gas is garbage....

[Soundguy]

Well, while doing some garage cleaning today, I pulled out a sears 44" trail mower ( 8hp B/S ) that I've had for some time.. though seldom used. I bought it back when I had first bought 3 acers, and got it to go with my riding lawnmower as a way to mow faster. This was before I got a tractor, anbd before we had built a house there. Used it a few times, and pretty much parked it. Got tired of it setting in the garage so I went to sell it last year.. wouldn't start.. carb was gunked up, and float stuck.
It was still under extended warranty.. I took it in, and they put a new carb on.. changed the oil.. etc.. sharpend the blades.. etc. Buyer had already gotten another one by then.. so I brought it home used it once.. drained the gas and put it back up.

Now... 1 year later I pulled it out again.. in prep to sell to a co-worker, and same thing.. would stat on a bit of gas dripped in carb.. then die.

I didn't have a rebuild kit, but figured I'd pull the carb apart anyway.

Man.. what an easy carb to clean and rebuild. Took all of 15 minutes to pull it.. clean, and reinstall. Float needle was 'glued' in place not letting gas inthe bowl.. not to mention a ton of varnish.. from just 1 mowing!

Started on the first crank, and then I added some stabil, and lucas fuel treatment to the gas and let it run a while....

2 points.... Brigs carbs are super easy to rebuild.. and gasoline is garbage!

Soundguy

 

[KiotiJohn]

I had that problem a few times until I started only running premium gas in my small engines. That, and also adding shut off valves has kept me from having the problem again. John

 

[Junkman]

I run all my small engines with Stabil in them and when they are put away for the season, I just let them run till they run out of gas. The following season, I put in fuel and they always start. The trick is to never leave them with any gas in them at all... and to use Stabil all the time....

 

[Soundguy]

I also only use premium... Usually I fill my cans at the pump right after filling my truck..

Soundguy

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I also only use premium... Usually I fill my cans at the pump right after filling my truck.. )</font>
I'm surprised you've had that much problem with it then. Get the cut off valve and run it all out when you're finished, hopefully you won't have any more problem. It's a real pain, I know. John

 

[slowrev]

Soundguy,
I am not sure that gas in Fl is the same formula as in the northern states. I try to alway use Stabil Gas in all of my engines that don't get run much, but don't catch them all, all of the time /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Yes Briggs carbs are easy to clean, and you usually don't even need to replace any gaskets, for a couple of times anyway.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm surprised you've had that much problem with it then. Get the cut off valve and run it all out when you're finished, hopefully you won't have any more problem. It's a real pain, I know. John )</font>

Me too. i thought I was doing myself a favor. Oh well. I know stabilize all stored fuel, and equipment tanks, and I let the carbs go dry to kill the engine when i shut them down. Seems to make them start better anyways.

On the flip side.. I've gotten goos at rebuilding B/S carbs this weekend... and now have a spare, since the first one that died was replaced and given back to me.

I also noticed that the carb is the same one on my 12.5hp B/S riding mower. Perhaps a different jet though? In any case.. I have a spare all ready to go now..

Soundguy

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> I run all my small engines with Stabil in them and when they are put away for the season, I just let them run till they run out of gas. The following season, I put in fuel and they always start. The trick is to never leave them with any gas in them at all... and to use Stabil all the time.... </font>

I'm with Junkman but since my memory may not be as good as it once was after the gas has been treated, the tank drained, and the machine run dry, I then attach a tag on the engine reminding me that it has been done for the season. All leftover gas for the season is then dumped into the SUV so that I start with fresh gas for the following season. If it is pre-mix then I will add some Stabil to the gas can in an effort to keep it fresher.

 

[Egon]

Kinda curious; " If gas is garbage " why do we use it??

Egon

 

[slowrev]

"Kinda curious; " If gas is garbage " why do we use it??"

Because it is what they sell us, not much choice.