Export thread

I have a John Deere JS28 walk behind mower. I have had to remove and clean the carburetor 3 times since I bought the mower in August 2012 because it wouldn't start. If I don't mow the lawn for about 4-6 weeks, the engine won't start. If I squirt some gas into the carb, the engine starts and runs for a few seconds. No matter how many times I do that, the carb never clears itself. I have to remove the carb and clean it to get the engine to start. I've been using Shell V-Power 92 octane E10 gas. I admit that I don't rotate the gas as some recommend. I have added Stabil to the gas storage container.

What's your experience with ethanol gas? Have you installed a fuel shut-off valve and run the engine until all of the fuel is used up? Has this cured your no start problems?

Or have you had to revert to looking for non-ethanol gas and only using that in your lawnmower?

Thanks for any help,
Yardguy

Have you looked at your fuel filter?
I don't think that the gas sitting for 4 weeks is your problem.

Carscw said:

Have you looked at your fuel filter?
I don't think that the gas sitting for 4 weeks is your problem.

Click to expand...

Since when does walk behind mowers have fuel filters.

davbell22602 said:

Since when does walk behind mowers have fuel filters.

Click to expand...

Sorry did not look at your model and just assumed you had a walk behind not a push mower.

Have you replaced the fresh start cartridge

I suggest that you pull the carb off one more time and give it a good 24 soaking bath or have it ultrasonically cleaned. When you reassemble it, install a new float needle and seat. You don't give us an engine model number, I'm assuming that the part number is 398188. After you got everything back together, I recommend that you use non-ethanol fuel. This is what we recommend to all our customers who have this problem.

Rivets said:

I suggest that you pull the carb off one more time and give it a good 24 soaking bath or have it ultrasonically cleaned. When you reassemble it, install a new float needle and seat. You don't give us an engine model number, I'm assuming that the part number is 398188. After you got everything back together, I recommend that you use non-ethanol fuel. This is what we recommend to all our customers who have this problem.

Click to expand...

So what do you recommend to the ones that dont have the non ethanol gas available to buy?

You can find some I would be willing to bet a sawbuck on it. If you look around a bit on the internet you will find at least 28 gas stations with it in just West Virginia. You could take a little drive over to Charles Town. Find some real gas there. Liberty Get and Go.

possum said:

You can find some I would be willing to bet a sawbuck on it. If you look around a bit on the internet you will find at least 28 gas stations with it in just West Virginia. You could take a little drive over to Charles Town. Find some real gas there. Liberty Get and Go.

Click to expand...

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

I see this is going to turn into a blame everything on ethanol for the lack of proper maintenance.

The ethanol did not clog the carb up in just 4 weeks.

Carscw said:

Sorry did not look at your model and just assumed you had a walk behind not a push mower.

Have you replaced the fresh start cartridge

Click to expand...

No fuel filter on my walk behind mower.

I forgot about the fresh start cartridge. I did install the one that came with the mower and then forgot it existed. However, I'm more concerned with the gas stored in my gas can which is why I added Stabil to it. Don't know the advantage of the fresh start cartridge that's installed on the mower's gas cap verses adding a fuel stabilizer to the gas in the storage container.

Thanks,
Yardguy

I agree, but if he has never replaced the needle/seat, the problem is going to continue. In my opinion, the best way to prevent it reoccurring is to start using non-ethanol fuel. It's worked for our customers for the last three years. I know that Carscw doesn't agree, but it works for us and when you are in the service business you do what works for you.

Rivets said:

I suggest that you pull the carb off one more time and give it a good 24 soaking bath or have it ultrasonically cleaned. When you reassemble it, install a new float needle and seat. You don't give us an engine model number, I'm assuming that the part number is 398188. After you got everything back together, I recommend that you use non-ethanol fuel. This is what we recommend to all our customers who have this problem.

Click to expand...

Thanks much for the guidance. I don't know what the engine model number is but I'll find that out and post it if I have more problems and need to ask for more help. I'll find some non-ethanol fuel and use it from now on.

QUESTIONS:

1. If I use non-ethanol gas, would it still be recommended to install a fuel shut-off valve and run the engine until it quits each time after I mow the lawn?

2. do you recommend adding a fuel stabilizer to the non-ethanol gas in the gas can? If so, which one?

Thanks for the professional help,
Yardguy

lawn mower fanatic said:

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Click to expand...

