QuestionGood morning John,
The mower is a Craftsman 6.75HP bagger/mulcher purchased in 2000. The
engine is a Tecumseh LEV-120 (Eager-1).
The mower was used for a few years, then sat unsed in my parent's garage for
a few years. Last weekend I added gas and oil and tried to fire it up. It
started, but ran extremely roughly, sputtering badly for 20ish seconds
before stalling and refusing to restart. I then noticed that it was pouring
gas out of the air filter.
Thus began my first internet search for knowledge and a couple trips to the
Sears repair center.
Carburetor maintenance session 1:
Hit Sears and picked up a new air filter, some carb cleaner, and a carb
repair kit for my mower
Removed carburetor (oops, stretched the regulator spring a little)
Removed the special bolt on the bottom of the carb and removed the pan
Marveled at the thick green goop gunking up everything
Removed the float and pin
Cleaned everything well and reassembled (replaced the gasket on the bottom
special bolt with holes in it and the air filter, but otherwise same parts,
just much cleaner)
The mower would start for short bursts now and then and quickly die again,
but at least it wasn't pouring gas out the air filter any more...
Carburetor maintenance session 2:
Hit sears for a new regulator spring
Removed the carb
This time I soaked the special bolt with holes on the sides and the end over
night in carb cleaner
Replaced the round black rubber o-ring that the special bolt screws into
Replaced the white asymmetrical (had a different top and bottom) rubber
piece that the pin hits
Replaced the regulator spring
Reassembled
-- Paid super attention to how I screwed in the special bolt as I didn't see
how it could work if it didn't have one of the two side holes lined up with
the notch in the column it screws into. I had not considered this the first
time and suspected it of limiting fuel flow. I'm pretty sure one of the two
holes faces the opening now.
The mower now starts easily and runs fine, but it stalls (seems to flood) if
I'm mowing sideways on a hill such that the carburetor is facing downhill.
The same tilt the other 3 ways doesn't seem to affect it. After it stalls
it will restart in a couple minutes.
Things I feel I may not have done quite right:
- Could too much oil do this? The line on the dip stick is about 1/4 inch
above the full line, but that's when I push it down without screwing it in,
not sure if I'm supposed to screw it down all the way to measure.
- Is the rotation of that special bolt (where the side holes aim vs the
notch in the metal column inside the carb) critical?
And beyond that, I leave it up to the expert!
Thank you very much,
LIB
AnswerHello Liberty:
This is a Gas Flow Problem. Is the Tank Below or Above the Carburetor when the Carburetor is Facing Down Hill? Is it Flooding or Could it be the Gas from the Tank is Not Getting to the Carburetor Bowl when the Carburetor is Facing Down Hill? I have a Toro that if you Face the Carburetor Down Hill it will Lose Gas Flow from the Tank, because the Tank is Actually Lower than the Carburetor Bowl and Liquids have Trouble Flowing Up Hill. Since this is a Tecumseh Engine, I have a PDF Site Addy that May Assist you Also. http://www.tecumsehpower.com/CustomerService/BSI.pdf Hope this Helps. I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Let me Know What Happens, Please. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 9pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
