replacing float valve rubber seat in carb on Tecumseh

[JimS]

I have about a 20 year old craftsman mower that has started leaking gas out the air filter. Haven't done much but change oil and sharpen blade up to this point - has been very reliable but I can't get this leak to stop. Figured a new needle and seat would fix it but put them in and it still leaks worse than before. I also saw that the needle clip needs to go with the open end toward the air filter or it may stick - got that right. I used an undersized, blunt shaft to push down the seat so I may not have gotten it even although it looked ok from the top. It has a couple raised small numbers or letters on the rounded side and the other side had a groove around it. Put it in groove side first with numbers up - pretty sure I got that right. But as I said it leaked worse than before.

I popped it out with some air and don't see any damage so figured I would get some advice and install it again. This time I plan to use the blunt end of a drill bit close to the bore size (think I have seen 5/32 called out for the push pin). Have also seen something about using lube on it but am cautious since some things attack rubber.

I cleaned out the hole with some carb cleaner and a bit of a q-tip and it looks fine - no scratches. I did notice there wasn't much of a stop at the bottom of the polished section. It looks to have a very small lip and go from smooth to rough. Maybe I pushed the seat in too far? The float seems to stop at about the right level when the needle was against the seat.

 

[Jim Thompson]

Check your float. Tecumseh uses a metal float that sometimes get a pin hole causing them to leak. Remove the float and hold it next to your ear while shaking it. If its leaking, you will feel the fuel sloshing inside the float. You may want to recheck the float level also.

Jim

 

[RandyT]

since some tecemseh parts are kind of hard to find did you use the oem needle and seat or did you use one from oregon or stens. i have had problems with the oregon needle and seats not sealing when installed and had to search around some of my other carb kits sitting on my shelf and steal one from another kit that i probably won't sell anyway just to fix the leak problem when using the oregon repair kit. have been having problems with some of the new rubber seats in the briggs kits tearing and crumbling when installed and causing them to leak. when you remove the new seat it comes out in pieces,

 

[JimS]

Float doesn't have anything sloshing around inside so don't think that is the issue. I got the OEM parts - I just checked my order and I paid a few cents more rather than the Stein or some other supplier. Guess I will just try again. Any chance I pressed it too far in?

 

[RandyT]

you would have to press it in pretty hard to get it seated too deep. may have a piece of trash sitting on the new seat or a small burr that is preventing from sealing.

 

[grsthegreat]

I had the same thing happen to my hand held snowblower this winter.....gas overflowing the air filter. I bought a carb rebuild kit...still flowed out. Ended up having to re-bend the metal float tabs. they got distorted somehow, and was letting too much gas into chamber. theres an overflow in the chamber. Now all is right with the world.....I was sure it was the ethanols fault....but i guess i cant blame the corn gods on this one.