Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked?

pintocrazy · 12-05-2007, 02:26 PM

I have a Briggs and Stratton 16 horse on an older Montgomery Ward riding lawn mower. The engine won't stay running unless the carb is choked a little. If I push the choke all the way in the engine will bog down and die. It runs ok with it choked a little, but lacks power and bogs down when put under load. It won't start either unless it is choked also, regardless of how long it has been running. I may have put some 92 octane gas in accidentally, would that have an effect on the performance? It does backfire after I shut it off now since I put in the 92 octane. Any ideas? I have a snowblower on the front and don't feel like shoveling, so please give me some ideas.

Thanks,
Adam

**grumpygit** · 12-18-2007, 05:52 PM

It sounds like fuel starvation.
Have you tried changing the fuel filter?

**K-B** · 12-19-2007, 10:50 AM

Like grumpygit said, I would check the filter first, then see what shape the carburetor is in. Check/change the spark plug also. Another possibility is a valve problem.

Bronson7 · 12-25-2007, 02:09 PM

Check fuel filter first, then next, check for a vacuum leak. It's running too lean, that's why you have to choke it a bit to run. Check the tightness of the carb. You might be sucking air between the carb and the intake.
Bronson7

trailrider894 · 01-02-2008, 09:24 AM

i go with what bronson7 said. but i have had this happen before i changed the air filter and changed the jet's unsless you can change them on this particular engine.

Big Swooh · 01-13-2009, 09:11 AM

I have had several Briggs engines that have had the same issue. With some of the engines that rely on a tight vacum seal to draw gas from the tank you need to make sure there are no cracks in the fuel cap. I have had people give me mowers that would only start once you put fuel in the carb and eventually die. The problem was a cracked fuel cap. Look over your cap and give it a shot.

12-05-2007, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
pintocrazy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 OS: win98	Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? I have a Briggs and Stratton 16 horse on an older Montgomery Ward riding lawn mower. The engine won't stay running unless the carb is choked a little. If I push the choke all the way in the engine will bog down and die. It runs ok with it choked a little, but lacks power and bogs down when put under load. It won't start either unless it is choked also, regardless of how long it has been running. I may have put some 92 octane gas in accidentally, would that have an effect on the performance? It does backfire after I shut it off now since I put in the 92 octane. Any ideas? I have a snowblower on the front and don't feel like shoveling, so please give me some ideas. Thanks, Adam

12-18-2007, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
grumpygit T-Shirt Winner Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: hertford, england Posts: 4,746 OS: win xp pro sp3 My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? It sounds like fuel starvation. Have you tried changing the fuel filter? __________________ Grumpygit

12-19-2007, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
K-B Mod. Linux, Wrench Turner Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,883 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Re: Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? Like grumpygit said, I would check the filter first, then see what shape the carburetor is in. Check/change the spark plug also. Another possibility is a valve problem. __________________

12-25-2007, 02:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bronson7 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 74 OS: XP Home	Re: Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? Check fuel filter first, then next, check for a vacuum leak. It's running too lean, that's why you have to choke it a bit to run. Check the tightness of the carb. You might be sucking air between the carb and the intake. Bronson7

01-02-2008, 09:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
trailrider894 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 OS: Window's XP Home SP2	Re: Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? i go with what bronson7 said. but i have had this happen before i changed the air filter and changed the jet's unsless you can change them on this particular engine.

01-13-2009, 09:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Big Swooh Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows xp	Re: Briggs 16 won't stay running unless choked? I have had several Briggs engines that have had the same issue. With some of the engines that rely on a tight vacum seal to draw gas from the tank you need to make sure there are no cracks in the fuel cap. I have had people give me mowers that would only start once you put fuel in the carb and eventually die. The problem was a cracked fuel cap. Look over your cap and give it a shot.