I'm having a hard time starting my 5hp Quantum on my power washer.

To get it to start I have to spray starting fulid in the carb & then put it on full choke, but one it starts it's fine & I can shut it off after it gets warm & it will start right back up.

But if I go & try to start it the next day it's the same drill, I've pulled the float bowl & cleaned the jet & the needle looks good.

Any ideas?

1. Does this engine have a primer? 2. Are you using fresh, clean fuel?

No primer & fresh fuel, it's seems like it's not pulling fuel into the cyclinder, someone said that I may need to lap the valves as they are not seating right.

But when I do get it to start it will run all day with out a problem? maybe time to rebuild the carb?

Yes, the next step would be to remove the carb, thoroughly clean it with carb cleaner, and like you said, rebuild it, all new diaphragms and gaskets.
I think its a carb problem, not the valves.

Yeah, If it would be valves, you would encounter furthr problems when you are running it.

Yes, rebuild the carb.... Of course I didn't know how it was before hand, but have a 4hp MAX series briggs.... old... and rebuild the block of gummed up crud called a carb, even after tuning, its takes 5 or so pulls to start, all else is good, valves... compression, etc. It has no primer... which is pretty much why it doesn't like to start easy.

Thanks Guy's:

I think I have it fixed, I bought the rebuild kit for the carb & was going to rebuild it.

I took off the aircleaner housing & than started to remove the carb, found that the carb was loose :confused: I tightend up the carb & checked the plug. it was pure white! lean due to the air leak from the carb being loose.

I let it sit over night & tried starting the motor & it came to life on the 3rd pull :)

I'm going to let it sit for a few day's & see if she starts easy like I think it will, then I'll rebuild carb later this year. Heck the kit was only $7.50 not worth taking it back.

OK the beast dies & woundn't start, so I rebuilt the carb. no big deal, but now all is does is a small back fire ?? I spoke to the kid nextdoor who used to work in a lawnmower shop & he said that is sounds like the valevs are carboned up, I guess I shouldn't have run the old race gas from my 2 cycle motocrosser..LOl

So I guess that I'll have to pull the head & looks at the valves, what gaskets & parts do I need to fix this problem?

I've never has a Small Engine apart.

Doesn't sound like thats the problem, but of course alot of carbon may soak the gas up. MAY, I've had em so carboned the piston was hitting the head and it took 6-7 pulls just to start em, cleaned it up and 1-2 pulls.

Its not hard, take the shroud off, anything thats in your way of the cylinder head off, and get a new head gasket since the old one might break. Take the head off and scrape away. A paint scraper and 3m scrubby pad works good. Never leave anything to chance.