Robin no start

[jwangelin]

Was doing some outdoor chores around the house with the PT425 today, the idle hasn’t been completely smooth. I turned it off for about 45 minutes and it wouldn’t run after that. It went from sounding like it was it was missing to firing only when the key was in start position to not catching even with starting fluid. Both plugs were fouled and it looked like there was some spark.

Any suggestions before I bug Terry tomorrow morning? I know this is not a great engine but I was hoping to keep it up and running a couple years before switching to a kohler or Honda.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jon

 

[m5040]

I have a smaller model, so no first hand knowledge. But for suggestions, is the oil level the same or lower? Possibly higher??? The fuel tank is over the carb and if the needle and seat go bad, gas may leak by and flood the engine slowly at first and progressively get worse. The engine may also have a elect shut off valve for the gas when the key is off, but that will be open when the key is on, and again the carb needle/seat has to hold the gas back. Install new gapped plugs. See if that corrects it. Does it smoke black on start up? Long crank to dry out the plugs? You need to find out why your plugs are fouled, oil or gas. Air filter plugged? Good luck.

 

[jwangelin]

I have a smaller model, so no first hand knowledge. But for suggestions, is the oil level the same or lower? Possibly higher??? The fuel tank is over the carb and if the needle and seat go bad, gas may leak by and flood the engine slowly at first and progressively get worse. The engine may also have a elect shut off valve for the gas when the key is off, but that will be open when the key is on, and again the carb needle/seat has to hold the gas back. Install new gapped plugs. See if that corrects it. Does it smoke black on start up? Long crank to dry out the plugs? You need to find out why your plugs are fouled, oil or gas. Air filter plugged? Good luck.

The oil level didn’t seem to change, I’ll have to sniff the dipstick later to see if there was any contamination. No smoke on startup and I cleaned the plugs of the carbon buildup and no change.

 

[MossRoad]

Was doing some outdoor chores around the house with the PT425 today, the idle hasn’t been completely smooth. I turned it off for about 45 minutes and it wouldn’t run after that. It went from sounding like it was it was missing to firing only when the key was in start position to not catching even with starting fluid. Both plugs were fouled and it looked like there was some spark.

Any suggestions before I bug Terry tomorrow morning? I know this is not a great engine but I was hoping to keep it up and running a couple years before switching to a kohler or Honda.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jon

Can you easily remove the valve covers and watch the rockers when you crank it? Both times I had non-starting issues, one of my rocker retainer nuts had backed off and a pushrod was no longer under the rocker. Once it even punched a hole in the valve cover. But mine's a Kohler.

 

[jwangelin]

Dang, I called Terry this morning and he hit it on the 1 try!

Now I have to wait or figure the proper procedure and specs to fixit up.

 

[MossRoad]

Dang, I called Terry this morning and he hit it on the 1 try!View attachment 4330671 Now I have to wait or figure the proper procedure and specs to fixit up.

See post 4 above

Where's Rodney Dangerfield when you need him?

 

[m5040]

Have you followed the required maintenance intervals for the engine? The only way I can see that happening is if you let the valve adjustment go way out of spec.

 

[MossRoad]

Have you followed the required maintenance intervals for the engine? The only way I can see that happening is if you let the valve adjustment go way out of spec.

It happened on my Kohler twice. There is no valve adjustment on the Kohler. You tighten the nut to spec and that's that. Hydraulic lifters take care of any lash.

I do not know about the Robin.

 

[jwangelin]

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Have you followed the required maintenance intervals for the engine? The only way I can see that happening is if you let the valve adjustment go way out of spec.

So far I am on hour # in owning the PT. Terry made it sound as though these robins will do this. I’ll have to build this into the maintenance schedule.