Tiller stops every two minutes

[RSKY]

I have a Troy Bilt tiller that has never given me a problem that I didn't cause with neglect or stupidity. BUT now it is doing something weird. The Briggs and Stratton engine cranks, and I till for about 1-1/2 to 2 minutes and the engine sputters and dies. I let it sit for about a minute, put the choke on a little more than half and it cranks first pull and runs for another minute and a half to two minutes.

Any ideas?

RSKY

 

[oldnslo]

Does this model have a carb mounted below the tank or on top of the tank?
If carb below tank I would suspect a fuel flow issue between fuel tank and carb.

If tank mounted not sure but possible rubber diaphragm fuel pump is stretched or has pinhole causing it to pump for a little then quit.

 

[RSKY]

Carb is below tank. I figure it is fuel starvation but can't see how.

 

[DK35vince]

Still sounds like fuel starvation. Its running out what's in the float bowl then quits.
Pull off the fuel line between the fuel tank and carburetor and see if you have a good steady fuel flow. (is the fuel tank plugged ? Plugged filter ? Fuel tank vent tube ? Float or needle valve sticking ?)

 

[tomplum]

There are decades of Briggs and Troy tillers. A model and type number from the engine would be helpful. The fuel cap or carb bowl not venting would be a good guess. Or a float valve that can't fill fast enough due to a swollen seat.

 

[i7win7]

Had similar problem with plate compactor, check vent hole in fuel cap.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

These carbs need cleaning every year with the **** ethanol additives. Guarantee that the ethanol is gumming up the needle passage. I bet it's got a carb where the needle is attached to the float and it's gummed up. I have to clean or rebuild nearly every small engine carb I have every year. It really doesn't matter if you use fuel stabilizer or not. Running empty before storage is your best bet.

 

[Mendonsy]

Does your model vent through the gas cap?? Try leaving the cap loose to see if that makes any difference. Dirt buildup or even spider webs in a gas cap vent can cause that problem.

 

[RSKY]

It isn't the fuel cap, that was my first guess and I ran it with cap off and still had the same problem. I am not for sure if the gas left in it over the winter was ethanol free or not. I usually burn only the ethanol free in my small engines but may have run short last year and used regular instead of driving 25-miles to get the alcohol free. Gonna run tank dry and fill with pure gas with some Gumout or something in it and try that first. Keep the ideas coming.

RSKY

 

[Egon]

If it has a fuel filter or screen in the bottom of the tank check those.

 

[LD1]

ID take the carb off and make sure everything is clean. Small particles can plug some of the small passages.

Id also drain and make sure the tank is clean. Could have something in there floating around and blocking the outlet.

Worst case scenerio is a $100 predator engine from harbor freight

 

[DieselMonk]

is there dirt in the fuel line or in the tank?

 

[ericm979]

It sounds like a fuel flow problem. That's not usually caused by ethanol in the gas.

Pull the gas line from the carb and run it into a container, watching to see how well it flows. Then you'll know if the problem is in the fuel system or the carb.

Some carbs have inlet screens that can clog with dirt.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

It isn't the fuel cap, that was my first guess and I ran it with cap off and still had the same problem. I am not for sure if the gas left in it over the winter was ethanol free or not. I usually burn only the ethanol free in my small engines but may have run short last year and used regular instead of driving 25-miles to get the alcohol free. Gonna run tank dry and fill with pure gas with some Gumout or something in it and try that first. Keep the ideas coming.

RSKY

Just pull off the carb and clean it. Also, check your fuel line for proper flow.

Use Berrymans B-12 carb and choke cleaner.

 

[RSKY]

I took the day off today. Had all four grandkids here for a fish fry. The pairs hadn't seen each other in about two months. So you can guess how hectic it was. I will work on it again tomorrow AFTER I get my first professional haircut since February.

RSKY

 

[skipperbrown]

I had a similar issue with an outboard motor. Turned out to be grime in the metal tube fuel line blocking good flow. I blew it out with carb cleaner and it was good as new.

 

[RSKY]

Well,....turns out a vacation fixed the problem. Had a bunch of stuff going on and didn't have time to look at the tiller. Then we went to Cape San Blas in Florida for a week. Didn't really want to go but daughter talked us into it. Got back and fired up the tiller Sunday afternoon to load it on my trailer to take to other daughter's garden and it sat and idled for 10-15 minutes. I ran it for two to three hours today and it never missed a beat. And it will run at idle. Even new it was wide open or dead stop.

A vacation fixed everything

Now about my skunk problem.

RSKY

 

[bigtiller]

I love it when things fix themselves.

 

[ptsg]

I love it when things fix themselves.

I don't, because I don't know when the problem will comeback again. And most likely will comeback on the worse time possible. :laughing:

 

[oosik]

My 1982 - 8hp - Troy Bilt Horse did exactly that, once. It was grime, crud in the fuel line.