507]

@@tractorman4461 Ahh, key boards are only cheap! LOL+

[@teronmack683]

This was a big help for me thanks for sharing 🎉

[@tractorman4461]

Well that's the cool thing about KZbin... usually a little help is just a few clicks away. Thanks for the input and I'm glad you benefitted today.

[@markfiorella7447]

another great job that is one dirty mower

[@tractorman4461]

Yes it sure is Mark, inside and out. But at least its running fine for now !! I don't mind doing the mechanics but I ain't going to do the washing. The last few seconds prove that. LOL

[@loodusefilm7881]

I have a pile of old bicycle wrenches that are stamped from sheet metal. They are pretty thin about 1.5 mm or less so they should fit to pretty tight places. Still used on bicycles.

[@tractorman4461]

Yeah, those would work perfectly in this case. I don't have any of those wrenches at all, but I do have a set of the old tappet wrenches but they were too thick to fit in the slim space. I think Briggs must sell a special tool for this situation.

[@martinbenton742]

My John Deere 110, 19hp Briggs would backfire if it was idled down low. I mean it would bang like a shotgun. I read in the book or a lawn mower mechanic told me to idle it up a shade. No more ringing ears. Doc

[@tractorman4461]

Whatever works is good Doc !! LOL A lot of engines are bad about partially shearing the crankshaft key while backfiring. That changes the timing enough that it becomes either hard to start or just won't start at all.

[@martinbenton742]

@@tractorman4461 I don't know if mine has that valve. It's probably 13 years old. It may.

[@MichaelBrown-re2hz]

How did you get the float bowl and everything past the frame?

[@tractorman4461]

I ground an end wrench down thin then unthreaded the solenoid assembly off the bottom of the carb. Then reversed the process for reassembly. It’s gotta be THIN so I used a trash wrench. It lives in the tool box now.

[@rickburris6164]

Will the use of Stabil gasoline stabilizer help this problem any? I don't know if any of our (my neighbor and me) mowers are new enough to have the anti backfire solenoids on them but I'm sure we would probably find a way around them like we do on safety switches. But don't tell any one.

[@tractorman4461]

You didn't hear it from me, but some guys just cut the stem off the solenoid to eliminate the function. It'll probably go to backfiring though if you do Rick. Now I use a product called Pri-G for all my gas engines, large and small but I did use Sta Bil for many many years with good luck. Most of the time with my personal equipment, I'll run them close to dry then add a good percentage of SeaFoam to the remaining gas, then start and let them run dry while running the heavy mixture. That practice saves me almost every time so far.

[@gaylegordon5797]

your video was good and explained things to me that husband didn;t but I still feel intimidated by carb issues and the prospect of replacing solenoid. 😒 Especially the idea about grinding down open end wrench. I have a grinder but I never used it (mechanicals was husbands domain). I have some VAGUE! notion that in one of the tool boxes or "free" OEM tool inclusions there was a strange thing flat wrench that just made no sense. Wonder if there is one floating about somewhere. Still a bit dubious about the battery. read 12.2...slow charged for 4 hours and came up to 13.x...(no under load). New spark, new fuel filter, fresh gas, and still won;t quite catch. Which is why I think and dread the CARB.

[@tractorman4461]

Now, if you go to an auto parts store you may be able to find a few actual factory made thin wrenches for just this application. Or you can google super thin box end wrench sets, look on Amazon and Temu sells real cheap ones for almost nothing too. You may only need to use one or two...I'd suggest 10, 11, 12 and 14mm for sure and 3/8", 7/16'', 1/2''. Chances are your solenoid is gummed up AND the main jet directly above the solenoid could very possiby be gummed up too. The hard part is actually removing the carb on this unit because it just about doesn't want to come off it seems. The solenoid actually holds the float bowl in place, so be careful to not break or lose the plastic float/main needle when the bowl comes off. Also there is a very thin 'O'-ring that seals the bowl and it is very hard to get back in place. It also could be a square O-ring. Actually square material formed into a circle to fit the bowl. Keep a clean white rag available to disassemble it on, the rag will keep the parts from bouncing off the bench and to the floor and the white material will highlight the parts as you line them up during disassembly. Btw, what you describe is typical of fuel not getting through the carburetor to the intake to ignite in the cylinder.

[@gaylegordon5797]

@@tractorman4461 thanks for those tips...but I believe that I found the right Carb on Amazon... and not that expensive and replacing is an easier option for me *I think* The tractor is out in the field a few days since and stuff grown around it and MY LUCKY something would drop and be LOST FOREVER. IF I replace and it works I can keep the old one and box it to "rebuild"/clean up later-over winter. If not I know my option is to buy end of season mower. That is actually how I bought this one on Oct 2019. Thanks for in depth description.

[@tink6177]

HI, I have to jump my battery every time i use tractor, its very new also and now it starts kicking and popping when i turn on blades. i used this tractor only dozen or more times. one thing i did wrong i left gas in tank and oil over the winter months. Do You have any ideas on the problem.

[@tractorman4461]

When I get one in with old fuel, I usually drain the tank then put a gallon high octane fuel in plus a healthy doze of Sea Foam. Then start and run at wide open throttle to see if the passing of the SeaFoam clears out the main jet enough to allow the carb to deliver enough fuel to make it run correctly. If that doesn't work, I opt for removing the carb and cleaning the internals very thoroughly. Oil left in over winter isn't going to hurt it but should be changed after you get the motor warmed up.

[@tink6177]

@@tractorman4461 Thanks for Your advice I will give it a try.

