Cub Cadet Fuel Solenoid Problem

StarTech

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Eliminating the pintle on the end of a solenoid does not make a person an “idiot”.
But clipping it off before trying to clean it is.

These solenoids are cleanable many times when they are gummed with old fuels. OR at least I clean them with ultrasonics when they are cleanable; Just cant use carb cleaner as that would destroy the rubber seal. Now they also can rust up, mechanically start jamming, short out or open up electrically.

Currently the Ruixing solenoids are the one are primarily shorting out but even this on the rare list.

And Rivets yes that is the correct PN for the Kohler version.

The problem was likely the OP was getting the Walbro version which has SAE threading and the Nikki uses metric threading. They are not compatible threading wise.
 

Rivets

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What would you call a mechanic who snips off plastic plungers? A fool, nin-cum-poop, dumb, crook, mentally challenged, lazy, stupid, etc. Take your pick, these guys should have their monkey wrench taken away, they’re dangerous.
 

vv0350

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It is called an anti-afterfire carburetor solenoid. It has zero to do with carburetor filling up cylinder and hydro locking the engine (like some people believe). The pintle on the end of solenoid gets sticky over time. This stops the fuel to the main jet in carburetor. If this solenoid got sticky and quit working one time, do you think it is a possibility it may happen again in the future?
Eliminating the pintle on the end of a solenoid does not make a person an “idiot”. Someone who pays $90 for a solenoid you don’t even need, on the other hand… If you want to lessen or stop backfire when shutting off mower, simply idle down for a few seconds or a bit, then turn it off.
"lessen the backfire"....yep, that's what that procedure did...lesened it about 70%....BUT, you found yourself sitting there and and waiting (with family standing by sometimes) every time you shut it down to see if it was going to hit the 30% obnoxious backfire ..... "Idle down" you say, yep did that many, many times, usually 30 to 40 seconds..(yes I timed it)...and then it would still backfire about ⅓ of the time...After years of being annoyed with this it was time to spend the $ and get the new solenoid...And "YES" it may get sticky again...and if it does, I will pull it out and douse it with carb cleaner and put it back in...
 

StarTech

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Please don't use carb cleaner as it will destroy the rubber o-ring seal inside the solenoid. And once the solenoid starts leaking it becomes a fire hazard. I just repaired a mower here that had an engine fire because of a leaky fuel solenoid. Customer was lucky as it when out quickly but it could have been much worst.
 

mechanic mark

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It is called an anti-afterfire carburetor solenoid. It has zero to do with carburetor filling up cylinder and hydro locking the engine (like some people believe). The pintle on the end of solenoid gets sticky over time. This stops the fuel to the main jet in carburetor. If this solenoid got sticky and quit working one time, do you think it is a possibility it may happen again in the future?
Eliminating the pintle on the end of a solenoid does not make a person an “idiot”. Someone who pays $90 for a solenoid you don’t even need, on the other hand… If you want to lessen or stop backfire when shutting off mower, simply idle down for a few seconds or a bit, then turn it off.
 

mechanic mark

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I believe the 30 second idle down on the throttle applies here also.
 

slomo

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I like the shots fired call when mine winds down.
 
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