Mountfield won't prime

[Somerset]

Hello everyone

I've just joined the site in hope of some help.

I have a mountfield empress 16. She starts fine, but needs a few pulls from cold. The problem is I'm not drawing any fuel though when try and prime her with fuel.

I've changed the primer blub and replaced all the seals/gaskets in the carb. I'm at a loss as fuel is clearly getting thought and after a couple of big pulls she'll fire up and once started once will fire up with no problem.

Any suggestions please???

[Mick]

Hi Somerset, and welcome to TGMF.

What engine do you have on yours. Briggs and Stratton? or Tecumseh?

[Somerset]

Hi Somerset, and welcome to TGMF.

What engine do you have on yours. Briggs and Stratton? or Tecumseh?

Hi Mike

It's a Briggs and Stratton.

[Mick]

Thanks.  So the primer button is at the front of the engine and fitted into the plastic air filter backplate?

[Somerset]

Thanks.  So the primer button is at the front of the engine and fitted into the plastic air filter backplate?

Yes that's the one.

[Mick]

Thanks.  So the primer button is at the front of the engine and fitted into the plastic air filter backplate?

Yes that's the one.

Have you tried fitting two gaskets between the air filter backplate and the carb.  The plastic backplates have a habit of distorting and that in turn causes priming issues.  I quite often fit two gaskets.

Also make sure you fitted a primer button with a hole in the middle of it, It needs that hole.

[Somerset]

Thank you

I'll try 2 gaskets. Yes the primer bulb has a hole in it. The new one looks to be the same as the old one apart from.being red instead of black.

It primed fine last year, but when I got it out this year it just won't prime.

[Mick]

Thank you

I'll try 2 gaskets. Yes the primer bulb has a hole in it. The new one looks to be the same as the old one apart from.being red instead of black.

It primed fine last year, but when I got it out this year it just won't prime.

The two gasket trick usually works and certainly worth a try.  As long as the bowl seal is good and the filter backplate is sealed against the carb correctly there should be no reason for none priming.  You're simply putting a little pressure in the bowl which pushes a small amount of fuel up into the intake. With the air filter removed you should be able to see the fuel entering the intake when you prime it. 

Let me know how it goes.

[Somerset]

2 gaskets has worked, thank you. Now I just need to replace the clutch cable.....