[slag]

I picked up a wheeled string trimmer for $20.00 that had been sitting for a few years. The carb was full of varnish but I cleaned it all out and verified the passages were clean. The fuel bowl nut has the gasket and all 3 holes are open and clean on it. The seat had mushroomed out, so I pulled it and replaced it and the float bowl vents out to the atmosphere. I put a new gasket between the air cleaner assy and carb as well.

The problem I'm having is that it will start and run for 1-2 seconds max and then die. Wait 5 seconds, try it again, and same response. The governor linkage appears fine as does the throttle linkage and its all assembled in the correct way. Loosening the fuel bowl nut causes gas to come out at a good stream so fuel is making its way to the bowl. The gas tank was empty when I refilled it so its not an old gas issue.

I'm stumped. This carb is clean enough to eat out of now and its all put together correctly. Next up.. muffler?

 

[themidniteryder]

How did you clean it out and verify passages were clean? I would pull it back apart, soak it in carb cleaner for at least 24 hours then blow it out with high pressure air. Don't forget about any tiny bleed passages inside by the throttle plate. Sounds like a restricted passage. Is it a Briggs or Tecumseh, and what model/type/code numbers?

 

[2cycled fruitcake]

change out the welch plugs,&clean those little passages too

 

[Dirty Bernie]

have you tried running a small peice of wire through the holes? my method is carb cleaner, wire, compressed air & another shot of carb cleaner. best of luck. :trink39:

 

[slag]

have you tried running a small peice of wire through the holes? my method is carb cleaner, wire, compressed air & another shot of carb cleaner. best of luck. :trink39:

Same method as mine I soaked it for an hour, cleaned everything out, didn't remove the welch plugs because I don't have replacements and they usually get damaged beyond repair. The fuel flows/sprays through every orifice that it should, thats what is so weird/frustrating about this.

 

[slag]

How did you clean it out and verify passages were clean? I would pull it back apart, soak it in carb cleaner for at least 24 hours then blow it out with high pressure air. Don't forget about any tiny bleed passages inside by the throttle plate. Sounds like a restricted passage. Is it a Briggs or Tecumseh, and what model/type/code numbers?

briggs -- quantum engine.

 

[iwenc01]

Sounds like it is just running off the primer for a couple of seconds. Soak the carb, and blow it out, or if you have an extra carb to swap in that should fix you up...

 

[themidniteryder]

Most defiantly sounds like a carb issue. I would go through it again, it could be a small piece of debris broke loose and is clogging things up again. Like most things of this nature its going to be something simple and stupid. I know, been there and done that. Spent 4 hours last week on a B&S carb issue, engine would run about 15 minutes and die, like it ran outta gas. But it would start right back up. Turns out it was a bad gas cap not letting the tank vent and the suction was stopping the flow of gas just enough.... If all else fails, pick up a cheapie off of fleabay.

 

[Dirty Bernie]

Whats stumping me about this one is that its starting on a prime. i;m thinking it might have a vent plugged and its vapor locking the carb. this thing is bugging me and its not even my mower!

i wish i lived closer as i would love to give you a hand with it.

one other thing comes to mind, have you checked the intake to be sure its not cracked or missing the gasket?

 

[slag]

Whats stumping me about this one is that its starting on a prime. i;m thinking it might have a vent plugged and its vapor locking the carb. this thing is bugging me and its not even my mower!

i wish i lived closer as i would love to give you a hand with it.

one other thing comes to mind, have you checked the intake to be sure its not cracked or missing the gasket?

Its weird for sure. The vent is not plugged as I can blow carb cleaner down from the throat vent hole and it comes out the hole in the bowl. Its not a plugged tank cap because it would run for quite awhile before dying instead of just a few seconds. I think it might be the wrong seat which isn't allowing correct travel of the float, but I'm not sure.

I did put a new gasket on the intake and its not cracked. I think i'm going to break down and get the correct rebuild kit and replace all the welch plugs, put the correct seat in it, new needle, etc, after soaking it overnight in a carb soak solution.

 

[themidniteryder]

The rubber seat, did you get it in upside down by chance?

 

[slag]

The rubber seat, did you get it in upside down by chance?

its possible. I'm picking up a rebuild kit for $14.00 tomorrow and will make sure I get everything put in right. I think the bowl gasket was also pretty worn and stretched which didn't help things.

 

[slag]

Carb kit did the trick. Put a new seat in, new needle, new O ring on the float bowl and new O ring where the carb meets the block. She runs great now!

 

[themidniteryder]

Carb kit did the trick. Put a new seat in, new needle, new O ring on the float bowl and new O ring where the carb meets the block. She runs great now!

:thThumbsU good job