Quick recount of events:
- 2012 Noticed gas dripping for rubber downward facing tube a few minutes after shut down. (Bubbles out... almost like it is boiling in the carb.)
- 4/2013 to 8/2013 Tractor stalls/floods out after being placed in idle and leaks gas like above from the rubber tube.
- 9/2013 After leaf pickup I take carb to local shop to clean fix.
- 10/2013 Month later I take home and it not only leaks after shutdown but now the governor can't steady the carb and surges back and forth after it warms up. (I called shop... they only replaced the bowl gasket!)
- 12/2013 I take apart/clean the carb and replace the float and float needle, (whole carb is discontinued. Float seat can't be removed but looks ok after cleaning), but the leakage remains, won't idle but the governor doesn't surge as much.
Any ideas?
PS, Bill over in John deere had the same problem. I posted there but got no responses. thank you
#2
davbell22602
I think the only solution here is to find another carb thats still useable.
I would start by setting the float level a little rich and then go through the service manual I listed below. When then shop went through the carb, do you know if they gave it a good soaking bath or just used spray cleaner to do the job? Might need to have the carb ultrasonically cleaned or dip clean in a good carb cleaner.
1997 Simplicity Landlord Garden Tractor. Mfg# 1692786 Serial #50697
With a Kawasaki 17hp, liquid cooled FD501V072578 (FD501V) Engine.
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The reason my tractor kept overflowing gas from the carburetor rubber overfill tube and stalling out on idle, was due to Kawasaki engineering defect, whereas they used a male hardened steel float needle, (no rubber/viton tip), in conjunction with a non-removable bronze female seat. (Soft and sacrificial compaired to the needle.)
The rapid continuous motion of the application quickly wears out the much softer female bronze seat. (Mine only lasted 400 hours.)
This defect cannot be remedied by cleaning and the OEM replacement carburetor #15003-2613 had since been discontinued by Kawasaki.
I called a dozen part houses, which all stated 'it's discontinued, I can't help you', that was, until I talked to Pat O Sullivan at ProPartsDirect.Net
He investigated and found Kawasaki made three versions of my Carburetor and/or engine?
FD501V-AS02 (First few years of the carb/engine.)
FD501V-BS02 (Next few years of the carb/engine.)
FD501V-CS02 (Final years of the carb/engine.)
He discovered that my A version was no different than the still available B version. Part #15003-2653.
My tractor now runs better than is has in years!
I hope this information may help others, who like me, like to maintain and keep our tractors running for a lifetime.
