I have a John deer SX95 Riding lawn mower with a 12.5hp kawasaki engine that only starts with fuel dropped into carb I have a good spark , I had changed the oil and filter I also took the carb off &am

Use a small amount of starter fluid in the intake past the filter. If the engine fires than you can be confident it is a carburetor problem.

Check for water in the gas

The carb cleaner may not be volatile enough to support ignition. The over the counter starter fluid is easily ignited even in cold weather.
If the engine has been in storage with old gas it is likely that residue has formed in the carburetor. If it does fire up with stater fluid but will not run with full choke it will most likely require a carburetor cleaning.

Sounds like a faulty fuel pump.Did you check that?

in the carb did any of the screws have any micro bored holes for gas to go through like in many small engine iv found . clogged with goop. does it have a gas bowl an a screw on bottom take it out if does an look it over close.

check and clean air cleaner. Check main jet for blockage.

need new coil pack or have short in harness grounding engine from running. check fuel line to carburator. 1. take float bowel off bottom of carb. do not touch float or pin holding float. crank engine over until fuel comes out of carb. If fuel comes out, you don't have fuel problem. put float bowel back on carb. 2. check for spark. take spark plug out of mower. put wire back on plug and place the threads on head [or metal of engine to ground the plug]. crank engine over for a few seconds to see if plug gets spark . [always double check with another spark plug that is good]. [[ Remember!!! you have to have someone sitting on the lawnmower to start. unless you by-pass safety switch [only do this if you understand how the safety switch works. NOT EXPLAINED HERE!!!]] If spark is present, there is no grounding problem. when engine is cool. 3. CHECK COIL PACK. for continuity. When the coil pack gets hot it will stop any juice to the plug. A>Check temp sensor B> Check Safety switches grounding out. C> Check for cut wiring harnes. [loose wires rubbing against pulleys, wires cut by rodents]. Hope this helps.........................GAS

if the engine doesn't spin look at the starter if it has spark and a new carb is there power to the solenoid on the bottom of the carb does it fire on carb cleaner?

either the fuel pump is leaking back threw the vac side or the needle valve is not seating

I had a JD 111 rider that may have had the same problem. Turned out to be the fuel line had a weak area and would **** together and not allow the fuel through. It's a cheep place to start.


Good luck!!

I have a 115 john deere tractor that runs but the engine will not run smooth I've put a new fuel cap on it a new pump and clean out the carb.

ask manualfox.com - they have it.