I have a pressure washer with a 16 hp Vanguard. It sat in storage for years, but according to the guy I got it from it ran well prior to going into storage. When I got it, the fuel tank was empty. I put a little fuel in it just to see if it would run, and it started up...smoked a bit, but it ran. I shut it down, changed the oil (which looked ok, but it was years old), and put a gallon or so of gas in it. I pressure washed a couple small things just to make sure it was running well, then shut it down.
A couple days later I was going to use it, but it wouldn't start. I checked the tank, and it was empty. Checked the oil, and there's fuel in it. I also found my intake manifold was full of gas. I had forgot to close the fuel shut off valve, but still, shouldn't the needle valve in the carb stop the flow when the bowl is full? I took the carb apart, and there's nothing in there that looks like it would block the needle valve from closing. I was thinking maybe sitting in storage might have cause the seal to deteriorate. I thought about replacing the needle, but my local dealer doesn't have it in stock. I had him check on a carb rebuild kit, and he quoted me a ridiculous price ($184). Then he quoted me $229 for a new carb.
I'm a little leery of putting a needle valve in. I've been down this road before. I've got a 3.5 briggs motor on an edger that leaks gas through the air filter housing. I cleaned it twice, and replaced the needle valve and seat, and it still leaks. My experience with fixing carburetor leaks is not good, but I'm not sure I want to spend $230 for a carb.
I've got the carb apart now, and when I get home from work I'm going to try and rig something up so I can pour a little fuel in it and watch the float and needle valve to see if it's working / sealing properly. Beyond that though, I have no clue what I'm doing. Is there something else I should be looking at?
Any thoughts appreciated.
A couple days later I was going to use it, but it wouldn't start. I checked the tank, and it was empty. Checked the oil, and there's fuel in it. I also found my intake manifold was full of gas. I had forgot to close the fuel shut off valve, but still, shouldn't the needle valve in the carb stop the flow when the bowl is full? I took the carb apart, and there's nothing in there that looks like it would block the needle valve from closing. I was thinking maybe sitting in storage might have cause the seal to deteriorate. I thought about replacing the needle, but my local dealer doesn't have it in stock. I had him check on a carb rebuild kit, and he quoted me a ridiculous price ($184). Then he quoted me $229 for a new carb.
I'm a little leery of putting a needle valve in. I've been down this road before. I've got a 3.5 briggs motor on an edger that leaks gas through the air filter housing. I cleaned it twice, and replaced the needle valve and seat, and it still leaks. My experience with fixing carburetor leaks is not good, but I'm not sure I want to spend $230 for a carb.
I've got the carb apart now, and when I get home from work I'm going to try and rig something up so I can pour a little fuel in it and watch the float and needle valve to see if it's working / sealing properly. Beyond that though, I have no clue what I'm doing. Is there something else I should be looking at?
Any thoughts appreciated.
