Old Hustler won't start

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Jun 16, 2004 | 07:15 PM

Hi Ho

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From: Washington State

Old Hustler won't start

I have an old, old Excel Hustler commercial mower. 2 cylinders and hydraulic drive. I use it to mow my "field" which is more like a large sloped lawn. I have a problem, however. The other day I went out to start it up and would not fire. That's where I'm still at today. It will not even try to start. It has spark to both spark plugs, it has fuel, it has air, it's not flooded. I have even tried spraying starter fluid directly in the cylinder and it still hasn't fired once. Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this thing won't even fire? The grass is two feet high now.

Jun 16, 2004 | 09:38 PM

Torque1st

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Have the valves stuck?

Jun 16, 2004 | 09:43 PM

Hi Ho

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From: Washington State

I don't believe they have. I forgot to mention that I have check for compression many times and there is compression. Here is a picture of the mower and the engine in case it has any relavence.

Jun 16, 2004 | 10:53 PM

FTE Herman

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If its fired off the flywheel its possible the the woodrift (sp?) key might have split and your 'timing' is off. See of the spark coincides with compression. Other that that I would have taken Eric's guess.

Jun 16, 2004 | 11:04 PM

eehoepp

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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada

Is the fuel fresh?

I bought a used snowblower cheap a couple of winters ago because it wouldn't run. It started if you dribbled gas into the spark plug hole, but quit once the gas was burned.

There was 1/4" of ice in the float bowl. Dumped it out, filled it with fresh gas & it runs like a champ.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Eric