QuestionQUESTION: follow-up question. Thanks Tom, in the beginning it would start up and run just fine for 30 minutes, then it would act like a bad spark plug. So I changed the plug. No improvement. Figured it must be the carb. I took off the carb and took it with me to the local shop to get a kit. Although I told them where it had come from, they told me it was a tecumseh carb, and I got a new kit and float. Soaked the carb overnight, blew it out, cleaned it up and installed all the new parts, except the welsh plug. It ran like new for 15 minutes then gradually went downhill, died and would not restart. Acted like a classic coil situation, so changed coil. This time, it ran great for 5 minutes then did the same old gradual downhill thing, starts sputtering, backfiring, little to no power and eventually dies and is very difficult to restart, if it will restart, and if it does, it runs terrible.
Taking a look a few days ago, I was removing the carb to check it once more, when I pulled the fuel line, reddish-orange colored gas spilled out of the line for a second, then clear gas came out. Checking the carb bowl, reddish-orange gas was is it. Thinking maybe something was in the tank I took it off and cleaned it out. Put everything back together and it still ran horribly. Pulled the gas line once more and the gas in the carb is again reddish-orange. I'm completely stumped now. Thinking engine rebuild kit now. Thanks for any thoughts.
ANSWER: o.
the reddish color is rust it is clogging everything in the carb this rust is coming from the only place it can be and that's your fuel tank replace your fuel tank re-clean the carb open the head and clean the inside head valves spark plug every part of the fuel system you need to get that rust out of the system.
This should help with your issues.
Otherwise It will continue to destroy all the new components
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Tom, a previous follow-up suggested running bb's through the tank. I did that with some dish soap and it has improved my lawnmower. I still get some backfire, when put under a load, and some occassional sputter. But not nearly as bad as before. I'd estimate 75% better. However, after running for 15 minutes or so and I have to shut the mower down to empty the grass catcher. It is 15 minutes before it will start again. Acts as though it's not getting fire, but once it starts it runs strong as ever.
Perhaps I need to do a thorough fuel system cleaning as you've recommended, however, the fuel tank is a plastic tank and the gas can is plastic. Is the problem still a rust problem or should I just give it another BB treatment?
Thanks again.
Answero,
Something fouling your fuel system out a thorough Cleaning may help Or you can try something i used for years.
Buy a bottle of fuel Injector and carb cleaner add 3 capfuls to your tank and run it thru that should clean out any remaining residue.
3 Capfuls Per tank of gas till the bottle is gone will clean the fuel system completely and from there i dont forsee you having another problem
