DR brush mower problem

[redka]

Trying to help my son get his DR Field/Brush mower running right.
In Idle position the engine surges...just won't run smooth.
It was running fine last year when he stored it. He put stabilizer in the fuel.
We've done the simple things: spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter.
Wondering if we need to just drain the fuel and put in fresh.
Or maybe is it a carb jet fouled even though he put in stabil.
Thought I would ask here before hauling it 30 miles to a DR service shop.
Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mike058]

My favorite thing for gas engines is Seafoam. I'd drain the gas and put in 2-3 gallons mixed with 2-3 ounces of Seafoam. Run it long enough for the mixture to get to the carbs and let it sit overnight. Seafoam's a solvent and needs time to work. Hopefully it'd run a bit better the next day and keep on getting better as time goes on.

 

[2manyrocks]

If it has a newer EPA nonadjustable carb, those jets are easily clogged. Worse case you might have to remove the carb and give it a thorough cleaning.

Another guy here gave a good suggestion to install a fuel shutoff and run the carb until it's dry when storing. That helps avoid these problems especially with ethanol gas.

 

[redka]

My favorite thing for gas engines is Seafoam. I'd drain the gas and put in 2-3 gallons mixed with 2-3 ounces of Seafoam. Run it long enough for the mixture to get to the carbs and let it sit overnight. Seafoam's a solvent and needs time to work. Hopefully it'd run a bit better the next day and keep on getting better as time goes on.

Thanks. Going to look for Seafoam now.

 

[redka]

If it has a newer EPA nonadjustable carb, those jets are easily clogged. Worse case you might have to remove the carb and give it a thorough cleaning.

Another guy here gave a good suggestion to install a fuel shutoff and run the carb until it's dry when storing. That helps avoid these problems especially with ethanol gas.

I discovered a fuel shut-off under the fuel tank this morning. Will show it to my son. Thanks.

 

[JakeBrake]

Trying to help my son get his DR Field/Brush mower running right.
In Idle position the engine surges...just won't run smooth.
It was running fine last year when he stored it. He put stabilizer in the fuel.
We've done the simple things: spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter.
Wondering if we need to just drain the fuel and put in fresh.
Or maybe is it a carb jet fouled even though he put in stabil.
Thought I would ask here before hauling it 30 miles to a DR service shop.
Any help appreciated. Thanks.

I have a 2002 DR with the 15 HP Kawasaki engine. While the engine was still under warranty (fortunately) one of the two ignition modules experienced intermittent failure which caused
symptoms similar to your description. The local Kawasaki dealer replaced the module at no charge to me and the engine has worked great since then.

 

[redka]

I have a 2002 DR with the 15 HP Kawasaki engine. While the engine was still under warranty (fortunately) one of the two ignition modules experienced intermittent failure which caused
symptoms similar to your description. The local Kawasaki dealer replaced the module at no charge to me and the engine has worked great since then.

Thanks. I put the Seafoam in per Mike058 and will let it sit until tomorrow afternoon, then crank and see if it smooths out. If not, then I'll call DR's Technical Support.
They list a Toll Free number, and Live Chat option.
Thanks again.

 

[redka]

Update...the Seafoam treatment did not work. It's still in the system, so we'll let it sit and crank again tomorrow. If no improvement, then we'll move on from there.

 

[redka]

Update. Shop called and said it's ready to pick up. They tried to clean the carburetor but it did not correct the problem so they had to put on a new carburetor...I was shocked. This is a 2006, 17hp Kawasaki engine. This shop is Kawasaki certified as well as other engines. I'm still kinda shocked, just didn't know that a carburetor could not be cleaned.

 

[2manyrocks]

My experience with a B & S engine that sat up was that the carb couldn't be cleaned with spray cleaner. It had to sit overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner. Maybe there is something in the Kaw. carb that won't tolerate being soaked for that long--just don't know for sure.

I was talking a with a lawn and garden equipment sales rep this evening. He says that the ethanol in the gas is swelling the rubber on the needle valve inlet on carbs, and they are telling their customers to turn off the fuel valve and run the engine to drain the carb after shutdown. The customers aren't listening....

