Common replacement parts for Briggs & Stratton lawn and garden equipment engines
- Spark plug. A spark plug is the device responsible for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine. This current ignites the compressed fuel/air mixture by means of an electric spark, while containing combustion pressure within the engine.
- Air filter. The air filter prevents abrasive particles from entering the engine's cylinders, which could cause mechanical wear and oil contamination.
- Fuel filter. A fuel filter is a filter in the fuel line that screens out dirt and rust particles from the fuel. The fuel filter paper is usually integrated into a cartridge. Fuel filters used with in most internal combustion engines.
- Oil filter. An oil filter is a filter designed to remove contaminants from engine oil, transmission oil, lubricating oil or hydraulic oil.
- Flywheel key. The flywheel key is a small metal rectangle that keeps the crankshaft and flywheel aligned when you tighten the flywheel nut. To protect more expensive components from damage, the flywheel key is designed to shear if the mower blade hits an object hard enough to make the flywheel slip out of alignment with the crankshaft.
What to do when your Briggs & Stratton riding mower engine won't start
There are numerous explanations for why a riding lawn mower won't start, including everything from bad gas or a bad battery to a failed starter motor or bad ignition coil.
If you find yourself constantly having to charge the battery before starting the engine, a bad battery or failed alternator could be causing the problem. Connect the battery to a charger and if the battery won't charge fully within 8 hours, then you'll likely need to replace the battery. If the battery is okay, then a problem in the engine's charging system is causing the constantly drained battery. The engine uses an alternator to generate current, which constantly charges the battery and powers the mower's electrical system while the engine runs. When the alternator fails, the battery attempts to power the mower on its own and quickly drains without recharging.
If the engine spins but won't start when you turn the ignition key, the engine is missing one of its key ingredients for starting-fuel, compression or spark. Check your basics first, then watch our riding mower engine spins but won't start video for troubleshooting tips to get the engine started.