Hello, all,
I suspect those of you familiar with small engine repair have probably heard all the complaining on the Internet about the Vector engines by Tecumseh, used on Craftsman mowers among other places.
Mine is a 6.5HP self-propelled model I acquired for nothing after the original owner gave up on it. When I got it, it would fire up and run okay, but there was some surging that took place. The previous owner said the carburetor was "shot."
So I disassembled, cleaned, and found some rotten o-rings, no doubt eaten by ethanol-laced fuel. I took a leap of faith and threw a few bucks at some new o-rings and re-assembled. My once poorly-running lawnmower turned into a non-running mower.
Well, my main mower died, and now I need this one to work. Sick of the adventure, I bought a complete Rotary brand replacement carburetor and bolted it on. I was so enthusiastic I also sprang for a new set of drive wheels and sharpened up the blade.
When I went to pull the cord -- you guessed it -- nothing. Not even a cough after priming the bejeezus out of it. It would start up and run for a few seconds with ether starting fluid.
Feeling a bit annoyed at this point, I put it up on sawhorses and started to diagnose what was wrong. Leaving the carburetor mounted to the engine, I unsnapped the bale wire securing the bowl assembly to the bottom...and found it was dry.
Now this had fresh fuel and I had verified the fuel line flowed freely. The cap was off the tank. The new carburetor was not filling the bowl with fuel unless I depressed the float further than it rested when dry.
If I pull the needle and float right off, fuel burbles happily through the needle seat. It seems as if the float does not lift the needle far enough up off the seat to allow it to fill.
I'm thinking I got a defective replacement carburetor, and the vendor is willing to swap me a new one. But seriously, how often does this happen?
Any thoughts? Anyone fight this same battle and win it?
--Geoff
I suspect those of you familiar with small engine repair have probably heard all the complaining on the Internet about the Vector engines by Tecumseh, used on Craftsman mowers among other places.
Mine is a 6.5HP self-propelled model I acquired for nothing after the original owner gave up on it. When I got it, it would fire up and run okay, but there was some surging that took place. The previous owner said the carburetor was "shot."
So I disassembled, cleaned, and found some rotten o-rings, no doubt eaten by ethanol-laced fuel. I took a leap of faith and threw a few bucks at some new o-rings and re-assembled. My once poorly-running lawnmower turned into a non-running mower.
Well, my main mower died, and now I need this one to work. Sick of the adventure, I bought a complete Rotary brand replacement carburetor and bolted it on. I was so enthusiastic I also sprang for a new set of drive wheels and sharpened up the blade.
When I went to pull the cord -- you guessed it -- nothing. Not even a cough after priming the bejeezus out of it. It would start up and run for a few seconds with ether starting fluid.
Feeling a bit annoyed at this point, I put it up on sawhorses and started to diagnose what was wrong. Leaving the carburetor mounted to the engine, I unsnapped the bale wire securing the bowl assembly to the bottom...and found it was dry.
Now this had fresh fuel and I had verified the fuel line flowed freely. The cap was off the tank. The new carburetor was not filling the bowl with fuel unless I depressed the float further than it rested when dry.
If I pull the needle and float right off, fuel burbles happily through the needle seat. It seems as if the float does not lift the needle far enough up off the seat to allow it to fill.
I'm thinking I got a defective replacement carburetor, and the vendor is willing to swap me a new one. But seriously, how often does this happen?
Any thoughts? Anyone fight this same battle and win it?
--Geoff
