2160 cub firing problem?

[bredwagon]

Help!! I have a cub 2160 with the 16hp v twin briggs. When I go to start it I have to crank on it for a long time. When it fires it backfires thru the carb. I can keep it running by feathering the choke. After about 5 min it smoothes out and runns good. It smokes like crazy too.

 

[bredwagon]

Well it did run fine.... It has gotten worse and worse now it wont start at all. I took the carb apart and cleaned it but no luck. Any sugestions? Besides buying a new tractor!?!

 

[diesel_nut]

blue-gray smoke or black smoke?

 

[bredwagon]

When I was featering the choke to make it run it would put out black smoke. But when it would start to run good and the rpms would come up it would pour out white. I noticed to that the air cleaner is soaked. Looks like excess fuel or maybe oil.

 

[geneP]

My Vanguard has oil-soaked the air filter twice since I've had it. Both times the air filter housing has had oil standing in the bottom. My engine would run fine with the soaked filter removed. It must be that under some certain condition the engine will pull oil up the crankcase breather tube which terminates in the cleaner housing. I twisted my breather tube over towards the carb intake and make sure I don't overfill the engine at oil change time and have not had it happen again.

 

[rgc53]

I own a Cub Cadet 2180 with 55 hours, and had a problem with
the engine skipping , an 18 HP briggs vanguard, took it to a local
small engine repair shop . The mechanic said it had 2 problems ,
dirty carburater and the needle on the needle and seat in the carburater
has a piece of rubber attached to the end ,it had come loose and
was on the verge of detaching from the needle. Had it done so
the engine would have flooded. The new needle and seat cost
$12 . The engine now runs like new!
I wonder if ethanol in the gas had anything to do with it coming loose ?
Hope this helps .

RGC

 

[savageactor7]

bredwagon it sounds like you have a real weak spark there. Also just to be sure take off the air filter and make sure the choke is opening and closing correctly. If a tractor doesn't start withing 4-5 seconds ...there is a problem with it that will only get worse with time.


geneP my 586 and 1440 would suck up oil if it were the oil was the least bit over the full full mark.

This usually happened right after an oil change when the clean oil was difficult to see on the dipstick. Now I darken the oil stick with a black magic marker and it helps me lock down the correct measure of oil.

Also certain times of the year you have to be mindful of what's in the air and clean all air filter elements after just a few hours use. This filter had less than 7 hours when it filled with dandelion seeds. And keep oiling that pre filter you're on the right track with that.

 

[bredwagon]

I checked the oil- OOps a little over full. so that would explain the oil soaked air filter. On a good note I did manage to get it started yesterday. It took about 15 minutes of playin with the choke and throttle to get it to run. then it just smoothed out and would run great for 10 min or so. then pop and backfire then smooth out. I've had the carb apart many times and checked the needle and seat. I hadn't thought about the weak spark, I just checked with plug pulled out. How would I check for a weak spark? I just seems really strange that this thing will shoot flames out the carb then just smooth out.
thanks for the help

 

[savageactor7]

bred twice I had tractors quit on me as you've described. Once it was a bad coil...when it got hot the engine would quit and not start up until it cooled off.

The other time it proved to be a slug of grass in the fuel line right underneath the seat area. It was a desperation move, everything else checked out. Drained the tank disconnected the hose from the tank to the filter.

With compressed air blew out the hose into a clean rag and a huge wad of grass came out. Was I happy to see that...now if I see any flotsam in the tank I get the crazy fingers and remove it pronto.

Edit to add on checking for spark

Going by what my dad told me a good spark will jump a good 1/8 of an inch or so. A weak spark you'll only see if the plug is grounded on the block. He kept things running but was no real wrench...and either am I.