[TonyB.]

Any ideas? Plug looks clean - smells of petrol?

[jezza]

hello what make of 4stroke engine is it the carburettor could be blocked it could be stale petrol or a dodgy spark  plugit may look clean but it could be damaged inside put plug in end of high tension lead  put throttle into start put spark plug on top of engine away from hole pull starter and check for spark do not hold spark plug if its working  it will give you one hell of a wallop  if some one you don't like get them to hold spark plug (only joking)   jezza

[cressrt]

Make sure the air filter is cleaned, this is a common problem with starting. Not just a matter of washing, often have to rinse with oil or petrol afterwards, check your manual.

[TonyB.]

Thank you both - Did bash out the foam air filter - will try washing it. topped up the petrol but the rest could be stale. Will try emptying tank and carb.
Tony B.

[jezza]

hello you don't say what make the engine is there could be oil alerts and safety switches that need checking eg my rotavator has been re engined with a replacement briggs and Stratton 5.5 hp industrial pro plus it has an oil alert on if it gets more than 15 degrees from horizontal the engine cuts out if the sesnors jumpd off it wont even start jezza

[Didiaskew]

Could be the magneto, I've found on most of engines I've repaired for people on our site if it fails to start full stop it's almost always an ignition issue and not fuelling and of those ignition issues most tend to be a bad magneto, good news is is the magneto is usually one of the most straight forward parts to replace.

[TonyB.]

Thank you - have not had it out since then as dug by hand. Also it is at the back of the shed to make it difficult to steal. Will empty what used to be a 5 seater estate but since having an allotment has become a 2 seater mobile shed and take it to my garage.