Small engine question - lawnmower!

[Huffer]

Hi all,

So google has been really unhelpful. I have a Craftsman Lawnmower, a 22" deck with a 5.5hp engine.
Up until the last week it's been running like a top - I changed the spark plug, cleaned the airfilter and the oil a couple of months back.

Now, when it's running it's fouling the spark plug within a few seconds of operation; it starts fine, 3 primes and a pull.
I checked the spark plug gap and it's bang on 0.30", which is spec for this mower engine.

Basically, it sounds like a car running on 3 out of 4 cylinders - I think it's because of it dumping too much fuel into the cylinder (brand new spark plug comes out blacker than night).

How do I adjust the air/fuel mixture on something like this?

550 Series B&S Engine
22" Side Discharge
Model No
917.385125

[Wiscon_Mark]

Do you have steep hills to go up and down? Sometimes oil or gas can get into the air filter and foul it. You said you cleaned it, but I might try just replacing it. They're only a couple of bucks.

Otherwise, I wouldn't know, I'm not really a small engine guy :lol:

[Thomistopheles]

Start by cleaning the carb, then adjust it.

These should help.
http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/
\http://www.briggsandstratton.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/adjusting-the-carburetor/

[Huffer]

Good links! I will give this a shot this week.

[greenspeed]

Hi all,

So google has been really unhelpful. I have a Craftsman Lawnmower, a 22" deck with a 5.5hp engine.
Up until the last week it's been running like a top - I changed the spark plug, cleaned the airfilter and the oil a couple of months back.

Now, when it's running it's fouling the spark plug within a few seconds of operation; it starts fine, 3 primes and a pull.
I checked the spark plug gap and it's bang on 0.30", which is spec for this mower engine.

Basically, it sounds like a car running on 3 out of 4 cylinders - I think it's because of it dumping too much fuel into the cylinder (brand new spark plug comes out blacker than night).

How do I adjust the air/fuel mixture on something like this?

550 Series B&S Engine
22" Side Discharge
Model No
917.385125

If it's got a Tacumsa (sp?) motor on it the love to leave the float bowls stuck open so they just pour in fuel....or so the one we had liked to do it alot

[Wiscon_Mark]

He mentioned that it has a Briggs & Stratton motor.