I broke the rod in my HM80 on a snowblower. I was able to get a new rod and rebuilt the engine and carburetor. It started after a few pulls and it ran for about 15 mins while I messed with the carb screws and governor. I shut it off and I thought everything was great. Next day when I went to use it, I was going to fine tune the high and low speed screws and had it running for about 3 mins. when it kept dying at low speed. Then it just won't start any more. I don't get any pop or sound of it kicking over at all now. I tried starting fluid -- nothing. The spark plug is wet and I gapped and cleaned the solid state magneto and flywheel magnet. I can see a spark from the plug wire to the frame and from the wire to the plug when it's installed. Sometimes I get a backfire out of the exhaust. Compression seems OK after I re-torqued the head bolts. There's just no 'pop' or combustion happening when I pull the starter cord over and over, even with starter fluid. It just seems like maybe a timing issue - that the plug is not firing at the right time? But I'm not clear about why it would run fine for 15 minutes one day, then run OK for 3 mins the next day and slowly just die and then won't start again. Is it possible that maybe the magneto coil just wore out or got weak in 1 day for some reason? Or maybe the key for the flywheel somehow got loose and the flywheel rotated on the crankshaft? I'm really baffled why it would run one day and then next it doesn't even turn over. Thanks! Bryan Edit: Looking at the HM80 repair manual, I see in the Engine Troubleshooting that I have done most of the things in their list so far. The plug is wet, I tried two different plugs (a new one and the old one that was still working), I installed a new air filter, fresh gas... I guess the next step is to pull the flywheel and see if the key is sheared - and if that's OK, then the coil? Has anyone else gone through this troubleshooting process? Am I missing anything?

I always come here to check with the experts first... We just bought a house with an acre lot and my husband wants to buy a riding lawnmower. We have never needed one before so we are clueless. He was told (by a guy who owns a shop) that the mowers sold by the big box stores are not as well made as those sold by the dealers. Such as, a John Deere sold by a John Deere retailer is different than the one sold by the 'big orange store'. Is this true? I find that hard to believe. So which brand of mower has the best track record? Do you think buying a used one is a good idea? Thanks in advance!