Lawn tractor guru's in here please!

[IZZy]

So I picked up a an older craftsman lawn tractor at an auction, so far I have replaced the battery, new spark plug, added fresh gas but I cannot get the thing to start, it will crank over but it won't run except when I use starting fluid it wants to run for a second or two, that tells me that I have spark correct? So I'm guessing it's a fuel issue, maybe a clogged filter? Carb needs cleaning?

Any suggestions appreciated.

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[blck10th]

I'm not touching this one. [emoji23] [emoji6]

 

[Mook]

[MENTION=945]daturbosix[/MENTION]

hes been waiting for a thread like this.

 

[IZZy]

I'm not touching this one. [emoji23] [emoji6]

Lol

I'm confused

 

[Mook]

I believe hes making a hispanic joke.

 

[blck10th]

Lol



I'm confused

I was gonna say you starting a side business?

 

[blck10th]

I believe hes making a hispanic joke.

And he knows I'd be fucking with him

 

[Mook]

There it is

 

[daturbosix]

so. first, how much did you pay for that pile?

have you physically checked spark?
take the bowl of the carb off and see what inside.
maybe take the carb off and clean the mother fucker and blow all the passages out with a air gun, then try again.
wouldnt hurt to blow the lines from the tank to the carb out either

do you know how long it was sitting? was there gas still in it?

 

[daturbosix]

does it run with the choke on?

 

[IZZy]

so. first, how much did you pay for that pile?

have you physically checked spark?
take the bowl of the carb off and see what inside.
maybe take the carb off and clean the mother fucker and blow all the passages out with a air gun, then try again.
wouldnt hurt to blow the lines from the tank to the carb out either

do you know how long it was sitting? was there gas still in it?

I paid 85 bucks for it lol

I have not physically checked spark which way would be best?

I will try cleaning the carb, it was sitting for a while but not sure how long, there was a little bit of gas in the tank

 

[daturbosix]

chances are the carb is clogged up. clean it out, drain the tank of the old shit gas, blow the lines out, and put a new filter on it.

check for spark: ignition on, screwdriver jammed in the spark plug wire and place shaft near a "ground" (like anything metal) and watch for spark jumping from the screwdriver to the surface near it while cranking the bastard over.

do that and get back to me with results.

(oh, have you physically looked at the plug? is it carboned up and gross looking?)

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Check and see if it is a rubber needle seat for the float if it is it's probably swollen and closed up inside it may let just enough of a trickle to fill the bowl but it won't be near enough to run the engine

 

[IZZy]

I believe hes making a hispanic joke.

I was gonna say you starting a side business?

And he knows I'd be fucking with him

Bwhahaha I didn't even think about that

 

[VenomousDSG]

Sounds like the bobber (float) inside the carb is stuck shut, and it's probably all gunked up. Especially if it has been sitting for a while. Being that that thing looks like it's about a 1990, you probably need to completely replace and rebuild the carb all together.

 

[IZZy]

does it run with the choke on?

Does not

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

sounds like previous owner tuned it for c16 based on the starter fluid

 

[daturbosix]

c16 has a lower flash point than regular gas. to get them to run well on old race gas you need to richen the fuck out of it, and put a hot plug in them... and still run like shit. oh and never try to run one on M1 methanol

 

[RICH17]

c16 has a lower flash point than regular gas. to get them to run well on old race gas you need to richen the fuck out of it, and put a hot plug in them... and still run like shit. oh and never try to run one on M1 methanol

And how do you know this?

 

[daturbosix]

i got bored one summer, and didnt feel like driving to the gas station.
that turned into new fuel lines and new carb because the alcohol ate like all the seals and plastic in the carb. #lessonlearned

 

[DEEZUZ]

Also make sure the vent in the gas cap is good.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Betting on the carburetor. I always had to pull the carb apart on the Tecumseh push mower I had every year and carb cleaner it. I'd just pop the bowl off, clean the seat/needle, let some fuel flow through it and put it back together and it'd do okay. You may need more, maybe not.

 

[boostedguy05]

if cleaning / replacing the carb does not work, look at the fuel line. My dad's old mower would pinch itslef off and block fuel going to the motor.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Dirty needle and seat, dirty jet. It's one of those. Just hose the carb out with brake cleaner.

 

[IZZy]

Thanks for all the tips, I'll be working on this pile tomorrow and will report back.