Thanks for that link. Very helpful.

Yardguy

Another alternative is to buy the Tru Fuel 4 cycle pre mixed gas that has no ethanol in it.

Carscw said:

I see this is going to turn into a blame everything on ethanol for the lack of proper maintenance.

The ethanol did not clog the carb up in just 4 weeks.

Click to expand...

Actually, reflecting back now, I think the idle time in the mower was more like 6-8 weeks. But the real problem might actually be how long the gas was stored in my 5 gallon gas can. That would be much older, and then when refilling the mower's tank, the ethanol gas is already old + the additional 6-8 weeks it sits idle in the mower's tank.

I also live in a high humidity location so I'm wondering if the ethanol gas in the mower's tank is absorbing water more than normal humidity locations.

I'll only fill 3 gallons in that gas can from now on and buy non-ethanol gas.

Thanks,
Yardguy

Yardguy said:

Actually, reflecting back now, I think the idle time in the mower was more like 6-8 weeks. But the real problem might actually be how long the gas was stored in my 5 gallon gas can. That would be much older, and then when refilling the mower's tank, the ethanol gas is already old + the additional 6-8 weeks it sits idle in the mower's tank. I also live in a high humidity location so I'm wondering if the ethanol gas in the mower's tank is absorbing water more than normal humidity locations. I'll only fill 3 gallons in that gas can from now on and buy non-ethanol gas. Thanks, Yardguy

Click to expand...

I will agree 8 weeks is not good.
If your using a additive I would not worry about the fresh start.

I understand why some say to use pure gas. I have had no problems from ethanol but I don't store any gas. I buy my 20 gallons every mourning and use it the se day.
I would rebuild the carb and try the pure gas.

Yardguy said:

Actually, reflecting back now, I think the idle time in the mower was more like 6-8 weeks. But the real problem might actually be how long the gas was stored in my 5 gallon gas can. That would be much older, and then when refilling the mower's tank, the ethanol gas is already old + the additional 6-8 weeks it sits idle in the mower's tank.

I also live in a high humidity location so I'm wondering if the ethanol gas in the mower's tank is absorbing water more than normal humidity locations.

I'll only fill 3 gallons in that gas can from now on and buy non-ethanol gas.

Click to expand...

Thought it might be worth mentioning that:

1. Before I bought the John Deere mower in August 2012, I had a Craftsman mower and a "Weed Eater" weed whacker. Never had problems using old ethanol gas in either one. Never used a fuel stabilizer in the gas.

2. When I bought the John Deere mower, I inherited a used Stihl weed whacker. While the John Deere mower had the 3 no start episodes, I never had a problem starting the Stihl weed whacker.

I refilled my 5 gallon gas can with fresh gas and added Stabil to it after the first mower no start episode.

For the Stihl weed whacker, I fill a used one gallon Coleman fuel can from the 5 gallon gas can and add 2 cycle oil to it. I fill the mower with the gas from the 5 gallon can. So the gas in the weed whacker is the same age gas as in the mower except that it has 2 cycle oil in it.

The John Deere mower is the only one that has had the no start problem.

Just adding info to the info bin,
Yardguy

Solve the problem and sell the junk Deere

Carscw said:

Solve the problem and sell the junk Deere

Click to expand...

:smile:...:wink:...:laughing:

i use high test only never have a prob but then again my gas dose not sit around for more then a week at a time

Carscw said:

Solve the problem and sell the junk Deere

Click to expand...

Found the fix to my John Deere not starting problem. The fix was to install a fuel shutoff valve and run the engine until it used up all of the gas in the carburetor. After doing that, I can go any length of time between mowing and the engine starts up on the first pull. I'm using ethanol gas with Stabil in it but I don't think the Stabil is the key so I'm going to try without the Stabil after I use up what's left in my 5 gallon gas can.

For lurkers who might want to try a fuel shutoff valve in their non starting mower, the valve I used is the Briggs & Stratton 698183 valve-fuel shut off. Purchased it from amazon.

Yardguy

lawn mower fanatic said:

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Click to expand...

I realize this posting is old. In reviewing a few of the Canadian listings, they are not always current.

For example, Ethanol has been mandated for 87 and 89 Octane.

Effective Jan 1st, 2014, it became Law to have it in 91 Octane pump fuel. Gas stations have been slow to replace signage on their pumps.