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 !

 

[EddieWalker]

It rained most of the day yesterday, so this morning was the first chace I had to get back down there. I looked really close at all the wires, but didn't see anything. They are all sleved and mounted to keep them away from the engine. No sign of wear or even touching any metal parts.

The fuel seems to be flowing out of the big gas tank really good. I pulled the hose to check ended up just making a mess. hahaha

There is no way that I can tell for water from the pump or hoses to get to the engine. The pump is on the side of it and nothing crosses over the engine.

I pulled the pump away from the creek about four feet to get the intake off the bottom. I don't know for sure if it was on the bottom, but it could have been. Then I pulled the cord and it started on the first pull. I opened the choke and it was pumping realy nice. In fact, it's pumping better right now then it has been in the last few weeks.

Could it have been the intake? Maybe. It seems to have made some difference, but I'll have to keep an eye on it to see if it keeps running. I have three days till the party, so I'd like to get as much water in there as I can.

Thank you everyone for all your help and advice!!!!

Eddie

 

[jamiec]

How much did it go up with the rain u have been getting? You said that it ws muddy everywhere so that must mean u got some good rain?

 

[EddieWalker]

Jamiec,

There is rain and then theres RAIN. This was just barely measurable.

The pump was running a little after noon, so maybe it was the intake, but I never went back down there when the rain started. I sort of got sidetracked on another project. hahaha

I'll update in the morning when I go check things out.

Thanks for asking,
Eddie

 

[firemanpat2910]

yes if the intake is restricted the pump will overheat. I dont know why I did not think to offer the suggestion of "floating" the strainer before. might have helped fill the lake faster. we usually use an inner tube or a bouy when we use our portable fire pumps.

 

[California]

if the intake is restricted the pump will overheat. I dont know why I did not think to offer the suggestion of "floating" the strainer before. might have helped fill the lake faster. we usually use an inner tube or a bouy when we use our portable fire pumps.

Are you sure that applies to this type of pump? (I assume it is a centrifugal pump.) My experience using similar centrifugal pumps on a gold dredge is that when the intake is clogged, it just spins at no-load governed speed same as a clogged vacuum cleaner. I don't see how that would stress it. It's easy to notice the increase from 3000 rpm (full load) to 3600 (governed max) that signals it is time to go clean the strainer.

We put the intake strainer in a ballasted plastic bucket if it tended to clog. I agree, suspending the intake from a float is preferable, if the water is deep enough.

The photo here isn't us, but it illustrates the type of use I'm talking about.

High Country News -- Hobby miners flock to public streams

 

[EddieWalker]

The pump was off this morning, which I sort of expected with the rain. It always dies when it rains.

When I started it, this was the first time it didn't start on the first pull. It took five pulls to get it started. It's been running all morning and I just went and check it and it's still running.

I don't know if the suction hose had any effect on why it dies, but I can sure tell the difference in how much water is coming out of it!!!! I'm kind of embarassed about this becuase I'm sure I'd have allot more water in there if I had been smarter about the suction placement. Oh well.

Eddie

 

[schmism]

hey live and learn right. if anything its just cost you a few more $$ in gas

so post up a xmas pic of the pond for us this weekend

 

[bmac]

Eddie,

Have you considered dismissing the Christmas Eve cut-off on the pump? Now that you have the water flowing better, maybe a in couple of more weeks and it'll be topped off nicely.

 

[Glowplug]

Have you considered dismissing the Christmas Eve cut-off on the pump? Now that you have the water flowing better, maybe a in couple of more weeks and it'll be topped off nicely.

Yeah, seriously! If it was me I'm sure I'd keep the pump running until the water surface reached the overflow. That's just the way I am. But I know you probably want to pack the pump up for your party guests.

 

[EddieWalker]

You guys read my mind. hahaha

Yes, I've thought about keeping it running, but doubt I will. It's a money pit that I'd just as soon not dump anymore cash into. Especially with rain being free and there's no reason to rush it anymore. It really looks amazing and I'm very satisfied with how it's turned out. I'm gonna dump the gas I have left over into my dump truck and find a place to store the pump and fuel tank. This little experiment is over. If I rated it on a scale of one to ten, it would be a 7.

I'm picking up ten bales of hay in the morning for the Christmas Eve Party and hay ride. The kids will want a test drive, so I'll take a few pics when we're down there.

Thank you,
Eddie