Recent content by etbrown4

As a guy whose worked on small engines for over 60 years, I think it's possible but unlikely that you'll figure out your carb through a forum. Your best bet is to pitch the old one and buy a new one on ebay or amazon for about $15. I know some guys like this or that brand. Ive bought 3 or 4...

You don't know if you are lacking spark or fuel yet. The following 2 steps work 90% of the time. (forget about engine replacement or a shop just yet) On the spark, your best bet is a $5 spark tester from ebay or amazon. Get the kind with the adjustable gap. Set it low at about 10mm for lawn...

Could be lots of things but the carb would be my first suspect. Assume you have fresh gas, a clean inline fuel filter and a clean air filter. Apply a short squirt of starring fluid to the air cleaner, then start. If it runs and then tries to quit, apply another squirt. If you can keep the...

At full throttle the engine is not wide open because for the last 75 years all modern engines have used governors. A governed engine is running 500-800 rpm below what would be wide open. You can relax, and don't give a thought to plastic fans.

You really don't know if you have a spark or not. Often plugs are firing but depending on lighting conditions we can't see it. Buy yourself a $5 adjustable gap spark tester on amazon or ebay. They allow for a very wide gap and high voltage used on cars, but you use it in the close lawn mower...

Have a nearly new ms170 and yes I know you pull it until it pops then slide to half choke. Problem is that at full choke it sometimes wont pop, no matter how many pulls. And you have to assume that continued pulling likely creates flooding. Yes I have a new plug, good blue spark, clean...

It's not just this saw. I have a new ms170 and it is a beast to start. It's getting spark so I've ordered a new carb. Two cycles are all about spark and fuel so it's usually one or the other. Can't tell you how many times a new $15 carb has renewed my Stilh hedge trimmer. I feel your pain.

Been working on mowers and overhauling engines for many decades but this has me stumped. Rope or motor stuck. Under the deck is clear and blade turns freely. Motor is not vapor locked. Yes I held down the safety lever at the handle though I believe that's electrical. Finally after trying the...

On an HL100 I have a slightly different problem. Lately fuel leaks from the tank or lines when it is sitting flat. The tank has no obvious defects. Then with the tank half full and the fuel filter below the gas level, the primer bulb just makes a squeaking sound when pressed, No gas is brought...

This forum has the great and almighty chainsaw forum. I thought that perhaps a few motormen might drop by here..... I have a 40 year old 5hp horizontal shaft Briggs with what seems like low compression. Curious if anyone knows what the hot or cold compression is supposed to be? Many thanks...

I have an otherwise good running 14.5hp Briggs IC Gold on a craftsman mower. It has low hours and starts and runs easily. For some reason, I'm detecting some pressure in the crankcase. There are two signs of it......A fair amount of oil leaking somewhere around the OHV cover, and when you...