Not Starting, No spark

Yeah, I always wondered how much gas a fuel pump hose held. If I take my 1-gallon container to a one-hose gas pump, select the ethanol-free gas, but the previous customer got the ethanol laced version, how much of the 1-gallon is going to actually be ethanol free? Likely not much. When getting a small amount like that, I always put a couple gallons in my truck before filling the 1-gallon jug for my weed eater. A recent remodel at the local gas station resulted in separate filler hoses for each grade, thank goodness. My truck probably wishes for the old one-hose pump to come back, though.
 
jbisnette said:
What kind of gas are you using?
Regular gas has alcohol in it and that will clabber up your carb because it draws moisture.
Always use premium gas no alcohol.
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1) The carburetor solenoid is called the anti-afterfire solenoid, not fuel shut off solenoid.

2) Blame 10% ethanol on problems you are having. Lots of people do. I run 87 ethanol in every piece of equipment I have and don’t have problems. I also see lots of old fuel and fuel with water in it that the customers claim is “premium”. The never ending debate with 87 corn gas will never cease.
 
QUOTE: "The never ending debate with 87 corn gas will never cease."

Fuel that has ethanol added does have a more limited shelf life, or actually 'tank life' than plain gasoline. If left in the carburetor, exposed to atmosphere, it will tend to absorb water from the humidity in the air. It will also form what looks like a 'gel' if left in the float bowl for any length of time.
OTOH, if you use your equipment and do not let it sit with fuel that is deteriorating by absorbing water, it should run fine. In that respect, ethanol does make fuel more subject to going bad and leaving the carburetor unable to function properly.
In short, it just needs to be kept fresh more than fuel without ethanol added. I am not sure ETOH is a good fuel additive as there may be others that will have the same effect that do not cause susceptibility to absorbing water from the atmosphere.
tom
 
grumpyunk said:
QUOTE: "The never ending debate with 87 corn gas will never cease."

Fuel that has ethanol added does have a more limited shelf life, or actually 'tank life' than plain gasoline. If left in the carburetor, exposed to atmosphere, it will tend to absorb water from the humidity in the air. It will also form what looks like a 'gel' if left in the float bowl for any length of time.
OTOH, if you use your equipment and do not let it sit with fuel that is deteriorating by absorbing water, it should run fine. In that respect, ethanol does make fuel more subject to going bad and leaving the carburetor unable to function properly.
In short, it just needs to be kept fresh more than fuel without ethanol added. I am not sure ETOH is a good fuel additive as there may be others that will have the same effect that do not cause susceptibility to absorbing water from the atmosphere.
tom
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You are correct. Keep it fresh, keep it moving. Ethanol is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture). Just takes a little more thought is all, and you can save $.75 a gallon as well.
 
jbisnette said:
Always use premium gas no alcohol.
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Agree on the no alcohol.

Look around at the pumps next time and several others. Notice most are not using 91 premium. Meaning it has more of a chance to go stale or water down compared to the more popular fuels. Use the most popular stuff you can get.

Typical push mowers and 0-turns, 87 octane is plenty. Chainsaws 91 octane or more is better. They have more compression.

Ask the sales person inside about how much 91 they buy compared to 87 octane.
 
dlgg7 said:
Oh well, to say it's NOT a fuel-shut off solenoid, it's EXACTLY what it does. Sorry making it simple!
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Actually it is NOT. A fuel shutoff solenoid shuts off fuel flow into the carb. The afterfire solenoid doesn't effect fuel flow into the carb or the fuel bowl, and won't prevent the carb from overflowing if the float valve fails, only stops fuel from being drawn into the carb venturi to help prevent the bang after engine shutdown.
 
Hi digg7,

I think both of you are correct. The solenoid is intended to physically shut the fuel off, and it prevents backfires and run-ons While the engine is still spinning once the key is shut off. It also takes a lot of the reliance away from the fuel float valve as well. As fuel evaporates from the carburetor over time, the float needle relaxes. This can actually create a flooding condition where fuel can find its way into the cylinders and eventually into the crankcase oil.

In addition, the solenoid acts as a redundant backup safety in the event to coil kill wire fails to ground the ignition coil(s) properly.

For most of my riders I have elected to install an inline fuel shutoff and remove or clip off the stop plunger of the solenoid. I got fed up with them always sticking and having to be cleaned. High heat and fuel do not play well together here in South TX. Along with that I don't mow my grass (weeds) but a few times a year because it does not grow all that fast. My riders mostly spend time pulling carts for my grandkids to ride in.
 
Auto Doc's said:
Hi digg7,

I think both of you are correct. The solenoid is intended to physically shut the fuel off, and it prevents backfires and run-ons While the engine is still spinning once the key is shut off. It also takes a lot of the reliance away from the fuel float valve as well. As fuel evaporates from the carburetor over time, the float needle relaxes. This can actually create a flooding condition where fuel can find its way into the cylinders and eventually into the crankcase oil.

In addition, the solenoid acts as a redundant backup safety in the event to coil kill wire fails to ground the ignition coil(s) properly.
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The afterfire solenoid has no effect on the float valve, or fuel flowing into the carb. So as the fuel in the bowl evaporates it will be replaced with fuel from the tank in a gravity flow situation. If the float valve fails the carb will still overflow and flood the engine,

The only purpose for the afterfire solenoid is to prevent the shutoff bang. It has no other effect on the carb, And in the case of Kohler engines the fuel afterfire solenoid only shuts off the high speed jet but the engine can still draw fuel through the idle circuit, which is the reason it is recommended that you shut off Kohler engines at full throttle.
 
ILENGINE said:
The afterfire solenoid has no effect on the float valve, or fuel flowing into the carb. So as the fuel in the bowl evaporates it will be replaced with fuel from the tank in a gravity flow situation. If the float valve fails the carb will still overflow and flood the engine,

The only purpose for the afterfire solenoid is to prevent the shutoff bang. It has no other effect on the carb, And in the case of Kohler engines the fuel afterfire solenoid only shuts off the high speed jet but the engine can still draw fuel through the idle circuit, which is the reason it is recommended that you shut off Kohler engines at full throttle.
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Unplug the solenoid while it is running at any speed, let me know what happens.
 
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