Mastercraft riding lawn mower won't turn over

Hi,

My mower has a 17hp Briggs and Stratton engine in it. When I started it the
first time this year it wouldn't start (it would turn over like one turn then stop) so I got on hear and read a few threads. I put in a new battery, and pulled out the
spark plug. I tried turning it over and it spun but it also spit out a lot of gas from the spark plug hole. I pulled the air filter off and left the plug out and let it dry out. Then put the plug back in and it started right up. I used it a bit that day, then tried to start it the next day and it did the same thing. I pulled the plug again and now it won't even turn over it just clicks. So I hooked up a jumper cable from the battery to the solenoid and as long as the spark plug is out it will turn over. If I put the spark plug back in it will only give me a half a crank. It won't turn over at all from the switch. Any ideas???

Thanks,

 

Sounds like your leaking gas into the cylinder or the crankcase. Did you check the oil?

 

If you have gas in the cylinder, it is probably in the oil too. The carburetor is leaking and needs to be fixed (clean carb and replace needle valve), then change the oil, then see if it sill start.

 

Ok I checked and yes there was fuel in the oil. So I cleaned the carburetor and I changed the oil. Still the same result. When I turn the key nothing but a click. When I hook up the battery to the solenoid it turns over once, count to 3 turns over again. It will do that 3 or 4 times then stop until I disconnect the battery then it will do it again.

 

Did you replace the Needle valve as Cheese asked, or only clean the carb. It may be the same again..
Roger

 

Sounds like you also need to adjust the valves.