Briggs And Stratton 14.5hp won't start with air filter installed

I have a MTD Riding lawn mower with at 14.5hp Briggs and Stratton Model 287707
Type 1224-E1 Code 971006ZE engine. I ran it with too little oil and was rewarded with a fused rod to the crankshaft. I replaced the rod, resealed, reassembled, oiled and thought I was good to go. The problem I have is that it will not start if you install the air filter. It purrs like a kitten and will start fine with no filter and will run fine after you get it started with the filter installed. I have even went so far as to buy a new filter, but get the same results. I have check the choke and it is fully open. What I am doing wrong, or probably better yet what more do I need to describe to help?

Thanks!

 

I can't find any reason for this to make sense unless something is wrong with the filters. If they have or ever had gas in them, or oil, then they might not let enough air pass through them. If they are good, they should let air pass freely enough to not change anything in the way the engine behaves. It should not restrict airflow to a noticeable degree.

 

That's what I thought also. Here are some more observations, but I am not sure they are applicable. With the filter off, it is difficult if not impossible to start with the throttle on low, about half way is optimal to get the engine to turn over. Placing the throttle half-way, no choke, allows a very easy start. It does puff a lot of gas vapor when first starting in this position. I don't know if that is normal or not. After it starts running there is no longer any puffs, just normal idle. Again it won't start with a filter, but it can be installed once the engine is running and does not seem to affect performance. Thanks again for any help you can offer.

 

On your 1224-e1 there should be a choke shield make sure when you tighten down your filter your filter base, choke shield or even a bent threaded rod may be preventing your choke to operate correctly with pressure from one or more of the afore mentioned. That's where I would look next ???

Please share what you find this is an interesting one.

 

Ok, that makes more sense now with your added info. It sounds like the carb is flooding. You should have to put the throttle in the choke position for it to get enough gas to start. If you are starting it on half throttle and experiencing spray up from the carb, it is flooding, filling the intake with gas while the engine is turned off. The carb needle/seat area needs attention (cleaning, possibly a new needle).

If the camshaft was put in out of time when you reassembled the engine, it could possibly blow some gas out when trying to start it as well. Also if you have the valve too tight, you might have some sort of similar problem.

 

First, THANK YOU to everyone who replied and tried help this poor KY boy out on his engine repair. Everyone was so quick and helpful in trying to diagnose my engine without the benefit of being able to physically look at it. Especially to Cheese who found the problem!!

Second, Just so that I can maybe help someone in the future I thought I would post the solution to my particular problem. It was user error. I posted that I rebuilt the engine, but what I didn't tell you was that it was my first engine rebuild and everyone assumed maybe that I knew what I was doing. Wrong, I made a very rookie mistake. I did not set the timing on my camshaft. I didn't know you had to line the two hole back up on the crankshaft gear and cam. Which proves that while you might be an engineer, but you aren't mechanic just because you went college! Thanks again everyone!

She running like a lion, and fires up on the second turn!

 

Great! Glad we could help!