[lacogada]

Have a John Deere JS38 push mower.
Purchased in 2012 and has worked great.

Sometimes bag grass, and stop engine to empty clippings.
Never had problems with it re-starting until end of last season.

When I stop it to empty clippings, it will not start unless I leave it sit for approx 15 minutes ... as if it's flooded.

Oil was changed every year, and occasional changing of spark plug with most recent last year.

Appreciate some advice or something to check.

 

[Mr Paul]

Hmmmm, how did it run at the start of the season last year? My initial thoughts would lead to carb problems especially with todays gasoline. After the sit time does it fire right up or take a bunch of pulls? When it starts does it belch out black smoke? I had a J63C (with swivel front wheels) for years and ran like a champ, great mower... Mother In Law had an Ariens mower that ran great then suddenly die out like running out of fuel then would restart after about 10 minutes sitting. Wasn't the carb, was a piece of rubber like a disc from the gas cap breather valve that had fallen into the tank and would block off the port for the gas going to the carb.... ya just never know what could be the cause.

 

[lacogada]

Hmmmm, how did it run at the start of the season last year? My initial thoughts would lead to carb problems especially with todays gasoline. After the sit time does it fire right up or take a bunch of pulls? When it starts does it belch out black smoke? I had a J63C (with swivel front wheels) for years and ran like a champ, great mower... Mother In Law had an Ariens mower that ran great then suddenly die out like running out of fuel then would restart after about 10 minutes sitting. Wasn't the carb, was a piece of rubber like a disc from the gas cap breather valve that had fallen into the tank and would block off the port for the gas going to the carb.... ya just never know what could be the cause.

Ran fine with no problems until end of season ( mid to late Sept )

After a long cold spell ,,, it may take 5 or 6 pulls to fire up.
When doing the weekly mow in summer it will fire up 1st or 2nd pull.
Overall it runs fine.

I may cut for approx 10 minutes or so before I shutdown to empty clippings.
Then it will not start unless I let it sit for another 10 or 15 minutes.
Never did that in it's 10 + years until last Aug or Sep.

Right now I leave it running and empty anyways ( got grass clipping flying )
but it's only way I can use it now,

Need to find a fix.

Thanks for reply

 

[Grunt]

Welcome to MLF. I don't know what engine you have, so this is just guessing at a fix.

You may have an automatic choke that is sticking open or closed until the engine cools a little and releases the choke plate.

Another guess, when first starting it, try to judge how much force you need to pull the recoil. After you shut it down and it won't restart, try to judge if the force feels the same as when the engine was cold. If less, you may have valve clearances that are too tight and you're losing compression until the valves cool a little.

Possible gas cap venting problem. Try loosening the cap, wait a minute and try restarting the engine.

Let us know what engine brand and model number engine for better recommendations on a fix.

Fresh gas is also a MUST.

 

[lacogada]

Welcome to MLF. I don't know what engine you have, so this is just guessing at a fix.

You may have an automatic choke that is sticking open or closed until the engine cools a little and releases the choke plate.

Another guess, when first starting it, try to judge how much force you need to pull the recoil. After you shut it down and it won't restart, try to judge if the force feels the same as when the engine was cold. If less, you may have valve clearances that are too tight and you're losing compression until the valves cool a little.

Possible gas cap venting problem. Try loosening the cap, wait a minute and try restarting the engine.

Let us know what engine brand and model number engine for better recommendations on a fix.

Fresh gas is also a MUST.

Here's an image of the info I can see on the engine without removing the cover ... thanks.