only runs on brake cleaner

[pfrederi 17,663]

This is a puzzlement...

 

That it runs on brake clean really leads me to a fuel flow problem  but while I do not like throwing parts at things how about a new spark plug???

 

Back to fuel.  Air cleaner off no spray just crank for an extended period 15 seconds full choke.  The carb throat should be wet..very wet and smell strongly of gas. If it isn't then it has to be a fuel issue.  If is wet and the plug is wet back to ignition land.  There is a spark tester you can make in the special tools section of the manual above.

My best guesses sorry...

[rmaynard 15,427]

I saw @wallfish do this at the big show one time. Spray some gasoline directly into the throat of the carburetor instead of using brake cleaner.  Be careful, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. I would use a spray bottle. If it fires up using gasoline just like to does with brake cleaner, that tells me that you have a carburetor problem. Keep it simple.

[kasey54 305]

I would remove the fuel line at the carb ,spin the engine and see if fuel flows strong. I find it hard to believe 3 carbs have the same issue. If it fires on carb cleaner, valves arent the issue. To think the plug will ignite carb cleaner , but not gasoline is very hard for me to accept. if fuel sprays from spinning the engine with the hose disconnected from the carb, but wont fire thru the carb ( three of them) I'd wonder if my fuel was kerosene or something. A new plug is cheap enough, but seems like a million to one shot to me.

 I'll be watching this, seems bizzare !

[freq432 6]

1 hour ago, pfrederi said:

Was this a sudden problem  had it been sitting for a long time did it run reasonably well before??

 

Incidentally Main jet is 2-1/2 turns to start Idle is 2-1/2 also

This is the first time I tried to run it this year. It has sat in the shed since last fall and it seemed to run ok then

[pfrederi 17,663]

Just to add to the confusion here (Sorry)  You indicated the resistance on the secondary was 14k which is in the range shown in the downloadable manual 7,900 to 20,000.  I have a hard copy manual dated 3/86 (can't see any dates on the electron version). The hard copy acceptable range is 7,900 to 10,850.

 

 

[freq432 6]

30 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

I saw @wallfish do this at the big show one time. Spray some gasoline directly into the throat of the carburetor instead of using brake cleaner.  Be careful, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. I would use a spray bottle. If it fires up using gasoline just like to does with brake cleaner, that tells me that you have a carburetor problem. Keep it simple.

I will try that

 

6 minutes ago, kasey54 said:

I would remove the fuel line at the carb ,spin the engine and see if fuel flows strong. I find it hard to believe 3 carbs have the same issue. If it fires on carb cleaner, valves arent the issue. To think the plug will ignite carb cleaner , but not gasoline is very hard for me to accept. if fuel sprays from spinning the engine with the hose disconnected from the carb, but wont fire thru the carb ( three of them) I'd wonder if my fuel was kerosene or something. A new plug is cheap enough, but seems like a million to one shot to me.

 I'll be watching this, seems bizzare !

fuel gushes from the pump when cranking and disconnected from carb. I will pick up a new plug in the morning and see what that does

[pfrederi 17,663]

8 minutes ago, kasey54 said:

I would remove the fuel line at the carb ,spin the engine and see if fuel flows strong. I find it hard to believe 3 carbs have the same issue. If it fires on carb cleaner, valves arent the issue. To think the plug will ignite carb cleaner , but not gasoline is very hard for me to accept. if fuel sprays from spinning the engine with the hose disconnected from the carb, but wont fire thru the carb ( three of them) I'd wonder if my fuel was kerosene or something. A new plug is cheap enough, but seems like a million to one shot to me.

 I'll be watching this, seems bizzare !

 

 

Years ago in the motor pool we had an M-151 that wouldn't start.  Following standard motor pool practices they replaced every part of the ignition system and a new carb, low oil pressure switch etc..  Not believing the fuel gauge I put a stick in the the tank there was fuel...but it did smell funny and the stick didn't dry out right away..  Turns out some genius had refilled her with DF2

[freq432 6]

3 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Just to add to the confusion here (Sorry)  You indicated the resistance on the secondary was 14k which is in the range shown in the downloadable manual 7,900 to 20,000.  I have a hard copy manual dated 3/86 (can't see any dates on the electron version). The hard copy acceptable range is 7,900 to 10,850.

