PT 422 hard to start

[BobRip]

I have been having more and more trouble getting my model year 2000 PT 422 started. It has about 1100 hours on it and is using a lot of oil. I adjusted the valve backlash and cleaned the plugs with starting fluid. They had a lot of oil on them, but were only six months old. I was able to get it started, but it took a lot of cranking. It was also back firing through the carb while cranking. I called Terry (God Bless him) and he said you can't clean the plugs, just go ahead and replace them. Also the gap should be 0.025 inches. I did that and it started on the second crank.

Just thought this might help someone.

 

[MuncyBob]

Why can't the plugs be cleaned? Too oil fouled?

 

[BobRip]

He did not know why. Just plugs today cannot be adequately cleaned. I had this happen on a V8 many ago. The engine flooded, cleaning did not work and I put in new plugs.

 

[Marks481]

MIcro cracks in the ceramic insulator of old plugs get fouled with carbon, which shorts out the plug.

 

[MossRoad]

BobRip,
You said the plugs were only 6 months old. How many hours do you recon were on those plugs?

Also, the oil consumption.... I wonder if oil is slowly passing your rings and fouling the plugs? May be time for a compression check.

 

[BobRip]

Maybe 50 hours on plugs. Certainly the plugs were oil fouled. I am going to buy 8 next week and just replace as needed. It needs a new engine, but my plan is to buy a new 425 in 2020 or maybe earlier. It will be 20 years old then. That is enough. What a great machine it has been.

 

[BobRip]

I am still trying to use my 422, but today is was really hard to start. I noticed backfiring through the carb while trying to start with the air cleaner removed. I ran a compression test and got 160 PSI on one cylinder and 140 on the other. It seems to me that slow valve closing would cause the backfiring. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have a call in to Terry at Power Trac.

 

[Marks481]

It seems to me that slow valve closing would cause the backfiring. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have a call in to Terry at Power Trac.

Adjusted the valves recently? I think the EH65 manual calls for doing it every 100 hours or so.

 

[ernemats]

My 1999 422 has 2,689 hours on it and I have never adjusted the valves on it. It is now just starting to leak a little oil , I may have to add a half pint every 30 hours. It starts fine except in real cold weather.
I just returned from Tazewell last week, I had my 1845 sent down there to be worked on and I took 3 of the wheel motors of my 422 down to have the seals replaced, I spent several hours with Terry and he said they were changing from Subaru engines as they were bought out and that the recent Subaru engines were having some problems.

 

[Marks481]

I spent several hours with Terry and he said they were changing from Subaru engines as they were bought out and that the recent Subaru engines were having some problems.

Did he say what brand they were switching to? Back to Kohler?

 

[MossRoad]

My 1999 422 has 2,689 hours on it and I have never adjusted the valves on it. It is now just starting to leak a little oil , I may have to add a half pint every 30 hours. It starts fine except in real cold weather.
I just returned from Tazewell last week, I had my 1845 sent down there to be worked on and I took 3 of the wheel motors of my 422 down to have the seals replaced, I spent several hours with Terry and he said they were changing from Subaru engines as they were bought out and that the recent Subaru engines were having some problems.

Harbor Freight Honda clones? .... that wouldn't be all bad.... I'm kinda impressed by the $99 6hp engine I put in my log splitter.

 

[ernemats]

He did not say for sure what engines they were going to but it sort of sounded like Kohler could be the manufacturer they will choose.

 

[MossRoad]

That would be fantastic, in my book. But I think they should go back to the design like mine, where the tram pump is in front of the engine, the main and aux PTO pumps are behind the engine, the battery is in the right rear corner under the FACTORY KOHLER EXHAUST THAT EXHAUSTS OUT THE REAR!!!!! Maybe they'll read this.

I know from a production standpoint, its probably easier and cheaper for them to piggyback all three pumps off one side of the engine, eliminating the use of the auxillary PTO adapter, an extra pump mount, etc.... but I think the most important thing they could do is utilize a factory exhaust system, not their own designs, which so many seem to have that cause overheating issues.

 

[Marks481]

... the FACTORY KOHLER EXHAUST THAT EXHAUSTS OUT THE REAR!!!!!

I am with you. It is a really bad design to put the exhaust manifold or muffler in the middle of the engine compartment. And I am not fond of the engine fan sucking from the back of the engine compartment as it tends to pick up a lot of cut grass and hay and block the fan screen.

WHat I think would be ideal is the engine with the flywheel facing forward and the muffler at the rear, with the engine compartment cover re-designed so the muffler was on the outside. Stacking up both pumps in front is fine as long as they are attached to a stub shaft on the flywheel instead of mounted underneath the muffler.

 

[BobRip]

Just to give you an update. I have tried several things and the engine is not starting at all. I have changed the spark plugs again and that didn't help. I am focusing on the fuel system. I changed the fuel filter and that did not help. I then bypassed the fuel pump and it finally started, but not well. I called Continental engines and got a parts guy named Steve. Really knowledgeable. He says the crankcase pulse line can get blocked. He also says clear out the crankcase vent line to the air cleaner housing. I ordered a new fuel pump and now I am out of town for two weeks.
We also discussed the oil consumption. We both agreed that is might be the intake valve stem seals. I ordered two of them at about $5 each. He gave me an easy way to install them. You run the cylinder down and put some cord down the spark plug hole. Then you turn the crank by hand and compress the cord against the valve. This holds it in place while you remove the retaining clips.

 

[BobRip]

Yes, I adjusted the valves.

 

[BobRip]

I also talked to Steve about Robin buy out. He says the entire factory was bought and the same people will be building the engines. He prefers Robin over Kohler. So go figure on that.

 

[MossRoad]

Just to give you an update. I have tried several things and the engine is not starting at all. I have changed the spark plugs again and that didn't help. I am focusing on the fuel system. I changed the fuel filter and that did not help. I then bypassed the fuel pump and it finally started, but not well. I called Continental engines and got a parts guy named Steve. Really knowledgeable. He says the crankcase pulse line can get blocked. He also says clear out the crankcase vent line to the air cleaner housing. I ordered a new fuel pump and now I am out of town for two weeks.
We also discussed the oil consumption. We both agreed that is might be the intake valve stem seals. I ordered two of them at about $5 each. He gave me an easy way to install them. You run the cylinder down and put some cord down the spark plug hole. Then you turn the crank by hand and compress the cord against the valve. This holds it in place while you remove the retaining clips.

That sounds interesting with the cord to hold the valve up. Let us know how it works out.

 

[BobRip]

That sounds interesting with the cord to hold the valve up. Let us know how it works out.

It sounded real sick to me. Don't forget to leave a section hanging out to remove it when you are done.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Yeah, this technique has been around for a while and I always forget it. Its a favorite on private airplanes.

The only downside I have ever heard was a guy who stuffed in cotton cord I think and it ended up binding so he could not pull it out. I think he put in too much and it ended up knotting or binding and he had to take off the head.