Lawn Mower trouble shooting question

Rocky1231

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I just bought a troy built push mower off Craigslist. It wasn't running but Ive put a new air filter, cleaned the gas tank, and carb. However, it isn't running still. I put b12 chem tool in and it fired up but after I let it run through I put new gas in and now wont run? Do y'all have any idea on why this is?
 

Rivets

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This is what I would do if it came into the shop.

Needle and seat replacement

Remove the carb, and then remove the float bowl. Check the float bowl jet (which is the bowl screw) and make sure the jets both horizontal and vertical are clean and open. Tip the carb upside down and remove the float pin and float with needle attached. Look in the float needle passage and you should see the red float seat at the bottom of the passage. This is where a #5 crotchet hook would come in handy as you need to remove this seat. If you have no hook, but compressed air, you can blow through the fuel inlet and try to pop the seat out. Put your thumb over the passage to prevent the seat from flying who knows where. No air or hook try bending a stiff paper clip to dig the seat out.

I would either give the carb a good 24 hour soaking or have it ultrasonically cleaned at this time.

With the seat out clean the passage way with carb cleaner. Now you must find a drill bit slightly smaller than the passage way, to be used to press in the new seat. Apply a very, very small amount of a very light lube to the new seat. 3-1 oil or lighter, to help seat it better. Carefully insert the new seat in the passage way with the rings on the seat down toward the carb body. Slowly and carefully force the seat down with the back end of the drill bit. Once it is seated, check to see that it did not flip and the rings are up. *Next check to make sure that the float does not have any liquid in it. *If it does, replace. *If everything looks correct, attach the new needle to the float and install with the float pin centered. It everything is correct, the float should seat level to the carb body, when looking at it upside down. If everything looks good reattach the float bowl, making sure that both the bowl gasket and the nut gasket seal properly. Reinstall on the engine and test unit. Remember to have patience and take your time. Good luck, but I don't think you'll need it.

PS: *On the side of some Tecumseh carbs you will find a plastic cover. *Under this cover will be an idle jet. *Remove it and check to see that the jet is open both horizontally and vertically. *You should be able to push the old float needle wire through the vertical opening.
 

Rocky1231

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Thanks for the reply. Will I have to order the needle and dear online? And is the float suppose to not be wet? There's always gas in the bowl around it.
 

Fish

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Wow.
 

Fish

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Again, WOW!!!

Are we on the "Psychic Mower Forum"???? Let us at least try to really help this guy.
 

Rocky1231

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"Next check to make sure that the float does not have any liquid in it."

Just repeating what you said smart ***
 

reynoldston

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Some floats are hollow which are made of brass. They will get a crack in them and fill up with gas. That is what is meant by fill up with gas. Yes they do sit in the float bowl which dose have gas in it. Four things you need in order for the mower to run. Fuel, spark, compression and timing, now if you have all these it will run.
 

Fish

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Don't confuse me with that guy...
If your carb isn't flooding, but is still getting fuel, then the float/needle-seat should be good. If the float was leaky=half full of fuel, then fuel would be constantly dribbling from your carb.
 

Fish

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Same applies to a leaky needle/seat, that too would make for a drippy carb, and possibly a carb that would flood and foul the engine/crankcase, depending on the engine
setup.
 

Rocky1231

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I don't believe it's flooding. But the needle and seat are cheap so it can't hurt. I'll check the float to make sure it isn't cracked.
 
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