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I have an Ariens 46" Garden Tractor #936085 with a Briggs & Stratton 20hp #40R877 engine for about 4 years now and been very happy with it until yesterday. My problem is with the engine. It was taking 10-20 seconds of cranking to start the engine and the mower belt had stretched. So I did my annual maintenance a little early by replacing all filters (gas,air & oil), changed the oil, new plugs and replaced the belt. It fired up in 1-2 seconds and I did a tour of my 3 acres. It surged once or twice which I attributed to perhaps a drop or two of condensation since it had been sitting for a month or so. Parked it and did a couple of hours of work, then came back to put it up. There was a heavy smell of raw gas and I found a major drip at the front of the machine. After removing the hood I located the drip at what may be the intake manifold. I looked for a leak from the hoses, gas filter, gas tank, gas pump & carb but I could not find any other external source. The "intake manifold" had what appeared to be a vent at the bottom where the gas was dripping from.
I had an epiphany last night that since we had some freezing nights that perhaps something may have cracked. But is that were so could I have drove it around for 20 minutes running well?
Any suggestions what it might be and where I should start would be greatly appreciated. I've included some pictures that might give a clearer idea of what I've described.
Cheers,
Miles

It's gonna run perfect and not leak gas when you are cutting grass...... The engine is using the gas and the carb is not overflowing......

Your carb needs a good cleaning possibly a new kit also..... The carb is overflowing and it's coming out of your muffler.....

You need to check your oil also and make sure there is no gas in it ..... If it's over the full mark and you smell gas you gonna have to dump the oil and put new oil in.....

But you gonna have to fix the carb issue before you change the oil....

Check that out first then get back with us... It could be a head gasket also......

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

The EPA banned carburettors with external drip tubes.
So now they all "leak" into the engine.
The carb leaks because the float valve is not shutting the fuel supply off.
So it is off with the carb and do some cleaning.

You will also have to check your oil for fuel contamination.
If contaminated you will have to change it twice to get rid of all of the fuel.

Carb cleaning instructions are at http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/

deleted

Boudreaux In Eunice La. said:

It's gonna run perfect and not leak gas when you are cutting grass...... The engine is using the gas and the carb is not overflowing......

Your carb needs a good cleaning possibly a new kit also..... The carb is overflowing and it's coming out of your muffler.....

You need to check your oil also and make sure there is no gas in it ..... If it's over the full mark and you smell gas you gonna have to dump the oil and put new oil in.....

But you gonna have to fix the carb issue before you change the oil....

Check that out first then get back with us... It could be a head gasket also......

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. The weather dropped again, 32/18, and won't be up again until Monday. Oil looked good and fresh I'll double check after I check the carb. Thanks again, Miles

bertsmobile1 said:

The EPA banned carburettors with external drip tubes.
So now they all "leak" into the engine.
The carb leaks because the float valve is not shutting the fuel supply off.
So it is off with the carb and do some cleaning.

You will also have to check your oil for fuel contamination.
If contaminated you will have to change it twice to get rid of all of the fuel.

Carb cleaning instructions are at http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. The weather dropped again, 32/18, and won't be up again until Monday. I don't have a garage or shop. Oil looked good and fresh I'll double check after I check the carb. I'll post what I find. Thanks again, Miles

It would be wise to install (and use) a fuel shutoff valve on any engine that's gravity fed.

cpurvis said:

It would be wise to install (and use) a fuel shutoff valve on any engine that's gravity fed.

Click to expand...

Good point and easily done, thanks for the suggestion. Miles

Re: Major Gas Leak/carburetor cleaning

This is my first time in a carburetor and this is my first riding mower so please bare with me. I have an Ariens Garden Tractor model #936085. It has a Briggs & Stratton 20hp 40R877 motor with a V-Twin #796227 carburetor.

