I have a six year old walking lawn mower, 6.0 HP Murray Select 22". Briggs/Stratton, model # 22315X8C, mfg. 01044, serial # 7428104413G519. Cranks by holding the handle bar then pulling the draw string. The problem I'm having is when I hold the draw string it will not bulge. Appears stuck. Get a feeling the crank shaft isn't turning. The handle bar has been sticking and takes at least a minute to release once I actually take my hands off of it. What would you say has caused it to stick or jam to the point where it will not crank? This happened rather quickly, as I was using it the day before and it just shut down or jammed up on me.
I acutally took the frame holding the draw string apart from the crank shaft and when I separate the two, the draw string pulls fine, until I attach it back to the crank shaft, then it sticks or jams. The draw string will not pull what so ever. It becomes very tight. Please help, I'm desperate, as my grass is looking scary!
Thank you for any help you can give.

Youle Davis, July 2006

does string pull freely when cover is off remove spark plug lead does the blade rotate see if it jammed with grass use a screwdriver large to scrape the dirt away does the blade rotate now do you feal compression when it rotates if it does not in side crank shaft, can shaft or piston and rings

Allan McCleary, September 2007

Have you checked your oil level.Has mower being on its r/h side, for cleaning,as oil will pass through sump breather into
the engine via the carburetor,if this is the case remove spark plug, pull safety brake lever off now try pulling engine over, if it is oil build up in cylinder it will come out spark plug hole,keeping pulling a few times to clear oil. if this not the fault
turn mower on it l/hand side keep safety brake off spark plug removed try turning blade if crankshaft siezed it will not turn.

d.i.y. spannerman, July 2006