Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Briggs ride mower rev cycle up down power

My 18 Horse briggs engine cycles from extremely full power to almost no mowing power about every ten seconds. It only wants to run with the choke all the way out or it stalls.

Please Help?

Thanks,
Steve

Hello Steve!

Classic symptoms of a restricted carburetor. You'll need to remove the air filter and housing, then remove the top of the carb, and blow out the passages with compressed air (except the small one on the right side of the carb, at the front near the fuel pump). The main jet can be removed for cleaning via the drain plug hole using a 3/16 allen wrench if I remember right.

Hello Steve!

Classic symptoms of a restricted carburetor. You'll need to remove the air filter and housing, then remove the top of the carb, and blow out the passages with compressed air (except the small one on the right side of the carb, at the front near the fuel pump). The main jet can be removed for cleaning via the drain plug hole using a 3/16 allen wrench if I remember right.
Cheese,
Could this be my problem as well?

I have a Murry with a 16hp Tecumseh that is surging then retarding.
There is a notch in the throttle race for operating rpm. When I place the throttle
in the notch the engine dies, it will run when positioned slightly above the notch into the choke range, and it will run at idle, but not in between.
I've drained the fuel and replaced the fuel filter. This helped little.
I found a spot above the notch where it will run smooth now, but I must engage the blade very slowly or she quits.

Sounds like the same problem, although your carburetor is taken apart different from the description I gave steve. I'm not sure how yours will be...probably a black plastic bowl held on with a flip wire. If so, purchase a bowl kit for it and install.