How do I remove the item the air filter is connected to on top of the air intake horn? Does it just pop off? I can't find any screws or other hold downs. Is it called the blower housing referred to in "bertsmobile1" link? I noticed my crankcase breather tube is connected to this part and not the air intake horn like picture #2 in the carburetor cleaning directions in the link "bertsmobile1" gave me. http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/briggs_intek_v-twin_carb.asp picture #2

Cheers,
Miles
PS: I noticed in the link there were a couple dozen carbs listed however mine, 796227, was not one of them.

I find it easier to remove the entire carb & manifold in one unit.
So get underneath, remove the linkages then the 4 bolts that hold the manifold to the heads.

Miles ............. what Bert is telling you, that air horn will come off with the carb and the intake manifold in 1 piece , then you unbolt everything.... There are 4 long bolts that hold all that together......

So I see you have the intake bolts already loose ..... You gonna need to take some pictures or have someone make a video of you taking that off of there.... Those springs and linkages go on a certain way...... it's a lil tricky for a novice....

I'll throw a couple links up for you to watch so you will feel a lil better when you split that carb... I didn;t realise you had the Nikki 6 carb LOL......

here's the first link for you ..........https://youtu.be/emsafzhGLC0

enjoy....

bertsmobile1 said:

I find it easier to remove the entire carb & manifold in one unit.
So get underneath, remove the linkages then the 4 bolts that hold the manifold to the heads.

Click to expand...

I have the entire carb undone but the rubber breather tube with no clamps and another tube are attached to the back of this part. If I can just pry this off there is little chance of getting crud into the crankcase. I was just wondering if anyone has encountered this before.

Miles

MilesCamp said:

I have the entire carb undone but the rubber breather tube with no clamps and another tube are attached to the back of this part. If I can just pry this off there is little chance of getting crud into the crankcase. I was just wondering if anyone has encountered this before.

Miles

Click to expand...

You should have just 1 hose going the air horn take it off at the air horn and then plug it with a cork or something.....

The other tube in the front should be a fuel line going to the pump..............

Let us know Mon Ami ~!~!

here's another video for you ....... BTW get some Blue colored loctite for those plate screws...... If they come out, they will be sucked into the engine .............

https://youtu.be/s9SFcnMxqdk

A good Stanley wide window scraper would help you greatly for taking gaskets and such off..... You want to be careful and not tear them.... Gaskets are not pricey by themselves, but if you buy a carb kit for your carb it's about 80 bux I think..... I'm not at the big shop so I cant check the kit to see what the price is on the package.....But I'm close .....

Re: Major Gas Leak/carb cleaning

Boudreaux In Eunice La. said:

You should have just 1 hose going the air horn take it off at the air horn and then plug it with a cork or something.....

The other tube in the front should be a fuel line going to the pump..............

Let us know Mon Ami ~!~!

Click to expand...

OK, I take the breather hose off at the air horn end, not the engine end. I do have two hoses, the other one has to do with pollution I think, it goes to the top of the gas tank.

I'll make a giant Q-tip and clean all that gunk off.

For that last connection I'm planning on taking the carb off and gently turning it to disconnect unless there is a trick to it or another way. Near impossible to get at it at the top and it's way back at the bottom of it.

It's still wet outside so I'll wait till it dry's a little. (no garage)

Thanks for all the help
Miles

Re: Major Gas Leak/carb cleaning

MilesCamp said:

OK, I take the breather hose off at the air horn end, not the engine end. I do have two hoses, the other one has to do with pollution I think, it goes to the top of the gas tank.

I'll make a giant Q-tip and clean all that gunk off.

For that last connection I'm planning on taking the carb off and gently turning it to disconnect unless there is a trick to it or another way. Near impossible to get at it at the top and it's way back at the bottom of it.

It's still wet outside so I'll wait till it dry's a little. (no garage)

Thanks for all the help
Miles

Click to expand...

That linkage will come off when you take the carb off ...... That last video I posted shows that.... That other hose is a fuel tank vent ....

