I have a lawn tractor, which the previous owner left in the garage and over winter for 2 years without use.
I charged the battery and it turns over but won't start.
So, I sprayed starter fluid into the air intake (took filter off)- it now starts and then immediately stalls and it's just left with a whirring/buzzing sound (not sure what that is).
Any ideas what I can do next?
I presume that as it fires with starter fluid then the spark plug is okay?
No idea where the carb is

 

You need to clean up the fuel system. Drain the gas out of the tank and put a quart of gas with 4 ounces of Sea Foam additive in the gas. Then pull on the choke and turn it over about ten times. That will pull the gas/Sea Foam into the carb where it can clean out the varnish. Let it sit for an hour, then try to start it with no choke and full throttle. If the starter fluid gets a fire, then use that to get it started along with the choke.

 

May or may not be enough to get it to work if it's really gummed up.
I'd be pulling off the carburetor completely taking it apart, cleaning it with carb. cleaner and installing a rebuild kit.
About a $20.00 or less job.
Once you do get it running try and find a place that sells nonethanol fuel.
It's the ethanol causing the problem in small engines.
Any new mower you buy will have warnings about ethanol.
Fuel starts to go within about 3 months without a stabilizer, never try and use last years gas in a mower.
Carburetor is right behind the air filter on most mowers.
Going to need the model and serial # to buy a new kit.

 

Didn't seem to work, left it overnight also.
It's a white outdoors Kohler courage 20 ohv.

Air filter is on top in this model so cant get access behind it...

 

Some pictures here.
There is a little see through area on the fuel line but when I turn the engine over I can't see anything being pulled through there.https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhzbinf0u...Tm3JHoTOkyUq-a

 

Have you tried changing or bypassing that fuel filter?

 

Your carburetor is just above the hose in picture number 3. If you don't have a service manual this might help.

http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinec..._32_690_01.pdf

 

Seems difficult to remove. I can't get under tractor but I don't want to pay for a mechanic to do it either. Bear in mind this is the first time I've tried to clean a carburetor! is it worth cleaning the fuel pipe first or injecting sea foam into the fuel pipe?
Could I spray anything into the air filter to clean the carb?

 

Just spraying carb cleaner down the carb throat doesn't really do a lot of good. The Sea Foam you put in the gas itself will clean out the varnish in the carburetor, if you're getting fuel into the carb.

Most lawn mower carbs will have the float bowl on them. Those may be fed by gravity or a fuel pump (to accommodate hills and slopes, etc.

Tracking down a fuel problem usually starts with disconnecting the fuel line from the carb and either let gravity flow fuel through it or spin the engine over to see if a fuel pump is sending fuel through to the carburetor.

If you are getting fuel to the line hookup, then the blockage is in the carb and usually Sea Foam will clean it out....unless you have solid particle of foreign debris, like rust or dirt blocking the passages.

I think I would disconnect the line at the carb and see if you have fuel there. If not, work your way back to the tank to see where it's being blocked.

 

Did you make sure the carb was getting gas? On ours with a Kohler Command 23 it was a clogged fuel line. Replaced the fuel line and sea foamed it up good and it's good now.

 

Disconnected fuel line, this stained the tank completely so the line and filter are not blocked.
I then disconnected the line to the carburetor, a little fuel flowed back out but not much.
Tested the pump by turning it over, the pump is pulling fuel through as I was able to pump it into a bottle by connecting a tube from the pump to the bottle.
So, I can only assume the sea foam got to the carb.
What can I check next?

 

Sounds like a plugged carburetor, but with everything else working you have a good start.

I believe I would take the carb apart and clean it. The Sea Foam will do the job on the varnish if the additive can get to it. If you have a complete plug it may take longer than you want to wait without knowing for sure what the outcome would be.

 

I have all the mounting bolts off but the springs seem difficult to get off?
There is also a wire at the bottom of the bowl - the solenoid? can't seem to get the wires off that either.

 

The solenoid is a fuel shutoff to control the backfire after shutoff. That wire should just be a push on clip.

Do you have a pair of needle nose pliers to take the springs off?

 

It was more the metal levers that were the problem.
Do I need to remove the solenoid or can that stay on whilst using the maintenance/repair kit?https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ym2u6okul...400856_HDR.jpg

 

Thanks all!
The main fuel inlet in the carb was blocked- sprayed carb cleaner in after taking it apart and now it starts again!