STOP! A surging engine is not the governor, when will people learn?

[Auto Doc's]

I see this issue on a daily basis and read about it on the forums. "My engine surges up and down"....

So, you are standing there watching the engine run and surging up and down.

The governor arm is rocking back and forth working the throttle, so it must be the governor, right?

WRONG!

The governor has only 1 simple job and that is to keep the engine from running wide open and blowing itself apart. NEVER MESS WITH A GOVERNOR ADJUSTMENT.

So, what is happening?

People need to understand that the carburetor is not allowing proper air bleed has the fuel is being used by the engine. The governor is ONLY reacting because of engine RPM dropouts, so it opens the throttle to compensate.

For some carburetors, this can be corrected by simple cleaning of all passages and parts, but some carburetors may require replacement. Most common problem is the bleed air jet gets dust debris stuck in it, and it needs cleaning. Carburetors come in a variety of designs, so you will need to study up on what carburetor you are dealing with.

I do not recommend going cheap for a carburetor. Amazon and Ebay are inviting for price shoppers, but buyer beware. It may take a couple of tries to actually get one that will actually work.

 

[Rivets]

The real problem here is that most DIY guys really don’t know how a small engine works, especially carbs. They think that it takes too much time to learn about the equipment they are working on. They want us to do the research for them and then rely on answers provided by other DIY guys who are also to lazy to do the research themselves. There are even some “EXPERTS” on this site who also believe that the governor is the cause, when this occurs only about 10% of the time. Also they don’t realize that not all carbs work the same.
As long as I’m ranting, I wish members would read all posts in a thread before posting. Many times they repost What has been posted before and make everything more confusing. This pertains to both DIY &”EXPERTS “

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hi Rivets,

Put gas in it, of it doesn't start its broken is the approach we see quite often. We have an interesting mix of folks on visit this site. Some are experienced DIY/Pro types all the way down to basically those lacking any common sense.

I will admit, I have been guilty of just replying to only the newest post before realizing later that I am repeating another poster's comments. Sometimes it can be reenforcing and other time it can be annoying.

If a thread has gone beyond 5-6, I seldom back track and read every one of them (some can get quite lengthy). I actually have work that I'm also trying to get done. I usually check in daily, so I don't fall too far behind for the more interesting posts.

The real annoying ones are those that post a help request and then "ghost us" because they did not get an immediate answer to their query.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

The real problem here is that most DIY guys really don’t know how a small engine works, This pertains to both DIY &”EXPERTS “

As just some hack with a bunch of tools I feel offended

 

[StarTech]

I have to agree with Rivets on this one. But are some very DIYers out there that does their homework. I got a brother that likes to call me a know it all; well I DON'T. I will gladly admit what I do know is self taught. Even the instructors at company training centers can be lost for an answer a student asks. I about drove the whole class nuts when it came to on hands troubleshooting by introducing a problem I resolved in the field once. After two days they finally gave and ask me what I did. They never thought about a loose neutral wire.

With that we all come across problems that no one seen before. That when I get frustrated at asking for help on one those problems but I just keep trying to find the answer as is an answer somewhere.

Even guys that have doing this work for many will come across a problem just drives us crazy. Those I usually put to a side and sleep on it plus ask for help to see if anyone has ever had the same problem.

I was once told "admit you don't know the answer always, suck it up, and ask for help" while researching for an answer to whatever the current problem is. Don't be ashamed to ask for help as we need it time to time.

So whatever the problem don't get boxed in, think outside the box. That is the problem with some experts and DIYers, they get lock into a loop at times. It like looking for that ink pen. Someone comes and asks what you looking for. You tell them and they say it right there in front of you.

But please all posters please follow up and let us know the problem is resolved or not. That way we all can learn from your problems.

Hopefully I didn't ramble too much here.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

As just some hack with a bunch of tools I feel offended

My governor is better than your governor

 

[StarTech]

My governor is better than your governor

Everybody's governor is better than mind. I think all he does is to play with his telly wacker in the backroom...

 

[Craftsman Garage]

I see this issue on a daily basis and read about it on the forums. "My engine surges up and down"....

So, you are standing there watching the engine run and surging up and down.

The governor arm is rocking back and forth working the throttle, so it must be the governor, right?

WRONG!

The governor has only 1 simple job and that is to keep the engine from running wide open and blowing itself apart. NEVER MESS WITH A GOVERNOR ADJUSTMENT.

So, what is happening?

People need to understand that the carburetor is not allowing proper air bleed has the fuel is being used by the engine. The governor is ONLY reacting because of engine RPM dropouts, so it opens the throttle to compensate.

For some carburetors, this can be corrected by simple cleaning of all passages and parts, but some carburetors may require replacement. Most common problem is the bleed air jet gets dust debris stuck in it, and it needs cleaning. Carburetors come in a variety of designs, so you will need to study up on what carburetor you are dealing with.

I do not recommend going cheap for a carburetor. Amazon and Ebay are inviting for price shoppers, but buyer beware. It may take a couple of tries to actually get one that will actually work.

Yeah, it is usually a plugged idle circuit.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Everybody's governor is better than mind. I think all he does is to play with his telly wacker in the backroom...

LOL

 

[Craftsman Garage]

Everybody's governor is better than mind. I think all he does is to play with his telly wacker in the backroom...

Seems like there are a lot of looney governors out there. Who knew?