 

[redka]

My experience with a B & S engine that sat up was that the carb couldn't be cleaned with spray cleaner. It had to sit overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner. Maybe there is something in the Kaw. carb that won't tolerate being soaked for that long--just don't know for sure.

I was talking a with a lawn and garden equipment sales rep this evening. He says that the ethanol in the gas is swelling the rubber on the needle valve inlet on carbs, and they are telling their customers to turn off the fuel valve and run the engine to drain the carb after shutdown. The customers aren't listening....

I'm sure listening, and have told my son to do that after every run, unless he is going to run it within a couple days.
Thanks.

 

[2manyrocks]

You're welcome. I hope you don't have any more problems.

 

[jhwentworth]

My experience with a B & S engine that sat up was that the carb couldn't be cleaned with spray cleaner. It had to sit overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner. Maybe there is something in the Kaw. carb that won't tolerate being soaked for that long--just don't know for sure.

I was talking a with a lawn and garden equipment sales rep this evening. He says that the ethanol in the gas is swelling the rubber on the needle valve inlet on carbs, and they are telling their customers to turn off the fuel valve and run the engine to drain the carb after shutdown. The customers aren't listening....

A more likely scenario is that the shop spent some time trying to make the engine run right without success, and decided that a carb replacement was the quickest fix. At some point the labor charges exceed that parts cost.

I haven't seen any problem with ethanol swelling the seat on the fuel inlet. Any engine built in the past 20 years should be able to handle 10% ethanol. Ethanol and water are a whole different story with the fuel separation problem, but too many people seem to want to blame every problem on ethanol. I have 10+ small engines and have had zero problems with ethanol. One of them is a Cub Cadet 104, and another is an early Troy-Bilt Horse with a 7hp Tecumseh. The stuff built 30 years ago did have problems with plastic/rubber components failing from ethanol, but anything more modern should be able to handle it, and parts for the old stuff should too.

BTW: Listening to a lawn and garden equipment sales rep on technical issues can be dangerous to your wealth.

 

[2manyrocks]

A more likely scenario is that the shop spent some time trying to make the engine run right without success, and decided that a carb replacement was the quickest fix. At some point the labor charges exceed that parts cost.

BTW: Listening to a lawn and garden equipment sales rep on technical issues can be dangerous to your wealth.

Agree on both points-especially when sales reps downplay known engine problems.

My personal experience is that the new gas will gum a carb more quickly and stick the needle valve.

 

[redka]

Thanks again for the replies and discussion.
A related question...is Stabil and Seafoam and similar products supposed to prevent carb gumming, or only prevent gas gelling?

 

[clemsonfor]

They both will prevent carb varnish or carb gumming whichever you want to call it. Stabil will do this cheaper i beleive, but most swear by seafoad, its been around a while and has other benefits like additional lubricating abilities and cleaning abilities as it runs which i think stabil dosent.

 

[Ken45101]

It is my understanding that Stabil helps prevent the gas from going bad (forming varnish). I used to have routine problems with my chain saw, requiring frequent carb work. Since I've started putting Stabil in all the gas I buy for the farm, I haven't had any problems. (Chain saws, 4 wheelers, log splitter, DR mowers).

Sea Foam is good for cleaning carbs. If something is running bad or not starting, it can clean out the carb. I only put it in stuff that isn't running right. It seems to help. Just recently, my one chain saw wasn't idling right, it would die after idling for 30 seconds. I put some Seafoam in it, ran it for a few minutes and let it set over night. Next day, it was running fine.

Both products are inexpensive preventive measures. I go through one container of Stabil a year. A container of Seafoam lasts me a couple of years.

Ken

 

[redka]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Lcagee]

Agree with carb cleaning. These carbs get all gunned up. Mine was a mess. It was so bad almost not cleanable. I put a second fuel shut off valve on it because the one under the tank is so hidden. Makes it a lot easier to remove the carb.

 

[Lcagee]