Why does starter fluid cure my no start? What is the issue?

[MossRoad]

The two identical threads have been merged to avoid cross-conversations. Please continue the discussion.

 

[Jstpssng]

Re: Why does starter fluid cure my no start?

I've seen unlit propane used to try to start a flooded engine but was never sure why. They ran it straight into the carb and let it flow while cranking the engine.

I was working in a snowstorm ,using WD40 one day to clean the air filter in my brush saw, it would run then for a while then I"d hit it again After a while it quit, when the mechanic took it apart the crankcase was full of what he said was silicon...
Not long before that he had replaced the crankshaft under warranty, and what was in the crankcase looked suspiciously like the absorbent he used to clean the shop.

 

[ForumJunkie]

How do I verify my choke?
How do I test my fuel pump?
How do I test for vacuum?

Can anyone help me learn how to do this?
I have never touched a tractor engine in my life

 

[ForumJunkie]

Tractor did not start this morning.
I will have the dealer pick it up and service it.

I have no idea how to troubleshoot it, but would have loved to attempt to learn.

 

[PILOON]

What hasn't been mentioned is that starter fluid (either) is one good way of destroying small engines.
(Like putting a rod thru the crankcase.)
It is OK on big heavy cast iron diesel engines but murder on most smaller ones.
A lot of smaller diesel's are simply re-purposed gas engines and not quite up to the higher compressions.

 

[metalbender]

My thoughts after reading of the low hrs and should be under warranty.

 

[Egon]

What hasn't been mentioned is that starter fluid (either) is one good way of destroying small engines.
(Like putting a rod thru the crankcase.)
It is OK on big heavy cast iron diesel engines but murder on most smaller ones.
A lot of smaller diesel's are simply re-purposed gas engines and not quite up to the higher compressions.

One should also note a backfire while putting a fluid in the carb. May shorten you life or cause considerable fire damage.

 

[KennyG]

What hasn't been mentioned is that starter fluid (either) is one good way of destroying small engines.
(Like putting a rod thru the crankcase.)
It is OK on big heavy cast iron diesel engines but murder on most smaller ones.
A lot of smaller diesel's are simply re-purposed gas engines and not quite up to the higher compressions.

Like anything else, you have to use it correctly. I had an 8 HP Tecumseh chipper shredder that was almost impossible to start without starter fluid. I would give it a very small squirt, replace the air cleaner and it would start very smoothly with no problem. After about 10 years, I decided I didn't need it anymore and sold it. I included the starting fluid and disclosed that it was a hard starting engine.

 

[yomax4]

Re: Why does starter fluid cure my no start?

I always use an unlit propane torch to start a stubborn engine.

What a great idea. no more squeeze bottles.

 

[Tinhack]

Like anything else, you have to use it correctly. I had an 8 HP Tecumseh chipper shredder that was almost impossible to start without starter fluid. I would give it a very small squirt, replace the air cleaner and it would start very smoothly with no problem. After about 10 years, I decided I didn't need it anymore and sold it. I included the starting fluid and disclosed that it was a hard starting engine.

It probably had a sheared flywheel key. Most likely from someone using starter fluid. :laughing:

One backfire is enough to shear a key and ****** timing. That's all it takes to make an engine hard to start. It all begins with a bad plug, fuel or air problem. Starter fluid is NOT a fix. :laughing:

 

[finn1]

Either the needle and seat leak in the carburetor leak, emptying the bowl, or the fuel pump is weak or leaking.

It won’t start because it isn’t getting fuel into the combustion chamber. Shooting ether gets the engine to fire and run at a high enough speed to reprise the carb.

The Brigs engine on my lawn tractor does the same thing if I let it sit for a long time. It will fire once, then become very difficult to start. If the battery is fully charged, it will retire after an extended cranking period.

If the battery is even slightly discharged, and the tractor has been sitting, a whiff of starting fluid gets it going.

Once started, it will restart with no issues.

I really need to make some time to rebuild the carb and vacuum check the fuel system for leaks.

 

[Cougsfan]

Forum Junkie, You don't give us a whole lot of information with which to help you. I assume that after you do get it started it runs fine? What color is the spark plug electrode? Black or tan or light colored? Black indicates too much fuel, tan is good, whitish means not enough fuel. Is it getting good spark? Does this engine have a choke? Does it work? (That reduces the engine's the air when starting to give the engine more fuel... sort of like using starter fluid)
From my experience, people make problems worse by guessing at the problem than approaching them systematically. Blind repairs often fix (or break trying to fix) things that aren't even the problem. If it runs fine after you start it, I am curious as to why would you think it is a fuel pump or vacuum problem?

 

[radios1]

I put a 4PSI fuel pump on my engine.. no more waiting for the fuel to fill up the bowl!!.

 

[TractorGuy]

I would check that the choke plate is correctly returning to the closed position when the engine is off.

This would be my first suggestion also. Make sure cable hasn't slipped and choke is working as it should.

 

[KennyG]

It probably had a sheared flywheel key. Most likely from someone using starter fluid. :laughing:

One backfire is enough to shear a key and ****** timing. That's all it takes to make an engine hard to start. It all begins with a bad plug, fuel or air problem. Starter fluid is NOT a fix. :laughing:

Unlikely. It was hard to start from Day 1 and I bought it new. To the best of my knowledge, it never backfired. The heavy flywheel of the chipper was probably the issue.

 

[Ford850]

If your fuel is over a month old, try to drain it and start with fresh purchased gas.
When you pull up on the choke knob before starting, can you tell if it's activating the choke lever on the engine?

 

[user.69169]

Propane Pickmeup system

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I was planning on doing. Does one leave the tiny orfice on the tube or take it off? I mean. engines start with the orfice and nozzle in place, so I'm guessing leave it on to reduce flow.

 

[the old grind]

The orifice will reduce flow too much for an engine to run.

Better you should throttle up & back down with the valve.

It'd start better when cold running 'rich' than lean regardless of fuel.

btw, a leaking needle and seat will not drain the carb bowl, it would overflow and 'flood' the engine. Lacking a fuel shutoff it could overflow enough to fill the crankcase with gasoline.

 

[RalphVa]

I agree with the old grind. Likely summer fuel. Try using a shot from a propane or butane torch (unlit). If that works, it's probably summer blend. Summer blend has less butane in it.

Ralph