BCS 290 No Gas

[dosha9]

I just fixed the spark problem, now there seems to be some kinda blockage between the carburetor and the combustion chamber. What can I do to clear out whatever's restricting fuel flow?

 

[Maine Hills]

I just fixed the spark problem, now there seems to be some kinda blockage between the carburetor and the combustion chamber. What can I do to clear out whatever's restricting fuel flow?

Gasoline mixes with air in the carburetor, and the fuel/air mix flows from carburetor to the combustion chamber when the intake valve is open (and the engine is turning).

Why do you suspect a blockage between the carburetor and the combustion chamber? You should be able to take the carburetor off and check that the passage to the intake valve isn't blocked, but a blockage is unlikely. More likely with an engine which has been sitting for a while is the intake valve or exhaust valve is is stuck open. Do you get compression when cranking the engine?

Does the engine have an air cleaner? If so have you checked it for blockage?

Is fuel getting to the carburetor? Does the fuel tank have a shut-off valve? If so is it turned on? And how do you know it is actually on? (I confused myself one time and though the off position of a fuel valve was the on position.)

 

[leonz]

The fuel tank may also have a screen filter in the fuel inlet in the base of the tank where the hose feeding the carburator connects to it so that should be checked as well.
If you are sure it has no fuel entering the carburator the tank should be removed, the gas dumped out and the fuel inlet removed and the tank cleaned with marbles or pea gravel and some hydrogen peroxide to break up the dirt and then drain it out and then put the inlet screen back in and remount the tank and put in fresh high octane gas.
I have been the victim of a plugged inlet screen killing a riding lawn mower completely and it was only corrected after doing the surgery described above to correct it.

 

[dosha9]

A mechanic told me there was some blockage beyond the carburetor, and might need to be fully disassembled. I figured this project would be a good way to learn the ins and outs of my new tractor. is there some type of fuel additive or trick to clearing out a fuel line without taking everything apart?

 

[leonz]

You may have a carbon build up in there and the only way to tell is if you remove the carburator from the side of the cylinder. If you have carbon in there OR most likely in the muffler you will have to buy a new muffler- pull the muffler first and see if there is an carbon built up in the exhaust chamber- The V twin Kohlers in the bigger wheel horse tractors suffered from this since they have a single common muffler with two two exhaust manifolds that connect to the muffler.

Before you pull the muffler be sure to have a new exhaust gasket to replace the old one.


You can try seafoam at full strength to see if that dissolves the blockage but I think your going to need a new fuel line from the tank to the carburator as it sounds just like you have collapsing fuel line. The rubber weakens over time and the pressure gradient created by the carburators consumption of fuel pulls fuel in and if the rubber fuel line is old it can collapse as they are not all that great.