[floodcity1]

I am at my wits' end with my trimming mower, a little 20" $99 push with a 3.5 Tecumseh. I prime the carb, pull one time, it roars up to life and shuts down just as fast. If i continue to pump the primer or use a little starting fluid, it will run on til it burns that up then go off. I have had the spark plug replaced and checked - it sparks. I have a fuel issue, and I've had the carb off 3 times, disassembling and cleaning. Put it back together, prime, pull, same thing. Any ideas??

Thanks,
floodcity1
(Mark McCulloch)

 

[Mark777]

Welcome Mark!

I'm afraid to say it....but I will,

I think it's a tiny amount of dirt trapped between the needle and seat inside your carb. I hope I'm wrong but that is usually what it is

Mark

 

[Brad]

Yes. Definitely a fuel issue. Another area easily missed is the brass bolt that holds the sediment bowl on the carburetor. Take that bolt off and look t it. Near the bottom of it there is either 1 or 3 very tiny holes, barely visible. Those are probably clogged as well. I put a bit of carb cleaner in the open end of that bolt and let it sit a few minutes, then get a very tiny wire (speaker wire is good) and push it thru those tiny holes. They have to be very clean! Keep us informed on your progress.

 

[bwdbrn1]

Frustrating, isn't it.

Gotta' go with the other two guys here.

Take the carb off, disassemble and let things sit for a bit in some carb cleaner. Always make note of where parts are and how they fit as you take them apart. It helps to know where and how they were when putting it all back together. Things like clean empty yogurt containers are good for soaking in, and for keeping bits and parts where you can find them later. Poke small wire through the holes you can see, like Brad said. If you have access to an air compressor, blow compressed air through all the holes to help clean the passages.

Make sure you point everything thing away from your face, especially if you're using carb cleaner in an aerosol can, and when blowing air through it. I've found that unless I hold this stuff at arms length, it'll shoot straight for my face every time.

 

[bfbiker]

gas proms

Yes. Definitely a fuel issue. Another area easily missed is the brass bolt that holds the sediment bowl on the carburetor. Take that bolt off and look t it. Near the bottom of it there is either 1 or 3 very tiny holes, barely visible. Those are probably clogged as well. I put a bit of carb cleaner in the open end of that bolt and let it sit a few minutes, then get a very tiny wire (speaker wire is good) and push it thru those tiny holes. They have to be very clean! Keep us informed on your progress.

I build custom jap bikes and run in to this all the tim what I use is my trouch tip cleaners has just about any size I need and the cheap at the welding supply places

 

[Brad]

Absolutely bfbiker. Another thing that works is guitar strings.

What kind of bikes? Newer ones or the older machines?

 

[bfbiker]

the bikes

Absolutely bfbiker. Another thing that works is guitar strings.

What kind of bikes? Newer ones or the older machines?

sorry about the jacking but blame Brad
Older bikes 650xs Ihave 2 that I call japsters and snorsters
and pre 75 moto guzzis