Lawn Mower Engine Question

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  • Tomc1947

    Sharpshooter
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    Jan 17, 2013
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    YODER
    I was helping a friend cleanout his basement and found a old lawn mower in the corner.
    I recently moved and now have a small yard to mow, so he gave it to me.

    It's a '98 vintage Yard Machine with a Briggs &Stratton engine.

    Thing is, it's been sitting for at least 10 years(and has very little use).
    Manually turned the blade and pulled the cord, doesn't seem seized..

    Is there anything special I have to do to get it going besides, air filter, new plug, clean the carb, gas treatment and oil change?

    Thanks
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    Dec 7, 2011
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    Speedway area
    And if it won't start after that... Then perhaps the plug wire.

    Should run for another 50 years once it's going. Those old "real" B&S engines are good kit.

    -J-

    The roto tiller we use was my dads. He bought in in 1868 or so if memory serves. dad sold it to a friend of mine and we used it steadily until last year. He loaned it to a buddy who tried to cut a trench with it. Burned it up. I got it running but the old Briggs laid down for good. 45 + years ain't bad. Would still be running but for an idiot.
     

    Bennettjh

    Grandmaster
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    Jul 8, 2012
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    That should get you running. If it's 2-stroke, there won't be any oil to change. It'll need to be mixed with the gas.
     

    Bowman78

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    Jun 12, 2010
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    Camby
    The roto tiller we use was my dads. He bought in in 1868 or so if memory serves. dad sold it to a friend of mine and we used it steadily until last year. He loaned it to a buddy who tried to cut a trench with it. Burned it up. I got it running but the old Briggs laid down for good. 45 + years ain't bad. Would still be running but for an idiot.
    Was it steam powered??? My math is off??!!! Just kiddin CM... Older mechanical equipment is so much better than the current crop of Chinese outsourced crap!!!!
     

    Bigtanker

    Cuddles
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    Aug 21, 2012
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    Osceola
    The roto tiller we use was my dads. He bought in in 1868 or so if memory serves. dad sold it to a friend of mine and we used it steadily until last year. He loaned it to a buddy who tried to cut a trench with it. Burned it up. I got it running but the old Briggs laid down for good. 45 + years ain't bad. Would still be running but for an idiot.

    You are a lot older than I thought. If your dad bought it in 1868 than you must be over 100......... and the Roto tiller must be worth a fortune!
     

    Butch627

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    Jan 3, 2012
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    I would squirt some spray oil in the cylinder with the plug out and pull it a dozen times to try and get some lube in the cylinder. If its a 2 stroke Briggs circa 1998 it would be the first one I have ever seen. In my older gas engines I am mixing a touch of 2 stroke oil in the gas just to try and give them a bit of extra lube
     

    Suprtek

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    Nov 27, 2009
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    Wanamaker
    Yep. Like others are saying, shouldn't be too much trouble getting it going. After some service, it may be a bit hard to start at first but once you get it going it should start much easier. I've got a couple old engines around here I need to get going. One is on a generator and the other is an old push mower. They've both been sitting for years. I'd be willing to bet money that I could get them both going with a few hours work and a couple drinks. I hope whoever has the names "Briggs" and "Stratton" are very rich because they made a damn good product.
     
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