DR brush mower problem

[redka]

My experience with a B & S engine that sat up was that the carb couldn't be cleaned with spray cleaner. It had to sit overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner. Maybe there is something in the Kaw. carb that won't tolerate being soaked for that long--just don't know for sure.

I was talking a with a lawn and garden equipment sales rep this evening. He says that the ethanol in the gas is swelling the rubber on the needle valve inlet on carbs, and they are telling their customers to turn off the fuel valve and run the engine to drain the carb after shutdown. The customers aren't listening....

I'm sure listening, and have told my son to do that after every run, unless he is going to run it within a couple days.
Thanks.

 

[2manyrocks]

You're welcome. I hope you don't have any more problems.

 

[jhwentworth]

My experience with a B & S engine that sat up was that the carb couldn't be cleaned with spray cleaner. It had to sit overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner. Maybe there is something in the Kaw. carb that won't tolerate being soaked for that long--just don't know for sure.

I was talking a with a lawn and garden equipment sales rep this evening. He says that the ethanol in the gas is swelling the rubber on the needle valve inlet on carbs, and they are telling their customers to turn off the fuel valve and run the engine to drain the carb after shutdown. The customers aren't listening....

A more likely scenario is that the shop spent some time trying to make the engine run right without success, and decided that a carb replacement was the quickest fix. At some point the labor charges exceed that parts cost.

I haven't seen any problem with ethanol swelling the seat on the fuel inlet. Any engine built in the past 20 years should be able to handle 10% ethanol. Ethanol and water are a whole different story with the fuel separation problem, but too many people seem to want to blame every problem on ethanol. I have 10+ small engines and have had zero problems with ethanol. One of them is a Cub Cadet 104, and another is an early Troy-Bilt Horse with a 7hp Tecumseh. The stuff built 30 years ago did have problems with plastic/rubber components failing from ethanol, but anything more modern should be able to handle it, and parts for the old stuff should too.

BTW: Listening to a lawn and garden equipment sales rep on technical issues can be dangerous to your wealth.

 

[2manyrocks]

A more likely scenario is that the shop spent some time trying to make the engine run right without success, and decided that a carb replacement was the quickest fix. At some point the labor charges exceed that parts cost.

BTW: Listening to a lawn and garden equipment sales rep on technical issues can be dangerous to your wealth.

Agree on both points-especially when sales reps downplay known engine problems.

My personal experience is that the new gas will gum a carb more quickly and stick the needle valve.

 

[redka]

Thanks again for the replies and discussion.
A related question...is Stabil and Seafoam and similar products supposed to prevent carb gumming, or only prevent gas gelling?

 

[clemsonfor]

They both will prevent carb varnish or carb gumming whichever you want to call it. Stabil will do this cheaper i beleive, but most swear by seafoad, its been around a while and has other benefits like additional lubricating abilities and cleaning abilities as it runs which i think stabil dosent.

 

[Ken45101]

It is my understanding that Stabil helps prevent the gas from going bad (forming varnish). I used to have routine problems with my chain saw, requiring frequent carb work. Since I've started putting Stabil in all the gas I buy for the farm, I haven't had any problems. (Chain saws, 4 wheelers, log splitter, DR mowers).

Sea Foam is good for cleaning carbs. If something is running bad or not starting, it can clean out the carb. I only put it in stuff that isn't running right. It seems to help. Just recently, my one chain saw wasn't idling right, it would die after idling for 30 seconds. I put some Seafoam in it, ran it for a few minutes and let it set over night. Next day, it was running fine.

Both products are inexpensive preventive measures. I go through one container of Stabil a year. A container of Seafoam lasts me a couple of years.

Ken

 

[redka]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Lcagee]

Agree with carb cleaning. These carbs get all gunned up. Mine was a mess. It was so bad almost not cleanable. I put a second fuel shut off valve on it because the one under the tank is so hidden. Makes it a lot easier to remove the carb.

 

[Lcagee]