carburetor float seat question, is rubber seat missing?

[disney]

good morning all. this is in reference to a 13hp kohler mounted to an IR air compressor. short version is it appeared to be flooding the engine with fuel, so I removed the carb & bowl and after removing the plastic float, noted there did not appear to be a rubber needle seat present. the oem kit includes two needles, and two rubber seats. so is there supposed to be one, or ??? should I install one? I included a pic, hopefully that helps. and thanks to all who reply.

ps I am not the original owner, but the few times I used it, it ran fine, with the exception of a small exhaust leak from the exhaust/ muffler gasket. until the time I went to use it, and it did not start, but fuel all but poured out of the exhaust gasket. (hence why I assumed it is a float issue)

 

[2manyrocks]

On my kohlers, the seat is brass, but the needle has a rubber tip to seal.

 

[disney]

this is what online pictures of the kohler oem repair kit look like. from what i can tell neither my needle, or these have rubber on them.

 

[ssgp2]

this is what online pictures of the kohler oem repair kit look like. from what i can tell neither my needle, or these have rubber on them.

View attachment 2944643

The tip of the needle is rubber, not the seat.

 

[tomplum]

Beyond servicing that carb, adding and using an inline fuel valve would be extra insurance.

 

[2manyrocks]

Those needles have rubber tips.

Over time, those rubber tips will stick in the seat as varnish accumulates. The seat needs to be carefully cleaned before putting the carb back together.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Those needles have rubber tips.

Over time, those rubber tips will stick in the seat as varnish accumulates. The seat needs to be carefully cleaned before putting the carb back together.

also if you use ethanol blended fuels it swells and deteriorates the rubber tips / seats.

more so now than ever every couple of years I seem to have pull the carb seats and replace from my small B/S and Honda gas engines. I think it is combination of ethanol PLUS other stuff being added or removed from our fuels. i fell fuel quality has really gone downhill in these parts over the last few decades.

Like changing oil, changing carb seats now getting to be common place. My small engine repair shop has shelf loads of carb kits and have to say in the past never remember seeing so much of them so i am not the only one making changing more common I guess.

 

[oldnslo]

What does the needle that you removed look like? Not uncommon for a carb kit to have parts for multiple models and you have to determine which parts are for the carb you are working on.

 

[dodge man]

Not that you asked but things look a little furry in there, which is not uncommon.