Plus Tard Mon Ami .................

Re: Major Gas Leak/carb cleaning

Boudreaux In Eunice La. said:

That linkage will come off when you take the carb off ...... That last video I posted shows that.... That other hose is a fuel tank vent ....

Plus Tard Mon Ami .................

Click to expand...

I got the carb off yesterday and everything went pretty well except for those that didn't. Actually all but one area looked pretty clean and that was where the intake manifold & carb join. It looks like dirt may be getting in at the top of where they are connected. (see pic) Also having difficult time getting the gasket off at this juncture. I hope it comes off in one piece.

Next, I'm also having trouble removing the fuel solenoid connected to the bowl - need to find a vise or something else to hold the bowl while I try to break the solenoid lose so I can test it.

Lastly the main jets don't want to come out by hand. Should I pull them out with a tool? (see pic)

I really appreciate all the help you guys have provided. It's a lot more work than I figured.
Miles

You have a bad air leak. picture attached. I made a mistake so ignore the red circle and look at the maroon one. Black on the outside of the circle.

Re: Major Gas Leak/carb cleaning

MilesCamp said:

I got the carb off yesterday and everything went pretty well except for those that didn't. Actually all but one area looked pretty clean and that was where the intake manifold & carb join. It looks like dirt may be getting in at the top of where they are connected. (see pic) Also having difficult time getting the gasket off at this juncture. I hope it comes off in one piece.

Next, I'm also having trouble removing the fuel solenoid connected to the bowl - need to find a vise or something else to hold the bowl while I try to break the solenoid lose so I can test it.

Lastly the main jets don't want to come out by hand. Should I pull them out with a tool? (see pic)

I really appreciate all the help you guys have provided. It's a lot more work than I figured.
Miles

Click to expand...

The jets in the white fuel transfer tube can be pushed out with something...... If they are tight in there just leave them in there.... You can clean the holes while they are in there, ............

There are other videos on You Tube besides the ones I posted to you so PLEASE take your time and watch them before you get too deep in your project.....

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

BlazNT said:

You have a bad air leak. picture attached. I made a mistake so ignore the red circle and look at the maroon one. Black on the outside of the circle.
View attachment 42816

Click to expand...

Hi BlazNT, that must have been a shadow because I couldn't find anything when I checked the gasket again.

Cheers, Miles

Re: Major Gas Leak/carburetor cleaning

I've got everything apart except for the Main Jets and they appear to be Okay in that I can see clear through the four holes. I took out the carburetor nozzle and blew air through the main jets and vice versa - everything was clear. Everything looks good to me except the two ends/sides of the carb, The Intake manifold gaskets appear to be leaking (see pictures) and the Air Cleaner gasket appears to leak also See picture). I assume these are major problems or there wouldn't be a need for the gaskets at all. Everything else appears Okay to me. Now.....the elephant in the room is how do these two gaskets cause gas to pour out my muffler?

Cheers
Miles
PS: I could not find the intake gaskets under the B&S parts manual item #690950. However, after a half day of searching,I found one listed as compatible with my motor (40R877) listed as item #795123

It wasn't the gaskets causing it..... It was or is something that was blocking the needle and keeping it from sealing .....

It took me about a minute to find your gaskets that you need ................

www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-par...-40r899/40r877-0004-b1/carburetor-fuel-supply

51 B and 163 in the diagram ...................

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

Choke linkage problem on my B&S 20HP Twin Intek

Sorry, I put this project on the back burner for awhile - took the wife to San Antonio for a few days, car chores, etc, etc. Spring hit us like a hammer last week and moved the mower back to top priority. The engine has been running like a top with one serious drawback, it will not start with just the key. I must have done something wrong with the choke linkage when I reassembled it but can't figure what. The only way to start it is to first hold the (choke?) linkage shown then turn the key on. Then everything works like it's supposed to. What do I do to fix this.

Thanks, Miles