Briggs&stratton 19.5hp - starts for few seconds then dies

SOURCE: Mower Dies after choke Releases

Hi, check that your carberter has not got the pipe from it to the engine either cut or loose as it seems that your engine is getting to much air.
May just be the hose clip around the intake tube a little loose.
If this is not the problem check with the seller whom you bought it off as the carb may need reset.

SOURCE: Runs for 5 seconds with choke pulled;no crank without choke

check your fuel pump to see if working,, then clean or replace carb,, and do tune up on it,,, hope this help you,, good luck

SOURCE: Briggs and Stratton 20hp twin cylinder runs only with full choke

Had one on my saw mill had this problem as well Try pulling bowl off bottom of carby as the float can get **** with old fuel especially ethanol fuels as they attract water bowl is normally held on with one center screw on bottom of carby. Note always turn fuel off and let engine run out of fuel as this stops goop from building up in carby

SOURCE: honda 5.5 engine, pull choke to crank , it runs

Here is the long answer with everything we learned while using a power washer twice a day for years:: You have already checked off some of the items, but it doesn't hurt to review

It sounds like could be one of the problems listed below or a combination of those things.
1) The exhaust is partially blocked. Check the screen covering exhaust port for carbon and dirt build-up. High-speed exhaust air must pass freely. We finally broke the exhaust screen out with a screwdriver to get our machine going one day.
2) Gas is not flowing freely to carburetor > under gas tank, find the rubber hose connected to carburetor. Pull off rubber hose and make sure gas flows freely. You can use this hose to drain gas tank of old gas ... and then put in fresh gas.
3) Carburetor is partially gummed up and engine cuts off when gas flow slows down. Buy some gum out, and then don't store power washer with gasoline in the tank. Or put additive in gas when storing machine.
4) The choke is letting in too much gas or not enough gas. Try different adjustments. The choke-lever on our power washer got so bad that we could not set throttle at full open or the machine would die. We still use the machine at 2/3 throttle, and then start it each time using WD-40 as described below.
5) Dirty air filter that won't let engine breath enough air to keep up with combustion. Take off air filter and see if problem persists.
6) The spark coil is going bad?? Change spark plug to see if problem persists. Is spark plug wire pushed all the way onto the spark plug?

Now the nitty gritty: we're gonna start that thing right now
7) Take off air filter. Spray WD-40 directly into carburetor. Yes, we use WD-40 every time to start my power washer, and we use the washer twice a week.
Spray in the WD-40, Pull the engine cord. The engine will fire on WD-40. Guaranteed.
Once it starts, keep spraying WD-40 directly into carburetor to keep engine going.
If engine will not fire and keep going on WD-40, then your spark is suspect.
If your engine fires and runs on WD-40 but dies without it, then your gas supply or carburetor are suspect
8) Carburetor problem >>> try Gum out >>> and then take machine to small engine repair shop
9) Spark ... take out spark plug. Put spark wire back on. Hold spark plug by spark wire. Touch metal threads of spark plug to metal opening where plug came out. Metal to metal. Pull back start cord and look for spark between the metal.
If you have no spark, then spark coil is bad >>> take machine to small engine repair shop

Add a comment if you need more help

SOURCE: briggs &stratton 550 auto choke problems

clean out the carb