OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Talon Garden Hawk Mower

Hi Guys

This is my first post so here goes.

I am fixing my mates mower for him. It is a Talon lawnmower with a 4 stroke engine. It currently will not start at all.

I first suspected that it could be a fuel issue so I removed, stripped and cleaned the carby (using CRC carby cleaner) then reinstalled the carby and tried to start that mower.
Still a no go.

I then removed the spark plug to check for a spark. It appears to have a spark (blue coloured).I then replaced the spark plug and tried to start the mower.
Still a no go.

I have also cleaned and replaced the air filter housing and air filter.

I have noticed that when you prime the mower alot and pull the cord petrol cmomes out through the muffler and the spark plug becomes wet.

Could it be an ignition problem or possibly a needle and seat issue??

Any ideas would be great.

Mower Fixer,

I would be betting that you have a sheared key on the flywheel and that would be why it is not starting.

Hi Bruce

Thanks for the quick response, I will check the flywheel key as soon as I can. I didn't think about that as the mower is still very easy to turn over without kick back.
Would a sheared flywheel key really cause this?
The mower is only a few months old. I guess they are not that well built.

As a side question do you know where the 'surefire' engine is built? I'm guesing China.

Hi mower fixer,with-out getting zapped remove the spark plug and do a compression test by using a comp tester or stick your finger in/over the plug hole and pull the cord.you should feel and here air trying to escape from the spark plug hole,if not as bruce said check the fly wheel key way.on mine i had water in the tank and carby/cleand every thing and refitted also check the gasket for air leaks where the carby bolts onto.when they go they are a good gutsy motor if looked after but they have a very bad reputation.look at www.talon products and thats why bunnings dont sell them anymore...ken

If the Chinese engine is a copy of a Briggs, it will probably have a zinc flywheel key, as the Briggs does. This is done deliberately so that if you hit a solid object with the blade, and the crankshaft stops suddenly, the flywheel key will shear and protect the crankshaft from torsional failure. If the mower has hit something massive, the key will be sheared, and because the ignition timing is set by the flywheel, not the piston, it will still have a nice spark, it just won't happen when the piston is at the top of the stroke. If that has happened, compression will be normal but the mower will not start. To check, you have to expose the flywheel by removing the top cover. Then remove the flywheel retaining nut and look closely at the key. You should be able to see if the keyway in the crankshaft is out of line with the keyway in the flywheel. If that has happened you have to remove the flywheel and fit a new key.

If the key is OK, it will be necessary to go through a standard diagnostic process - we can help you with that. First though, I suggest you follow Bruce's advice and check the key. He has an uncanny knack of going straight to the problem.

If the key is sheared, the problem is not Chinese quality, it is your mate's treatment of the mower. It is possible to have it happen the very first time you use a really nice mower - all you have to do is try really hard to mow a water pipe.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the comments, I will check the flywheel key tomorrow after work, I will let you know whats what then.

Hi Guys

I took the flywheel off and the key is fine. I removed the ignition coil and regapped it then put the mower back together and tried to start the machine. It woud start and run but only for a few seconds and then it would stall, if I primed it again it would do the same thing. It seems like a petrol issue. I have removed the carby and again and will give it another good clean tomorrow.

Is there anything else that I could look at to get the mower up and running??

i have just had the same with a talon hawk,the only way it would keep running was if i kept priming it as it was running.i checked the fuel flow to the carby,completly stripped it,including the jet above the main jet, idling i think, its firm but slides out blew it out both ways every way. checked the float level and the o rings on the inlet, put it back together and it went good.the other thing with mine has not much to do with fuel, but the plastic air vane on the govenor was nearly siezed up and only moving a fraction of what it should. apart from that fuel was the main problem. dont know if thats much help to you at all, cheers micka

Also make sure that the fuel cap can breath,i had this simple problem with a briggs.i think there is a fuel filter in the tank on the fuel tap like a victa...ken