Creating a Lake

[EddieWalker]

Hi Renze,

Just guessing, I'm in the 700 hour range. It's been off for awhile now with the rain we're getting. I could go down there, but I really would rather not deal with the mud. hahahaha

SInce it starts right up, I don't know if testing the spark plug wire will tell me anything. If I pull the cord and see a spark, than I already know that it will start. My problems is in keeping it running.

I'll look over the wires for the cut off switch too. They go to an on/off switch and look brand new, but maybe I'm not looking close enough and there might be a place that's touching every now and then. There is allot of vibration on it and that's what I think ruined the spark plug.

The carburator comes off really easy. It's held on by two studs that also hold on the air cleaner. When I took off the air cleaner, the carburator came off too!! It looked nice and shiny to my my untraine eye, but it might be a good idea to give it a good cleaning with the air hose and then some carberator cleaner!!!

Since it runs for a bit, or even a few hours, I'm guessing it's got to be somethign that's changing as it runs. If it's a wire, then it's got to be moving and touching something from time to time. I'll look closer.

If it's a fuel issue, than it's changing on me. What would cause it to die, but be able to start right up and run again? A stuck float will stay a stuck float, wont it? dirt in the fuel should show up in the fuel filter, but it's spotless clean.

Another thing I've noticed is that it's not putting out as much water as it used to. It's like it has less power.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Eddie, have you been around it when it dies? Does it make any sounds like it is getting under a heavier load? Only other thing I can think of is temperature. If it gets hot and seizes. Then starts fine when it cools off. Also if there is any debris in the hose from the creek that makes it to the engine and stalls it, then floats back out after the suction goes away. Do you filter or screen what comes from the stream?

 

[California]

if there is any debris in the hose from the creek that makes it to the engine and stalls it, then floats back out after the suction goes away?

Debris on the intake screen (or in the pump vanes) makes less load on the engine. Same as when you put your hand over a vacuum cleaner intake. The greater the volume that moves through the pump, the harder it works.

The only thing that hasn't ben suggested so far is a small water leak that eventually drenches the engine and gets to the points (or modern electronic equivalent) which is probably under the flywheel.

 

[have_blue]

The only thing that hasn't ben suggested so far is a small water leak that eventually drenches the engine and gets to the points (or modern electronic equivalent) which is probably under the flywheel.

10-4 on that! I've certainly had that happen a few times!

It can be real funny too. Sometimes the water evaporates and never makes it to the high voltage areas. Other times, it doesn't, and gradually gets close enough to short it. All it takes is a drop or 2 in the right place to kill the engine.

Close examination may show white or dirt-colored deposits that evaporating water leave behind.

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

Does it have compression? With the spark plug out and your thumb over the spark plug hole does it feel like a burst of compressor?

 

[patrick_g]

I had a gasser that used to die at random intervals. Drove me nuts. OK so in my case it was just a short putt!

Anyway, after changing the filters, carb, fuel lines, and attitudes I finally discovered the problem. There was just a little nearly neutrally buoyant debris in the fuel tank and at random intervals it would float by the fuel pickup tube and get caught by the gentle vacuum. This starved the engine for fuel and it died. Then with no vacuum on the pickup tube the debris would float away till next time. You could get it to restart and run strong immediately after it died of fuel starvation. It might run for an hour or 5 min, you never knew. The debris was the coating the mfg had put on the inside of the fuel tank. It was like little pieces of leaves in the fuel.

If you wanted to be insanely cruel to someone this would do it.

Probably not your problem but to check all you have to do is dump the tank into a clean container and pour a bunch in a clear glass jar and look for impurities.

Pat

 

[have_blue]

The debris was the coating the mfg had put on the inside of the fuel tank. It was like little pieces of leaves in the fuel.
Pat

Heh... a perfect little flapper valve. Why in the world would they want to lacquer the inside of the fuel sytem???

Hmmm... some fuel injector cleaner may dissolve any paint or plastic debris. It may be worth a try, and certainly eaiser than taking the carb apart.

 

[john_bud]

John,

I'm not real knowledgeable on these small engines, heck, I'm not very knowledgable on any engine, but these little ones realy have me baffled.

I don't even know where the other end of the spark plug wire goes. I'll do some digging and take it off if I can. Maybe I can test it with one from the dump truck, or I'll find a new one.

Thanks for the help,
Eddie

Eddie, My experience on small engines comes in the form of hard knocks. Mostly on Briggs and a few Techumsies. The other end of the wire goes to the ignition module. You have to take off the top cover that has the recoil start (on a Briggs anyway). With all the vibration, the wire may have a bald spot and then cozy up to some metal and short.

Could also be trash in the fuel or even water.

Then again, it could be the warrantee running out!

Since it's raining and real close to Christmas, just bring that baby back to the shop and put fixing it on your new years resolution list! Have a Merry Chirstmas with the family, sit back and rake in the complements on your wonderful lake!

jb

 

[kc5dlo]

Magneto/coil getting hot and breaking down? Starts right back up after cooling off. Hard to tell since your not there when it shuts down on you.

 

[Renze]

Why in the world would they want to lacquer the inside of the fuel sytem???

A little bit of rain coming into it would immediately cause rust... not nice !