New Huskee 22 ton, not sure about engine....

From cold, mine fires on the 2nd pull almost every time. First time when warm.

That Briggs should fire pretty easy. $950 should have bought you a brand new machine (They go on sale for $899 occasionally) or at least one with a NEW carb. Take it back, it most likely will NOT improve with time.

I got mine refurbished, someone tried to run it on a diesel gas mix, (I think they filled it with diesel on top of 1/2 tank of gas)
I drained everything, fuel was yellow & smelled of diesel. (not pure gasoline)
You mike have one that someone used mixed fuel, gas evaporate & leaves behind a varnish from the oil.
May just need to pull the carb apart & clean the parts with a carb cleaner.
I'm Guessing, but it sounds like carb problems

Drain the fuel, add some gas treatment & drain again (to remove any water) & put all new gas in it, maybe you tried that already.

sblat said:

So my neighbor and I have been waiting to get a splitter for a few weeks. Finally picked one up. They said it sat for a couple weeks (outside of course) when they went to start it, it wouldn't. They sent it in, said the carb was gummed up, and plug was fouled. They repaired it, and we bought for $950. I feel like it starts way harder than a new engine should. It will start, but takes a about 8 or so primes, and 6 or more pulls. It tends to fire the first couple, then dies. I feel like I should be concerned about this, or am I just over reacting? Should I bring it back, or give it a little time?

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If you have a tsc near you they sell new for 999 around me. Take it back if you can to the person you bought it from and buy a new one. By the time you buy parts to fix it it is probably cheaper to buy a new one.

Good luck
Pete

sblat said:

So my neighbor and I have been waiting to get a splitter for a few weeks. Finally picked one up. They said it sat for a couple weeks (outside of course) when they went to start it, it wouldn't. They sent it in, said the carb was gummed up, and plug was fouled. They repaired it, and we bought for $950. I feel like it starts way harder than a new engine should. It will start, but takes a about 8 or so primes, and 6 or more pulls. It tends to fire the first couple, then dies. I feel like I should be concerned about this, or am I just over reacting? Should I bring it back, or give it a little time?

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Make sure they put the correct spark plug in.

zap

I'd return it. Just bought mine for $1,100...(Tractor Supply), then it went on sale for $999....they gave me the difference. Mine, filled from a dead empty tank of gas.....5 pumps on the primer, starts on the second pull....so far

Gummed carb and fouled plug don't go together. You can't foul a plug if you running lean on fuel. Whenever I here these things I would just throw out the information and start over. Troubleshoot it correcltly and fix correctly.

Wouldn't either diesel or mixed gas/oil cause severe rich burning? Thus fouled plug? Seems right on target to me.

Bocefus78 said:

From cold, mine fires on the 2nd pull almost every time. First time when warm.

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^^ This exactly.
Even after sitting for months, 2nd pull.

Starts easier than my electric ignition JD mower... especially in cold weather.

Put a bit of Seafoam in it and try a different brand of plug. You only mentioned "repaired" and not what was actually done to it. Even if they did put a new plug in it, could be a dud from the get go or has since gotten fouled. I've seen some plugs that were never the same after just one flooding.

My 8 year old MTD splitter with B&S engine is still easy starting.

I'd return it. When I buy something like that I expect it to be in good running condition. I do not like to buy something and right away start fixing. That usually continues and you are always fixing. Better to exchange.

mywaynow said:

Wouldn't either diesel or mixed gas/oil cause severe rich burning? Thus fouled plug? Seems right on target to me.

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Answer is no. Mixed gas doesn't foul plugs in 2 cycle engines (unless they aren't tuned properly)(besides most mixed today is 50:1) so why should it in 4 cycle. As for the diesel thing, many old tractors where started on gas and run on kerosene. Sure you could have a defective plug but not fouled......unless.......you run too low octane fuel in a high compression engine and this ain't the case for sure.

Tsc has them for 999 down from me. When they get cheaper I think I'll jump. maybe at the end of the season.

Hass said:

Bocefus78 said:

From cold, mine fires on the 2nd pull almost every time. First time when warm.

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^^ This exactly.
Even after sitting for months, 2nd pull.

Starts easier than my electric ignition JD mower... especially in cold weather.

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Same here, except sometimes it only takes one pull when cold.

sblat said:

So my neighbor and I have been waiting to get a splitter for a few weeks. Finally picked one up. They said it sat for a couple weeks (outside of course) when they went to start it, it wouldn't. They sent it in, said the carb was gummed up, and plug was fouled. They repaired it, and we bought for $950. I feel like it starts way harder than a new engine should. It will start, but takes a about 8 or so primes, and 6 or more pulls. It tends to fire the first couple, then dies. I feel like I should be concerned about this, or am I just over reacting? Should I bring it back, or give it a little time?

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My Speeco (same as yours and also new this year, well, Dec '11) does the same thing. Take me about 6-7 primes, then it'll start, run for a couple seconds and puff out. Repeat about three more times to get it running steady.

I've had my Speeco since early last year, split about 5 cords so far with it. It has been sitting for about 2 months and pulled it out for some work Saturday...4 or so primes and 2 pulls, started right up and ran good as usual. Recently on sale for $999(new) at our TSC.

Sounds like a little water in the tank to me.

Jags said:

smokinjay said:

Sounds like a little water in the tank to me.

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Or carb.

I have never been sorry that my splitter is electric start. :coolsmile:

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YOU GOT TO MUCH STUFF! :lol:

sblat said:

That is exactly what goes on with this splitter. How is it working for you once you get it started? Is this asking for trouble down the road? In my mind, a brand new engine should fire right up, not puff out 3 times before it started up. Think I should take it back to the store. Going to call them tomorrow.

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Once warmed up, it runs great and restarts very easily - couple of pulls. It's just getting it going from having sat for a week or two that's a challenge.

I find with mine (22 ton Huskee, B&S engine) it will start and die once or twice when cold. I attribute this to the fact that their is no choke just a primer bulb and you firing up a cold engine filled with 30w oil trying to immediately turn a hydraulic pump filled with cold hydro oil. When I change the engine oil next I'm going to switch to the 5w30 synthetic which B&S reccomends for temps below 32* and see if that helps.

As for the B&S engine, I have a similar engine on an Ariens lawnmower that I've used for 12 years both for my yard and light commercial cutting and it's still going strong. Plus I like that B&S is a USA made engine. Don't get me wrong, I have a big 13hp commercial Honda on my pressure washer and I know the Honda's are nice but the B&S is fine in my book too.