 

 

yep that looks about right and mine is 14k. Is it possible the coil is bad if its not completely open or closed loop? New good coil is about $70 and I dont have any laying around

[kasey54 305]

For what its worth , Ive used the cheap carbs on 6,8, 10 and 16 hp kohlers. Id'd quess about ten of them.

I had one leak out the float chamber gasket and stripped the threads trying to tighten the screw. I like them .

[freq432 6]

3 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

 

 

Years ago in the motor pool we had an M-151 that wouldn't start.  Following standard motor pool practices they replaced every part of the ignition system and a new carb, low oil pressure switch etc..  Not believing the fuel gauge I put a stick in the the tank there was fuel...but it did smell funny and the stick didn't dry out right away..  Turns out some genius had refilled her with DF2

Thats a good point and if it was kero or diesel It would still smell like gasoline. My son is usually the one that fuels it up before mowing

[wallfish 16,984]

17 minutes ago, freq432 said:

This is the first time I tried to run it this year. It has sat in the shed since last fall and it seemed to run ok then

If that's ethanol fuel, it's bad fuel. Gravity feed fuel directly to the carb from another tank up higher than the carb.

Had a bad can full of it and it was only 30-40 days old from the pump. Drove me nuts that the engine would only idle if it fired up at all. Discovered the problem after fueling up another tractor with that gas can.

Water in the fuel will also cause the no start. Pull the bowl off and you can see if water is sitting in the bottom

45 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Be careful, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.

Think I showed ya the wrong way huh?

Edited April 15, 2020 by wallfish

[rmaynard 15,427]

7 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Think I showed ya the wrong way huh?

I your defence, it was very hot that day. 😝

[cschannuth 3,816]

44 minutes ago, freq432 said:

Thats a good point and if it was kero or diesel It would still smell like gasoline. My son is usually the one that fuels it up before mowing

If you get this figured out I always put Stabyl in all of my fuel tanks. Those things can sit for a year and still a fire right up like the gas was right out of the pump.

[freq432 6]

alright fellas. It did fact have about 50% diesel fuel in it and now I feel like a goof. Much obliged to all who responded. On a positive note my valve lash has been corrected. I have new fuel line and filter and she all tuned up now and ready for yet another season of mowing. I've owned wheel horse tractors for years and I'll check in now that i'm on this forum. Thanks alot guys!

[ebinmaine 67,268]

2 minutes ago, freq432 said:

goof

No worries.

I haven't perfected making mistakes so I practice every day...

 

Glad to hear it's up and running!!!!!

[pfrederi 17,663]

Glad you are back in business.  I loved my days in the Motor Pool.. Never underestimate the ability of a GI to screw something up, as a friend once said Chemical Light sticks were perfect for soldiers...you had to break them to make them work.

[rmaynard 15,427]

There are a lot of guys who would not admit a problem like that. Thanks for your honesty. 

Edited April 15, 2020 by rmaynard

[Pullstart 62,785]

Glad you’re up and running!  Now that THAT’S solved, where’s the 

[Darb1964 1,042]

Glad you are up and running, I spent a day one time trying to get my splitter running. It was out of gas ⛽ a neighbor stopped by and suggested to check the tank, I could have sworn I had filled it.

[wallfish 16,984]

37 minutes ago, freq432 said:

feel like a goof

This thread should help ya feel better.

 

[Daddy Don 905]

Everyone should read this just to remind them how easy it is to do by anyone. It made me stop and think about the way I just grab a gas can and start putting fuel in the tractors. I will be more causes now that I have read this story. 

[River19 87]

33 minutes ago, wallfish said:

This thread should help ya feel better.

 

 

Easy there Killer....lol

 

OK fine, keep laughing at my expense......

[ebinmaine 67,268]

4 minutes ago, River19 said:

 

Easy there Killer....lol

 

OK fine, keep laughing at my expense......

I dunno bout the rest of the clowns but I promise I am laughing WITH you...

 

[kasey54 305]

Glad it works now ,thumbs up.