[@akquilter3519]

At the 5:40 time on video, why does the company design that so you have to use the bench grinder to make a wrench thin enough to use in that spot? Anyway, I enjoyed seeing you work out of the rain. No doubt your neighbor appreciates you.

[@tractorman4461]

Well, I think it's to sell you a 'specialty' tool that's a single function wrench. I have a pile of wrenches of all sizes that I have altered for specific functions. Some are custom bends of the wrench head, some are thinned like this one, some are cut super short. But ya gotta just do it sometimes. I really enjoy shop work in the rain.

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

Does back firing mess up anti back fire solenoid

[@tractorman4461]

No not really. The solenoid just eliminates the back firing when the engine is shut down especially while hot and at a higher than idle throttle position. It stops fuel from being sucked into the cylinder and exploding due to the heat.

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

@@tractorman4461 hey thanks for the information have a good day

[@tractorman4461]

@@patsymoore-ff2gz good luck with your project. Have a great evening.

[@regsparkes6507]

I just thought I'd 'google' 'tappet wrenches" and whaddya know, Amazon has a fair few sets offered on their website too. ( but I have to say, as these are so thin, I'd want to be sure of their 'quality' before buying on-line. I prefer to have a look for them at places/stores who sell known good quality tools first. ) I don't use them very often so never thought to see if these are available anymore,.. yep, they are.

[@tractorman4461]

Oh heck yeah, I'm sure they are readily available yet from most suppliers. But yes, you'd be smart to make sure of the quality. I use mine every time a valve cover comes off one of the old tractors.

[@johnrojas4282]

Got that same engine Getting fuel Getting spark But still wont start What could be wrong?

[@tractorman4461]

Your main jet could still be plugged. If you have fuel in the bowl the solenoid is working on the float bowl bottom. But with gas in the bowl it might not be able to get through a restricted main jet.

[@johnrojas4282]

@@tractorman4461 if that its problem i should get running with staring fluid?

[@tractorman4461]

@@johnrojas4282 a short blast of ether SHOULD make it fire. But not too much because you can do damage if you do. If it pops off, that’ll tell you that it’s not really getting fuel outta the bowl.

[@gatorsworld]

That bad alcohol gas? I hate it so much but I guess it’s where them small engine shops get most of there business....I hate it anyways......CHEERS

[@tractorman4461]

Most of the small business owners hate it just as bad as we do...as I understand. People can't quite understand why this condition isn't covered under warranty. My buddy that's the local Cub Cadet dealer tells me some customer horror stories all the time !! I think he picked up the Mahindra line of compact tractors too. But the diesels don't give near the trouble for obvious reasons.

[@saladinekinder2104]

He is a mechanic

[@tractorman4461]

I actually work more on full size old farm tractors, but sometimes these little guys find there way into the shop. Thanks for watching !!

[@dwilliams8002]

I wish I could find a good repair man. I've taken both of my lawnmowers to the repair man only for them to run maybe one or two times and I'm still without a lawnmower because neither of them will start after taking them both (push and riding mower) back to him for repairs and still neither of them will start. Just a waste of money.

[@tractorman4461]

Unfortunately the big culprit with the problems you describe can be attributed to the modern 'engineered gas' we are being provided. The formulated gas is intended to be used by the consumer within a 30 to 60 day period. Beyond that and the fuels can seem to become problematic unless you, as the end user, take steps for extending the 'shelf life' of it. The product I use religiously is PRI-G for gasoline and PRI-D for diesels. That in conjunction with a dash of SeaFoam seems to maintain the fuels stability for an extended period. PRI-G is so good, I add it to my 5 gallon containers at a rate of only 1ml/ gallon of fuel with an eyedropper. Also for extended shut down over winter, drain the fuel tank down to just a small amount on the bottom of the tank then add SeaFoam...about 1/4 cup. Run the engine completely OUT of fuel then and store it away. This is for lawnmowers, weed eaters, push mowers, ....any small engine except two strokes. Run the two strokes dry with the mixed fuel only. Then let them sit in storage. I think you'll find this to work pretty well with this nasty stuff they call gasoline today. Good luck my friend.

[@dwilliams8002]

@@tractorman4461 That could be the issue but when I go pick them up they start and no lie as soon as I get them and try to start them they won't start. I wouldn't say he repaired them but I would say is he rigged / patched them up because I know how to start a mower it's just after his work it's difficult to start them. The push mower will start and shut off, the riding will only turn but won't start. So I don't know.

[@tractorman4461]

@@dwilliams8002 All indications are sounding to me like it is fuel related with both machines. Personally I would install new CORRECT spark plugs and use NEW fuel treated with one of the good fuel stabilizer products and see if that helps. I think replacing the air filters and changing the plugs are basically all a homeowner is expected to do any more when it comes to small engines. There's no points at all to get out of adjustment, and there's little to adjust on the carbs at all. Even the floats are mostly plastic and not really adjustable. I sure hope you get to the bottom of the issue. Small engines can drive a guy just plumb nutz !!

[@circuitbreaker9001]

I find running the machine empty at the end of the season lets stop this. Where I am also I only use fuel without ethanol

[@tractorman4461]

The closest station I know of is 30 miles south of me to have ethanol free gas. But yes, running them dry is a very good solution for sure.

[@Bioandroid2023]

Pretty sure history will prove that ethanol gas will be proven to be the best salesman for engine repairmen and farmers while doing nothing toward climate or engine mpg. 😂

[@tractorman4461]

Well, you hit the nail on the head with that statement !! Today's formulated, oxygenated and ethanol mixed fuels have sold more small engine machines in the last ten years than a person can imagine.