My Troy-Bilt Riding Lawn Mower Horse Turns Over But Won't Start

Fuel

• One of the first places to check is the fuel system on your Troy-Bilt Horse lawn tractor. Although it has a 2-gallon tank, the tank should be at least one third full to ensure there is enough gas to pass through the carburetor and complete the ignition process. The gas should also be fresh and not more than 30 days old. Old gas can clog the fuel line and fuel filter with sediment and deposits.

Starting Position

• The Troy-Bilt Horse must be in the correct starting position for a full start. The parking brake must be off and the throttle in the "Fast" position. The PTO (blade engage) lever must be in the "Off" position. The Horse will also not start if you aren’t in the seat when the blade is in the "On" position. After you turn the ignition switch key to the "Start" position, it must be returned to the "Normal Mowing Mode" position after the engine starts or it could cut off.

Choke

• The choke control, which is on the throttle control lever, allows the Horse engine to adjust the fuel-air ratio before operating. If you leave the choke control in the open position while operating, too much fuel could enter the engine and flood it. That will cause bad engine performance during operation or prevent a full start during the next operation.

Spark Plug

• Fouled spark plugs also prevent the engine from turning over. Spark plugs provide the ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the engine’s combustion chamber. This happens more than 1,000 times a minute. Spark plugs can get fouled over time from carbon deposits and other debris entering the engine, so keep them clean and change them every season.