Old Wheelhorse Tiller

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Back in the 70's- 80's, a company in Vermont made both the Yellowbird and Wheel Horse rear tined tillers. These were small 14" 3.5 hp tillers effective for smaller areas. Mine has the Kawasaki motor and is currently baffling me as to why it will not run properly. First, the tiller ran great for all these years and then would only stay started with the choke engaged. So I'm thinking dirt in the carb. Pull it all apart, clean it and now the thing revs way faster than it did and I do mean way. Also, there does not seem to be enough torq to even engage the tines let alone till. I can lower the speed with the throttle but where it had power before, it does not any longer. I did not use a carb kit, just put it all back together however I apparently did something wrong. All needles and seats were put back to factory turns. Anybody have any experience with this pump type carb found on the small Kawasaki motors?

 

[2manyrocks]

First, the tiller ran great for all these years and then would only stay started with the choke engaged.

I had a Briggs that did that. I soaked it overnight in a gallon of carb cleaner and that cleared it up.

 

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Thanks 2many. I found the problem inside the carb. There is a little spring ( about 1/4" long and wide) over the diaphram. I put the spring cap over the spring instead of under it. When I pulled the carb apart the first time, this spring and cap fell out so I could not see how it lay in there before. I just took the chance and reversed the spring cap thinking like George Costanza from Seinfeld and that was "if you think its right the way it was, do the opposite" It turned George's life around and also this rototiller.

 

[2manyrocks]

Great that you got it fixed.

 

[beenthere]

Surprised this was a Kawasaki, and not a Kohler engine. Glad it is up and running.

 

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Surprised this was a Kawasaki, and not a Kohler engine. Glad it is up and running.

BT, I'm not sure Kohler had the circulation in the late 70's as they do now. This particular tiller was made by a small Vermont company back then. It came with a choice of 2 engines the other of which was Briggs. Kawaski makes a great small engine and I'd rate them right up there with the Honda's.

 

[beenthere]

Kohler had their engines in the Cubs and Deere and Wheel Horse lawn tractors in the 60's. 8 hp and 10 hp were pretty standard. I have Kawasaki engines in the Deere lawn tractors (have had them in mine since the middle 90's) and agree they are a great engine.
Question was only meant to clarify.

 

[rughead]

Hi i found a little yellow birb tiller in a house i just brought ,runs lovely but i have know idea what the two levers are for .any advice would be great as finding a manuel has been impossible.
thx in advance