OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Key Start 4 Taking Many Attempts to Stay Running.

Here is my Key Start Mustang I found many years ago and I have always had trouble getting it to run first go.
You pull it a few times and it starts for about 4 seconds before stalling. Pull it again once or twice and same thing. This may go on five more times, each subsequent time it runs that bit longer until eventually I stays on and I can cut my grass as normal. This is how it has always behaved.it is a beautiful smooth motor once going and has a label on the top of the engine that says QUIET in bold letters and it certainly lives up to it.
I have checked the paper filter element on the side of the engine and it looks pretty decent to me. I suspect the carb is the culprit but haven't bothered to pull it apart as I know I can eventually get the old sheila going and what a pleasure it is to use, once going.
What is the likely best remedy? Replace or try a clean out of the carby. I have heard a replacement is inexpensive, but I need to know the type it has first.

Hello Mowerfreik
Any keystart residential mower is rare.
It's nice to see this one saved - and original too.
I suspect the carby is indeed the culprit, as you suggest.

I have been intrigued by animals and mowers for some time.
Is your cat showing dominance over the lawnmower for your
back yard? Is its name ...'Vortex'?

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Jack

Yeah, I've altered a few things on my little princess such as fitting early 70s type 8"rear wheels in lieu of the "white wall" look wheels, as I thought it would suit it's four stroke character better. Also fitted the chrome wheel covers to replace the original orange ones, to emulate the common Rover combination of red base with chrome finish wheels along with the four stroke engine. I love it.
Catcher was originally the Vortex style but I think the older single grip thumb latch catcher looks better on this.
Regarding the cat, her name's Fontanelly, after the two famous female Australian singers, Margaret Fontain and Dame Nelly Melba!! My dad's idea.

Forgot to mention, the battery is not the original Victa issued one that is held on with two skinny bolts between the two main power packs. I replaced it with this non standard one I got from Jaycar at $30. It is held on with a pair of zip ties against the aformantioned bolts.
Not the most tidy looking but is functional.

Hello Mowerfreak

Thanks for the clarification on the mods to the Victa electric start.
Both Briggs and Tecumseh had small electric start engines from the late 1960s.
Of course they never sold many - limited market; expensive price.

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Jack

p.s. Please thank your Dad for the clever name, Fontanelly (Fonti).
We once had a family cat that we named Macavity (after the T.S. Elliot poem).

Does the victa twin in the background run?

try an easy fix 1st , pull out the carb bowl nut and give it a clean maybe the bowl too see how much dust is in there , sounds like it should be an easy fix .

carb bowl nut IS the main jet and some air up the threadfs helps too when you have jet out . but careful not to disturb the float

hi mowerfreak
common fault with these mowers with regard to hard starting is the throttle linkage is slightly out of wack and not getting full choke
take the air cleaner off and check the choke butterfly is fully closed with the throttle in start choke position , if choke is not fully closed you will need to adjust the throttle cable
jut a thought

Thanks all for providing some leads. I will let you know how it goes.
Yes the twin goes after some persuasion, but I suspect one of the cylinders is "dicky" as the vibration at the handles is atrocious and I fitted new blades not too long ago. Another topic for another day.