Gasoline in Crankcase

[Little Red Tractor]

My buddy has an old--likely 40+ years--JD "Scotts" 17 HP, that's orange. He's having trouble with fuel in the crankcase. My best guess is that the carb is flooding and it's running into the cylinder, past the rings. Anybody got any history with this. Below are some pics of the engine:

Any help or suggestions are welcome. He generally only uses this to mow his hunting camp property.

 

[tomplum]

Unless the fuel pump diaphragm is ruptured, most likely the carb as you suspect. Briggs 594593 (suggest the OEM Ruxing) and a fresh oil change.

 

[Roadworthy]

In my limited experience either the float is sticking, has sunk, or the needle valve is not stopping fuel flow. It's also possible the needle has become detached from the float.

 

[big bubba]

In my limited experience either the float is sticking, has sunk, or the needle valve is not stopping fuel flow. It's also possible the needle has become detached from the float.

my take too

 

[AntiqueIron]

My buddy has an old--likely 40+ years--JD "Scotts" 17 HP, that's orange. He's having trouble with fuel in the crankcase. My best guess is that the carb is flooding and it's running into the cylinder, past the rings. Anybody got any history with this. Below are some pics of the engine:

Any help or suggestions are welcome. He generally only uses this to mow his hunting camp property.

Oh. One of those with the Nikki carburetor.

Probably needle and seat are sacked out.

Those carbs have a whole “fuel transfer assembly” (entire lower half of the carburetor-needle/seat, main jet, float mounts, etc) made of plastic.

You cannot clean them with solvent, heat, or an ultrasonic. Compressed air is all you can really use.

My recommendation is just a replacement carburetor.