Hi Will, and welcome to TGMF.

Have you tried removing the spark plug and see if it spins over ok like that.  Sounds to me like the decompressor on the camshaft isn't working, so as soon as it hits compression it stops. You could also try turning the engine backwards by hand half a turn or so, and then try engaging the starter again.

It could be valve clearances need adjustment, but to be honest this doesn't normally just happen suddenly unless something comes undone.

 

Andy, yes you have to remove the flywheel. Do you have a hammer?

Although it has a key the flywheel sits on a taper.  If you unscrew the starter clutch again, and remove the domed washer.  Then looking at the flywheel face on, if you turn the flywheel so it's set like this image.



You'll see the key and keyway is away from the arrow in the pic.  Where the arrow is pointing give it a sharp blow with said hammer while holding the flywheel with your left hand. It should come off without issue.

Have you checked and cleaned the points behind the flywheel? They can very often lose their spark when not used for long periods.

Quote from: Jrich179 on May 11, 2024, 07:59:33 PMWas a bit like it this winter Mick, I agree with Greg quite a few of my regulars were late booking this year as they were convinced it would stop raining for one more cut. I can confirm it didn't stop here in Cornwall. Now it's mental I've got statermotor and water in fuel jobs left right and centre.

Hi Jrich179, and welcome to TGMF. 

Yep it's the same here, it's finally stopped raining, grass is growing like crazy now the temperature has gone up.

Quote from: Jrich179 on May 11, 2024, 08:02:38 PMJust out of interest had a ding dong with a customer you seemed to believe he was the only one with a broken mower. What sort of times are you all taking, phone call to bench as it were then time to repait on top?

You always get a few customers like that.    I've scaled down a bit now so can be a bit more selective to what I take in.  Probably a couple of weeks behind, then depends if I can get the parts should I need them, I mean other than normal service parts..

I've no idea what other dealers waiting times are.

PDR, Hi and welcome to TGMF.

Interesting, I did wonder if that would work.  I've see people do similar to power tool battery packs by connecting a dead battery to a good one to to put some charge back in so the charger can see it.

Would connecting via your method, a good charged cell to one of those bad cells also work?

If you mean the throttle cable, it should fit under the tank, the mounting bracket should have linkage for it. It looks like you have most of the parts from your pictures, though I can't see if the governor spring is missing.


A picture of the underside of the tank might help me to point you in the right direction.

The wire from the flywheel area is just a stop wire, this is normally mounted on one of the two breather screws.  The idea is, you short / ground this wire to kill the spark and stop the engine.  So basically you can fit a stop switch to the handles and connect to this terminal. 

Well it's definitely not a Tecumseh, it's a Briggs & Stratton.

The tank is from a donor engine judging by the colour, the throttle cable would normally go under the tank where you should see a cable clamp and control linkage. This is coupled to a governor spring and the other end of that spring hooks in the the governor arm at the bottom of your photo. 

It's a job to explain so I'll try and find a YT video or two so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about.  .

It's definitely a Briggs & Stratton if it's the picture you posted above, they are the only engines that use that starter clutch. Also Tecumseh never used the tank/carb combo, they had separate carb and tank.

I'm curious now, could you try and attach a photo of the engine please so I can confirm. Also one of the carb / tank assembly.

Quote from: Sonnym on May 09, 2024, 03:54:32 PMHi mick. The lad hadn't picked up the tiller. I put fuel straight into the carb and away it goes,until the carb runs out of fuel and stops. Won't start again until I flood it.
Any ideas please

So that proves you still have a carburettor issue. Please check all the gaskets between carb and inlet are good and the correct way around (If you have had the carb off previously)  And again you need to check that the carb bowl is getting fuel, and that the Main jet and emulsion tube are clean and free from build up of varnish or other foreign objects.

Main jet is the one in the bottom located behind the bowl bolt.  Also make sure the idle jet is clear, that's the one located underneath the idle speed screw on the top.

Hi Lmcc22, and welcome to TGMF.

I'm assuming the engine is still running at the same speed as it was when it was driving normally?

What's the exact model number of your machine on the silver sticker o the top of the deck.  Should be three number and a letter (Example 566G). Or if that's missing just attach a photo of the machine to a reply here.  Just so we know what we're looking at. 

Quote from: Frantic fox on May 07, 2024, 08:05:30 AMOil or grease on it Mike? I was going to lube it just wasn't sure on what one would have been best.
Loving the hobby it's fun and I'm learning as I'm going along.
I do need a pull cord and housing for the same mower, and an air filter and box.
Really thank you for helping.

I usually just use a drop of engine oil.  If you look at the end of the square shaft you'll see a small hole in the centre of it, you can get a quirt of oil from a oil can through that, inside that square shaft at the bottom of the hole there is actually a oil pad to hold and distribute the oil. 

Just don't over oil it or the ball bearings will start to stick to the sides of the clutch housing.     

Quote from: Frantic fox on May 06, 2024, 07:51:36 PMMike, you diamond, I've been stressing all day, that is amazing.
Thank you so much.

No problem.  Just bare in mind this isn't a genuine Briggs & Stratton part but a after market one, but it should be fine, and a tad cheaper than genuine.   

Note: You should also lightly coat the shaft with oil when you fit the new one otherwise it will start shrieking and could cause damage to the recoil starter spring.   

Hi Frantic fox, and welcome to TGMF

You can find a Briggs and Stratton starter clutch at Garden Hire spares

Briggs & Stratton Starter Clutch Part Number - 399671

https://www.gardenhirespares.co.uk/1158-briggs-stratton-starter-clutch.html

You will need to unscrew that old part from your engine anticlockwise.

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Hi Gingerman, and welcome to TGMF.

If you check out the Weibang website it should have a dealer locator on there which will point you to your nearest dealer.  The only online supplier I found does the whole pulley assembly only which is a tad expensive.  https://www.mowers-online.co.uk/weibang-lawnmower-variable-speed-pulley-assembly-wgtas/

You could try stretching your old spring back out and get you going again for a while, but in my experience it will fail again at some point because the spring is pretty soft.    Also make sure the belts are good because they can get quite thin which also make them run loose.