Small Engine Repair Help...

[deapee]

Couldn't find a forum for repair, so I'm guessing this one is ok.

First, let me say that I'm not a "landscaper" -- I do have one or two folks whose grass I cut, but I do primarily power washing and painting.

That said, I have a Craftsman mower with a 6.5hp Briggs engine...it's 2 years old and won't start. It ran fine Tuesday, and Wednesday we tossed it in our truck, got to a customer's house and no good. Luckily we had my buddy's Cub Cadet with us...

But anyway...

I brought it home and tried a little starting fluid. It ran on the starting fluid, but died after. It would even run with I would just prime it...then it would stall unless I kept priming it.

So I figure the carb is clogged. I take the carb off and clean it out with carb cleaner, get it nice and good, put it back on, no good. So I figure bad gas...swap out the gas. No good, same thing...so I figure it was probably the carb and now from all the messing around I fouled the plug, so I get a plug...no good.

The guy at the parts store said that I should get it started with starter fluid, stand beside it and when it starts to stall, put my hand over the intake for a brief moment...so I tried this, and it works. I just had it running for about 5 minutes like that, but as soon as I stopped with my hand, she just stops running.

Any clue what that would be?

I did find a nice John Deere zero turn 21" at a place nearby used for $150...I'm thinking about jumping on that...but it has a 6.75 Briggs engine...and I think I should stick with Honda or Kaw...thoughs on that as well.

Thanks.

[Grits]

The primer bulb may have a crack in it.

[cgaengineer]

If its a pumper card the diaphram is bad.

[deapee]

Someone mentioned the primer having a hole...If I duct tape it up, that should tell me, right?

What is a pumper card? lol...thanks.

[deapee]

Oh...just checked, and I dont think so...This carb had a floater and seemed to operate on air going into it or something. I'm more of a fuel injection guy, so forgive my ignorance.

[cgaengineer]

OK, since its a float carb the low speed jets are plugged. You will have to remove carb, remove float bowl and then the float...allowing access to the two jets (Both high and low speed). Remove these jets and with a bristle from a wire brush run it through the jets removing and deposits/gunk. In the future drain carb before you place in storage during winter.

[barnard]

the main jet in very bottom of the carb is plugged. It looks like its function is to hold on the float bowl, but its a jet. Blow it out with spray carb cleaner then compressed air.

[deapee]

Thanks guys, I hear what you're saying and appreciate it.

I'm a little confused though...

In the carb, when I take off the bowl, then remove the float, there is a little hole above the float (but behind where I would think the jets would be). There is a rubber seal up there and a pointy rod attached to the float goes up and presses against that seal. When I blow carb cleaner into that hole, it comes out by the intake port just fine.

Then, there is a large hole that goes all the way to the top like a hollow tube that comes out inside the intake port. This hole is cleaned out just fine.

Then, next to that larger hole, there is a smaller hole that the hose *just* fits into and seals. I spray and nothing happens...it actually holds the pressure of the carb cleaner can...and when I pull the hose out, it releases all the pressure. Does that one need cleaned out too?

Should I take it apart and take a picture of these holes?

I really appreciate it.

[Restrorob]

You need to do as Barnard said and your problem will most likely be solved.

The main jet is incorporated with the bowl nut and that is whats clogged.

[topsites]

Could be the float is stuck, too...

That little rod it slings on gets a bit dirty, next thing you know it doesn't act quite right, fuel gets in but not enough...

Anyhow, pull that bowl thing apart again and spray it all out real good with carb cleaner, real nice and heavy, then if you have compressed air spray it with that, then more carb cleaner, clean it all out real good, soak it, shouldn't take a whole can but don't be afraid to use the stuff, then visually inspect it and make sure everything is clean, it should work after that.

btw try running BP 93 premium from here on out, it's all I use on carb'd engines, keeps the gunk out.

[deapee]

Thanks guys...I'm going to try and fix it up Monday. I had to take today off so I'll be out working just about all day tomorrow.

I ended up picking up a nice Toro 6.5 GTS (it's not commercial, but it's really nice) -- self-propelled, side discharge, mulcher, bagger, rubber wheels, I'm in love. This thing ripped right through some thick grass and spit it out, I love side discharge.

It was either that or a used lawnboy 2-stroke commercial for $399...and only a 60 day warranty. Or a John Deere zero-turn with two broken wheels and one that didn't turn for $150 and no warranty.

But I'm going to get it all apart again this Monday and get it fully ripped down, take some photos just in case and soak it overnight. If I get it running, I'll fix up my buddy's for him also...same engine.

The one thing I did notice was that it seems to have some quality parts in it. I've taken apart so many carbs in the past and sprayed them out and everything worked fine after that, and ended up using a lot of RTV on a lot of stuff because they used the cheap gaskets...the briggs seems to have all rubber gaskets that are re-useable, except for right where the carb bolts onto the intake.

--

After looking at mowers for the past few days, I'm dying for one of those nice riding mowers with the zero turn (not the tractor style) -- and a few nice accounts. Sitting on one of those, mowing a few acres would be like a day off for me from what I'm used to.

[Grass Happens]

is that toro afflicted with the Tecumseh engine? If so I would have stayed away from it. I'm pretty sure Tecumseh is Indian for "Big old pile of poopy" The old engines were ok, but there new stuff, no bueno. Most of the time with a gunk-ed carb, i just take the carb cleaner can, stick the straw into the main jet (where the float bowl nut goes) and spray. The pointy thing you referred to is the needle and seat. Spray some carb cleaner in there. Flush the tank and lines, make sure the plug is good, and off you should go. Oh, and don't use 93 octane in it. Those motors are designed for 87-89 octane. The additives in the 93 is what helps it run better. Save some money, buy a can of seafoam, and put a capfull into your gas cans. You'll get the same effect.

[deapee]

is that toro afflicted with the Tecumseh engine? If so I would have stayed away from it. I'm pretty sure Tecumseh is Indian for "Big old pile of poopy" The old engines were ok, but there new stuff, no bueno.

Ahh man don't tell me that. Oh well, 2 year warranty, parts and labor. I may just start getting accounts now for next year and finance a real machine...the more I read about grass cutting, the more I want to do it...I'm going to start mentioning it to all my customers for next season.

[Grass Happens]

Be careful, its is possible to make good money cutting grass, but you have to know you operating costs very well, because its razor-thin margins. Keep your overhead low, don't screw up to much and you might end up OK.

[topsites]

Be careful, its is possible to make good money cutting grass, but you have to know you operating costs very well, because its razor-thin margins. Keep your overhead low, don't screw up to much and you might end up OK.

What he said, this is an agricultural service business, think of the farmer's plight before you come here, it's not that different in many ways... A lot of hard work for a little money or only a little bit of work for more money... Despite some claims here, I'd say the average solo Lco grosses 35k a year and that's doing good, net might be 12-15k at best, expenses rip us up and don't forget drought and heat make for slow years.

The benefit is I get to dump 50 gallons of fuel in my stuff and act like it's nothing, but it's an act because I have no choice. Take a day off anytime, you know, be your own boss, you get the drift but more and more, an Lco is one of those careers... No offense to anyone but it's kinda like, yeah, you know, if you can't think of anything else to do, if no other career option appeals to you then go ahead, cut some grass... I don't care for it when someone thinks of me as a loser, but I kinda see why some might think that way.
So no miracles for sure, it has its benefits but don't count on much and you'll be fine.

Watch out for married women.
And funny people :laugh:

[newz7151]

Oh well, 2 year warranty, parts and labor.

No commercial/income producing use warranty on a machine like that. So, Oh Well, no warranty. :nono: