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2020/07/05 18:42:10
MrLynn

Briggs and Stratton 123K02-0454-E1 Choke Not Closing?

I'm visiting my daughter's family in Virginia, and volunteered to repair their Craftsman push mower (model no. 917.387681).  Problem: Starts right up, but dies after a couple of seconds.
 
Looks like the choke is not closing.  Discussion here and there says these engines, or some of them, have thermostatic-controlled automatic chokes. Not sure if this one does, though.  What I thought was the choke seems to be a throttle plate, held open by a spring.  Is that the choke.  The lever on the other side of the engine pivots on a bolt going inside the engine body, not an independent thermostat.  So I am confused.
 
Is the spring-controlled moveable plate the coke or a throttle plate?  Is the lever a thermostat, or a governor?
 
Can't see to find good diagrams or photos or videos of this particular model no., even here on Jack's.
 
What am I missing?
 
Engine model: Briggs and Stratton 123K02-0454-E1
 
/Mr Lynn
4 comments Leave a comment
AVB
Primer carburetor system, No choke.
 
Lever is the governor linkage.
 
Carburetor probably needs cleaning thoroughly.
2020/07/05 19:19:29
MrLynn
AVB
Primer carburetor system, No choke.
 
Lever is the governor linkage.
 
Carburetor probably needs cleaning thoroughly.



Thanks AVB.  I knew it had a primer, but didn't realize that could substitute for a choke.  Looks like other models have both (judging from YouTube videos).  
 
If I put the gas tank on I can get it to run for a second or two and have someone squirt some carb cleaner in. Maybe that will work.  Don't think I've got time on this  visit to take the carb apart and clean or rebuild it.
2020/07/05 21:56:22
MrLynn
Tried squirting some carburetor cleaner during the two or three seconds I could get the engine running (no primer, obviously). Didn't help any, but I was able to get the mover running longer by holding the end of a screwdriver against the carburetor opening, thereby making it act as a choke.

What does that tell us? Seems like it needs a richer mixture. And I guess that confirms that there is some fuel restriction in the carb, which needs a more thorough cleaning. /Mr Lynn
2020/07/06 19:52:46
TownsendsFJR1300
.
 
2020/07/07 19:34:02

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