Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

[Nandy]

I have a Murray Select 22 mower. 6.0hp quantum. It uses a champion rj19m plugs and it is fouling it bad. I mean, having to clean the plug for it to start. It seems to get worst when it stops because it has too much to cut and it stalls. A lot of carbon residue, not really any oily residue that I could tell. I dont think the plug has 10 hours of work on it and it was bought last fall. Once I clean the plug the motor start with just one pull.
Do this mower just need a decarb job? If so what do you recommend? I have used seafoam for my boat motor but Im not looking forward to burn one gal of gas with that small mower motor...
Any advise from my small motors mechanic will be welcome!

Thanks!!!

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

how old is the gas? how old is the mower? how long since you last cleaned out the carb?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

Spray Sea Foam right into the carb while it is running. I have done it on my mowers.

You might a ring going bad since it is probably a 4 stroke...... how often have you changed the oil?

 

[lowkee]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

If you swing by a mower shop with your engine serial and model # (need them both) and get a head gasket, just pull of the head (5-6 bolts) and use a scraper to take the carbon off, then remount with a new gasket. Only takes a few mins to do. Mowers get carbon just like boats, as they sit idle quite often, while people open gates, or pull weeds, etc.

Seeing as it's a 4cycle, you could always run a very high ratio of seafoam-to-gas. As long as it runs, the ratio won't matter. Just quirt some into the plug hole first and let it sit a good 10 minutes before you run it, so it can soak into the caked on carbon.

As a possible alternate cause, you may have a broken ring on your piston which is letting oil through in small quantities. I haven't seen it often, but I have seen it. In that case, you just buy a new set of rings. Small engines like that one aren't as picky about honing, so if you don't hone the cyl it will still run fine, but it does help to hone for that little extra oomph in HP.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

Check the oil level.
If it is overfilled , I have seen that cause this problem.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

ok guys, I will update you as soo as I see any change or find anything.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

Good luck with that one, I have a 10hp briggs that does that too, have to clean the plug everytime I start it, tried a new head gasket and scraped carbon, same thing still. Not quite ready to do a complete rebuild not sure if it's even worth it. It's not oil as much as that black fluffy carbon, but it does smoke when it has a load on it, but stlill powerful and does the job.

 

[Mike722]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

If none of the other suggestions fix it, you might check for a partially sheared flywheel key.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

My Murray rider did that same thing.Got the head gasket replaced and ran so much better.That was 6 years ago.Nothing but regular maintenance since.

Good luck.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

Is a push behind mower. I will check tomorrow if possible, if not maybe Thursday or the weekend and will post back. If anyone else has another suggestion go ahead. I rather try them all...

 

[Nandy]

Re: Murray Mower Fouling Plugs

Did the seafoam and it is back to it old self. I will save this information for future reference in case it gets worst. Thanks y'all!!!