Poulan Pro - gas leak

[JP98]

My Poulan Pro Riding Mower - PP20VA46 is leaking gas. When I start it, gasoline comes streaming out from the exhaust, it looks like. This is after sitting for a few of days. The gas tank was full the last time I used it a few days prior. There was only a little less than 1/4 left in the tank. Gasoline must have been slowly leaking for days. The mower cranked right up and started with no issues. I didn't see any leaks streaming out while I was running it. I'm puzzled why gasoline was coming out of the exhaust. So when I parked it this time, I shut off the fuel cut-off valve and let it burn off the ramaining gas.
Any ideas why gasoline was leaking like that? Carburetor issues, maybe?

 

[ILENGINE]

That would most likely a float valve not sealing allowing gas to overflow the carb. But could also be a fuel pump leaking depending on the setup. Either way you also need to check the oil level and to confirm the crankcase isn't also full of gas.

 

[JP98]

That would most likely a float valve not sealing allowing gas to overflow the carb. But could also be a fuel pump leaking depending on the setup. Either way you also need to check the oil level and to confirm the crankcase isn't also full of gas.

Thanks for suggestions.
How do I check the float valve? Where is the float valve located at?

 

[ILENGINE]

The float valve is inside of the carb. It works in combination with the float to stop the fuel from overfilling the carb bowl and flooding the engine.

 

[JP98]

The float valve is inside of the carb. It works in combination with the float to stop the fuel from overfilling the carb bowl and flooding the engine.

Ok thanks. I'll open the carburetor and take a look. How can I tell if it's good or bad?
Should I just replace the carburetor?

 

[ILENGINE]

Ok thanks. I'll open the carburetor and take a look. How can I tell if it's good or bad?
Should I just replace the carburetor?

You really can't tell most of the time if they are good or bad by looking. To do it right you need a small hand pump to pressurize the fuel inlet with the carb upside down, Needs to hold like 5 psi for 5 minutes. I suggestion would be to install a carb repair kit, but another option is complete carb, but Amazon and Ebay cheap carbs can be hit and miss. So recommend OEM which can be quite expensive.

 

[StarTech]

9x out of 10 it will the float bowl set on the Nikki. PN 698781

Usually it is the o-ring that goes around the inlet tube.

 

[JP98]

Thanks. I'll try the carb kit and see how that goes. I don't I really want to spend too much money so hopefully it's a cheap fix.

 

[StarTech]

Then you want to try bowl gasket set first as the carb kit is basically that a couple paper gaskets and a needle valve. Since the needle valve is rarely bad and when careful the paper gaskets are reusable why spend $51 for a 594212 carb kit when the 698781 is about $10 plus tax. I pay even less to the bowl gasket but that is because I am am a shop.

Now the carb include the same bow gasket set.