Mower running poorly - Ethanol gas?
- Thread starter cbrf3
- Start date
Most likely ethanol gas. Try a product called Motor Medic. Walmart has their own brand. Put it in the fuel tank and run the mower to get it intothe carb. Then let it sit overnight. You may have to do this several times. If this doesn't work, you need a new carb.
My 2006 Honda Rancher (less than 25 total hours) had succumb to the Ethanol gas being run in it. I didn't even attempt to rebuild the carburetor. I called G.N. Gonzales in Baton Rouge and ordered a new carburetor. Since the install (about 2 years ago) I only run NON ETHANOL gas in it.
So we took off the aluminum bodied carb and cleaned it out. Looked very clean but pushed through the valves and sprayed through them with carb cleaner. Also took the head off and removed a thin layer of carbon off everything. Gas tank drained and cleaned it out with water and dish soap. Rinsed completely, let it dry and put non-ethanol gas in. Started right up but still stumbles just like before we touched it today. We have tried other spark plugs in the past but it has not helped. 16 years old so I suppose the carb has worn parts and needs a rebuild or replacement.
Thank you for all of the comments.
Splitting wheels so not sure I will do anything but run it till it will not start or just collapse..
Thank you for all of the comments.
Splitting wheels so not sure I will do anything but run it till it will not start or just collapse..
Perhaps, but my 31 year-old lawn mower has had the same carb since new and has only had E10 for the past 25+ years since we've lived in an EPA nonattainment area. I've replaced the bowl gasket twice plus the little bleeder screw gasket but that's it. So I think you can get some more life out if it.So we took off the aluminum bodied carb and cleaned it out. Looked very clean but pushed through the valves and sprayed through them with carb cleaner. Also took the head off and removed a thin layer of carbon off everything. Gas tank drained and cleaned it out with water and dish soap. Rinsed completely, let it dry and put non-ethanol gas in. Started right up but still stumbles just like before we touched it today. We have tried other spark plugs in the past but it has not helped. 16 years old so I suppose the carb has worn parts and needs a rebuild or replacement.
Thank you for all of the comments.
Splitting wheels so not sure I will do anything but run it till it will not start or just collapse..
Yes, jets is the correct term. Cleaned but where not blocked nor seemed dirty at all.
Will see about rebuilding cost if I can figure out the carb part number.
Sometimes you can clean it and it’ll look great but you haven’t quite gotten all the tiny little passages clean. I have a cheap ultrasonic cleaner and even perfectly clean looking carbs will have vaporized dirt coming out of little holes I didn’t know existed lol.
Just replace the carb. Their cheap. Got mine on Amazon. Had to use starting fluid to get my Briggs power washer started. Ran ok but not great. New needle and float. Same thing. New carb runs great.
I have an old Techumseh on my snowblower that started running rough when we moved to Iowa and I was using E10. I switched back to E0 and put some carb cleaner in the gas. 12 years later she still runs like a top on E0!
if the damage is done you might need a rebuild but try some B-12 and see if that licks your problem.
just my $0.02
Take the carburetor apart and boil it in lemon juice that will clean it up without harming any viton or nylon parts. Then blow it out with compressed air and reassemble.
It should run better afterwards.
It should run better afterwards.
This video demonstrates what people talk about when they say ethanol gums up carbs. Not even treating the E10 fuel saves it. Pretty entertaining watch.
The white stuff is corn starch.
What fuel treatment are you using?
Add some Seafoam to your fuel tank - 1 ounce per gallon treats the fuel but you can add a few ounces directly into the fuel tank - even if it only has 1/2 a tank of gas.
This stuff works.
Add some Seafoam to your fuel tank - 1 ounce per gallon treats the fuel but you can add a few ounces directly into the fuel tank - even if it only has 1/2 a tank of gas.
This stuff works.
