My mower ( 17hp briggs) ran out of gas. I refilled the tank, tried to start it and white smoke poured out of the exhaust. I could see gas sputtering out of the muffler and the air box was full of gas. I let it sit thinking it was flooded but when I returned half the tank was empty and gas was running out of the air box.

bryan, October 2008

There is a piece of crud stuck in the fuel inlet valve in the carb.

Chances are that it was flushed through when you refeilled the (dry) tank.

Remove the carb float bowl, float and needle. Clean the end of the needle, and the seat in the carb body. Re-assemble.

phil_saunders@bigfoot.com

Phil Saunders, October 2008