1020 gas can't keep it running

[Bayfisher]

the fuel tank could be rusting internally, water in gas/diesel is always an issue, your friend might want to consider installing a fuel/water separator with a clear bowl between the fuel pump and the carb, this will allow him to see the water and drain it out of the system before problems arise, here is my setup.

 

[jaxs]

the fuel tank could be rusting internally, water in gas/diesel is always an issue, your friend might want to consider installing a fuel/water separator with a clear bowl between the fuel pump and the carb, this will allow him to see the water and drain it out of the system before problems arise, here is my setup.

That's a very good add on filter/separator:thumbsup: but I recommend it be plumbed in before fuel pump. That will prevent rust or other abrasives going through pump and causeing wear. Water separation is also more efficient on suction side of pump. The cherry on top is that expensive original filters last much longer since that little guy will catch 90% of trash before it can reach original filter.

 

[Sedgehammer]

Tore carb apart. Only thing I can see is the float closed a little too far. Will adjust this. Question, will have cause this problem if float is too close? We have a lack of air, rather than too much fuel since if we cut the air it'll run better and only runs with choke out.
Fuel tank was just repaired. I think issue would be from his fuel cans. Has inline fuel filter. I'll suggest a water separator, but doubtful he'd do it.
runs on either. It's definitely fuel related.
Contemplating buying after market carb. No rebuilt ones for sale I can find.

 

[defranks]

I still believe you have fuel STARVATION. When you cut the air to make it run better you're making the fuel mixture richer. That's what a choke does, too, it restricts air flow so the mixture becomes richer. (There's a smaller volume of air flowing through the venturi but at a higher velocity, causing more fuel to be mixed with that air.) I'm not sure what you mean when you say the float is "closed too far", but I assume you mean it's set too high so the fuel level in the float bowl is a tiny bit high. That won't cause the problem you describe. If the float is set too low then it's possible to have too little fuel in bowl and that will show up at high throttle settings or perhaps when the tractor is running on a slope. If the fuel level in the bowl is so low that no fuel is drawn at all, then the tractor won't start at all.

If it were my tractor, I'd put some gas right down the carb throat and try starting it. (Keep a rag handy in case the tractor backfires.) Don't put a lot of gas down the carb throat, just a couple of tablespoons full. If the tractor starts and runs for a few moments then dies, you know you aren't getting fuel mixture into the cylinders.

Remember that when the tractor starts and idles it's using the carburetor's low speed circuit, not the main jets. Only as the throttle opens up above about 1/4 to 1/3 open do the main jets begin to provide the primary fuel load.

 

[AWSubie]

Have u checked the main power adjustment screw and the idle air mixture screw for the initial settings?

Typically after a rebuild these screws are turned in (gently) until they seat and backed out around 1 1/2 to 2 turns.

 

[Sedgehammer]

Just put carb back together. Can make it run briefly (5 seconds) if I hold my hand over the carb and fuel runs out of the intake and then I remove my hand, it'll run.:hissyfit: :hissyfit:

 

[Sedgehammer]

I still believe you have fuel STARVATION. When you cut the air to make it run better you're making the fuel mixture richer. That's what a choke does, too, it restricts air flow so the mixture becomes richer. (There's a smaller volume of air flowing through the venturi but at a higher velocity, causing more fuel to be mixed with that air.) I'm not sure what you mean when you say the float is "closed too far", but I assume you mean it's set too high so the fuel level in the float bowl is a tiny bit high. That won't cause the problem you describe. If the float is set too low then it's possible to have too little fuel in bowl and that will show up at high throttle settings or perhaps when the tractor is running on a slope. If the fuel level in the bowl is so low that no fuel is drawn at all, then the tractor won't start at all.

If it were my tractor, I'd put some gas right down the carb throat and try starting it. (Keep a rag handy in case the tractor backfires.) Don't put a lot of gas down the carb throat, just a couple of tablespoons full. If the tractor starts and runs for a few moments then dies, you know you aren't getting fuel mixture into the cylinders.

Remember that when the tractor starts and idles it's using the carburetor's low speed circuit, not the main jets. Only as the throttle opens up above about 1/4 to 1/3 open do the main jets begin to provide the primary fuel load.

Yes, too high. Just fixed that.
Runs on either. Did run after I flooded it with my hand over the carb intake. Had gas running on the ground. while the mixture can be off, not seeing how it could be starving. There was gas running out of the carb. There's lots of gas at the filter 90°. There must be something preventing getting the mixture to the motor. I have no clue what that could be. It has fuel.

 

[Sedgehammer]

Have u checked the main power adjustment screw and the idle air mixture screw for the initial settings?

Typically after a rebuild these screws are turned in (gently) until they seat and backed out around 1 1/2 to 2 turns.

Yup. Not sure about when it was rebuilt.

 

[defranks]

"Runs on either. Did run after I flooded it with my hand over the carb intake. Had gas running on the ground. while the mixture can be off, not seeing how it could be starving. There was gas running out of the carb. There's lots of gas at the filter 90°. There must be something preventing getting the mixture to the motor. I have no clue what that could be. It has fuel."

When I say fuel starvation I mean that the air fuel mixture is not getting to the cylinders to be burned. You can have plenty of fuel AT the carburetor, but no fuel flowing THROUGH the carburetor. The fact that it starts and runs on ether, and that it runs after you flood it tells you that spark and compression are there and correct, and that the engine will run when it has something to burn. So no fuel is making it into the cylinders.... fuel starvation.

Perhaps one of the small passages in the carb is blocked. Sometimes the wrong gasket can be installed and block a fuel or air passage.

Is there a filter screen inside the carburetor at the fuel input? If you saw rust in the float bowl, then it could be that the internal screen (filter) is plugged.

It might be well to start from scratch. Go buy a new carb rebuild kit and make sure it's the correct kit. Carefully check every passage in the carb. I like to blow carb cleaner through those passages to see that it sprays out the other side. (Keep your face away, trust me, carb cleaner burns the eyes!) Make sure that no passages are blocked by gasket material or sealer.

Good luck!

 

[Sedgehammer]

"Runs on either. Did run after I flooded it with my hand over the carb intake. Had gas running on the ground. while the mixture can be off, not seeing how it could be starving. There was gas running out of the carb. There's lots of gas at the filter 90°. There must be something preventing getting the mixture to the motor. I have no clue what that could be. It has fuel."

When I say fuel starvation I mean that the air fuel mixture is not getting to the cylinders to be burned. You can have plenty of fuel AT the carburetor, but no fuel flowing THROUGH the carburetor. The fact that it starts and runs on ether, and that it runs after you flood it tells you that spark and compression are there and correct, and that the engine will run when it has something to burn. So no fuel is making it into the cylinders.... fuel starvation.

Perhaps one of the small passages in the carb is blocked. Sometimes the wrong gasket can be installed and block a fuel or air passage.

Is there a filter screen inside the carburetor at the fuel input? If you saw rust in the float bowl, then it could be that the internal screen (filter) is plugged.

It might be well to start from scratch. Go buy a new carb rebuild kit and make sure it's the correct kit. Carefully check every passage in the carb. I like to blow carb cleaner through those passages to see that it sprays out the other side. (Keep your face away, trust me, carb cleaner burns the eyes!) Make sure that no passages are blocked by gasket material or sealer.

Good luck!

Agreed on not getting to cylinders.
Yes, possible.
That's clean.
Yeah, was thinking of that also vs buying a new carb. My hesitation there is this has been doing this over a couple years, although not as bad. I didn't rebuild the carb this winter and I'd put it back together as it was taken apart, so if the problem lies there, I won't know what that is possibly.