[Stillbents]

Went out, put the key in and it fired right up. Drove it out of the shed and the engine slowly died. Hmmm - turned the key and it started again but it blew black smoke (probably from choking a warm engine) and slowly died again. :banghead3

Pushed it back into the shed and turned it over but no go. Pulled the plug and it was dry! Turned the key and a nice spark. Fuel filter plugged I hope but fuel pump could be the culprit. It acted like it was out of gas. I used a small solid fuel filter which I'm hoping is plugged.

If a new filter isn't the problem can I take the gas line off at the carb and see if the pump is working? In other words turn it over and see if gas comes out? Is there another way to test a pump? Thanks

 

[Teddy da Bear]

That's how it's done Dave. Take the fuel line off the supply
side of the carb. (in between fuel pump and carb).

Now if it does not pump fuel or weakly pumps it. Do not
blame the fuel pump right away. Pucker your lips up and
blow into the fill hole on the gas tank after taking the fuel
line off the incoming side of the fuel pump. There should
be no ristriction felt when you blow. If there is no restriction
felt....then it is the fuel pump. If there is a restriction you
have a plugged gas line or clog in the gas tank/valve.
Check your tank for loose debris.

Oh and that other pesky thing.....make sure you did not turn
off the tank shut-off valve. :hide:

 

[Teddy da Bear]

What happened with the C-120?

 

[Stillbents]

Went to VIP Auto Center and picked up a Fram inline filter to replace the tiny one on now. Was too late to put it in last night. Today I have to "work" so will get to it later today or early this evening.

My other C120 worked great yesterday until I got it stuck in waterlogged loam - the rain here is in it's seventh day and getting old. At least the lawn got mowed during a brief appearance of the sun yesterday.

 

[Stillbents]

Teddy - looks like the problem is something far removed from gas lines and filters. Ran fuel system checks all the way to the carb and fuel is making it all the way up there (pump works fine and filter not clogged). Put everything back together and no gas at all in the carb - as a matter of fact, not any gas smell at the throat with the choke full on.

I'm thinking the carb float could be the culprit. This is all original equipment from 76'. Seems strange though - it started right up, ran great, and died slowly like gas was starved. Would a float problem do that? The tractor had been sitting for a week due to pouring rain and prior to that was running fantastic. I'm bummed!

I'm going to look at a carb rebuild kit. The last time I did one was on my Datsun 1600 pickup. I got a metal filing in the low speed jet so it would only run at max rpms. Once I got that out it ran for another eight years before I sold it. Maybe I can do this one if needed.

 

[gwest_ca]

Try tapping the carb with the handle of a screw driver. Sometimes the needle will stick to the seat keeping it shut off to fuel flow. Tapping may release it so it can fall down to the float since the fuel in the bowl has likely evaporated. There was a bulletin on replacing the needle and seat to one that includes a wire clip that hooks the needle to the float so when the float drops it pulls the needle with it. Will look for the bulletin if needed.

Garry

 

[Teddy da Bear]

Sometimes enough gas will seep in to the float bowl when the
tractor sits for a while. You can start it and it will run fine for a few.
Then die as you run out of fuel. Sounds kind of weird if it is a tractor
you use regularly though. Put some carb cleaner in there too.

 

[Stillbents]

This has got me :banghead3 !!! I rapped the carb and nothing doing. Now I'm hoping it is the carb. As I mentioned, turning it over (by hand even!) had gas coming out the fuel line at the carb.

The eight days unused is the longest it's gone without starting or use. Frankly I'm very surprised at this. I thought it would be something electrical that got me. No indication this was coming!

If I take the bowl off and move the float up and down is that likely to drop the needle? I'm running an ounce of Seafoam per tank full so shouldn't need carb cleaner or am I wrong? Thanks guys for helping out - this one is driving me nuts! I may have to go find another C-series just in case this one takes awhile to get running :ROF !

 

[Teddy da Bear]

Well......now that might be your trouble..... Your running Sea Foam.
It is great stuff....don't get me wrong.... But it will loosen crud anywhere
in the system... But then that crud runs downstream and gets stuck
somewhere. I bet you clogged one of the jets or breather holes in the
carburator inadvertantly. You now need to remove the carb and
clean every orifice thoroughly.

You should not need to run sea foam unless you "need" to clean up
the fuel system. But don't run it through so often...only when you
suspect a problem. And remember.....sea foam is famous for sending
crud onto the spark plug too.

 

[Stillbents]

I suspect you are spot-on with your assessment. I added the Seafoam to break up 30 years of carbon buildup and clean the system. I added one ounce to two gallons and it obviously worked.

I took the bowl off the carb and the needle was moving. Took the gas line in off and put a short piece of clean hose on and blew gently Got a little back pressure so blew some Gunk carb cleaner in, blew again and got air. Put it back together and after a couple of cranks to get gas back in, it started right up.

I'll continue to use the Startron (I think that's it) for the ethanol but the system won't get more Seafoam. It's clean! Thanks for the advice and help. I guess this means I need to work this thing to get that gas in the tank used up - yay!

 

[Teddy da Bear]

and you may want to look at that spark plug and clean it or replace it.

 

[Stillbents]

First thing I did when checking everything out was to make sure the plug was sparking. The base of the plug (about 50 hours on it) was covered in a fine, removable with a rag, black soot. I rechecked the gap and put it back in. Since this is my winter tractor I'll put in a new plug when I change back to 10W30 in October.

Thanks for keeping me honest!:thanku:

 

[Teddy da Bear]

I have had a new plug ruined by using that. Just would not clean up