Briggs Itek Model 44s977 25 hp

Hi ... This ride on mower has allways been hard to start from new. It has only done 50 hours, is well maintained and is still like new. When it has been standing for 7 to 10 days I can turn it over for 20 + seconds and usually it eventually starts, some times it takes 2 or 3 goes. The last times I started it, I let it run for a couple of minutes and then tured it off to see what would happen, it still took lots of cranking but would not start again and I was getting worried I might flatten the battery, so I removed the air filter and syringed a few mill of petrol into the air intake and it started immediately. It seem to run fine once started and after its been working for a while starts ok.
I would appreciate any advice as to why a new motor doesn't just fire up immediately like all the other motors I've had in the past. Its not making me feel to good about Briggs and Stratten engines.
Regards ... Nick

Hi Mike ... thanks for your reply, I'm away for the weekend but will check the choke first thing when back home in a couple of days. I didn't think to check that the choke was working properly because the mower was new and had been in for it's first service, but I guess assuming things are ok is not the way to go, so its good to start crossing of the simple things that in the end might be the problem.
 

Glad you got it.
I agree with your brother, my grandfather & uncle are both auto mechanics.