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This engine is off a Craftsman riding mower 38inch, model unknown. I had it in the repair shop about three months ago and the guy told me the carb was really dirty. It ran fine when I got it back, except for occasional sputter and small backfire during warm up and when operating at lower than full rpm's.

The carb is leaking fuel and I seem to remember from my childhood that some bowls had shut off valves and I'm wondering about this one? Any advice what to look for?

You can get an in line fuel shutoff for a few bucks, but you might as well go through and fix the carb too.

Could be something as simple as a new bowl gasket. Or the nut/metering valve may not have been tightened all the way. what part of the carb is the fuel leaking from?

L8R,
Matt

The fuel appears to be dripping/running out of the air intake. This is a riding mower and the fuel tank is mounted above the fuel inlet on carburetor.

I just watched two tube videos posted on another related thread regarding this carburetor type, on how to clean it. So I plugged in the air compressor and took it apart, and I found a few very tiny particles in the bottom of the bowl, some residue in some places on the float, what appeared to be a little dirt or gasket material (?) on the outer face of the seat, and there may have been some dirt in the tiny hole on the main screw at the bottom of the bowl.

There is no shut off for the fuel. I'm wondering if the needle / seat assembly was dirty and fuel was seeping into an overfull bowl and up and out of the carb throat? I'm not a small engine guy so i'm just guessing?

I'm going to put gas in it and check it now...

You don't say what part of the carb the fuel is leaking from, check the O-Ring...!

I'm not sure what the part is called, exactly, I just assumed it was the air intake. I'll try to post a photo here:

Here is a close up photo of the air intake portion of the carburetor. The fuel was running out of this, and over and down the gasket face.

Update. Fuel placed in tank and ran the unit. It does not leak any more but now there seems to be a problem with the throttle linkage?
The throttle control does not move the linkage but only a fraction, and the governor lever near the base of the engine feels a bit stiff. Should I post a new thread?
:confused2:

Ooops! I forgot to mention the backfire, and what may have been a misfire symptoms are both gone and the engine purrs like magic! I need to search other posts and threads to see about the governor punch list on this?'m looking to see if the lever is supposed to feel like its dragging internally?

Ok I'm closing this. Thank you for the suggestions and the help. I found the carburetor end of the governor linkage hung up on the connecting point - it was pinching the pivot assembly. A little jiggle and shake - in she went! I'm done with this, now on to the root tiller?I finished the kemp mulcher last night.)

Remove the carb', take a picture on your phone camera first noting where the choke and throttle links go, there's usually more than one hole for the throttle link.

Remove the bolt holding the bowl, try not to alter the screw in the centre of the nut, this is your main jet mixture.
Carefully slide out the pin holding the float. The float holds the needle for fuel flow. Gently blow into the hole where the needle came out. Wipe the needle and reassemble making sure the float is level.

Do this at a bench so you will not lose any parts. Most times the large rubber seal around the body/bowl is okay. Check condition of the fibre washer on the bowl securing bolt. You may have to retune the engine after.

As mentioned, fit an inline fuel tap.

Good luck, Phil :smile:

xeribis2014 said:

Ok I'm closing this. Thank you for the suggestions and the help. I found the carburetor end of the governor linkage hung up on the connecting point - it was pinching the pivot assembly. A little jiggle and shake - in she went! I'm done with this, now on to the root tiller?I finished the kemp mulcher last night.)

Click to expand...

:laughing::laughing::laughing: I love happy ending :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Your flooding problem needs to be fixed. When you have to take it apart again, take the float free and shake it next to your ear.... If you hear sloshing, then you need a new float....

The backfire can come from too little fuel (lean mix) or too much fuel (flooding) in your case from the inlet side of the carb, (carb just needed a clean), leaving unused fuel in the exhaust, its seem you have her working now apart from the problem with the governor, unless you know what to do with the governor I would leave it be and ask someone to check it for you, you can do alot of damage to the engine if you get it wrong.