Motor dies when Choke turns off...

[Kelemvor]

I don't know much about engines so maybe someone can offer me somewhere to check...

I have a snow blower that works just fine when the choke is on. However as soon as I go to turn off the choke, it dies. It's not a style that has the gas and oil mixed together and is a 7 HP motor I believe.

It's a bit older and other than having to leave the choke on, it works just fine. Any idea what I might need to check out?

Thanks.

EDIT: Pics

**Pics are large to show full detail of the little screws and such**

100_2091.jpg

100_2093.jpg

 

[Iron Woode]

its running too lean.

the carb idle circuit is probably clogged.

you may have use carb cleaner on it or take the snowblower in for maintenance.

 

[redly]

yep, that's what mine did last winter. got the carb cleaned and a gasket replaced, then it worked like new

 

[Zanix]

Don't forget to put Staybil in the gas when you store it for the summer. It'll save your carb

 

[Oger]

Iron Woode hit the nail on the head.

Here's what you do, go to your local auto parts store and purchase a can of GUNK carb and choke cleaner, locate idle mixture screw on side of carb, turn in the mixture screw slowly while counting the number of turns when it bottoms out, write this down, now unscrew it fully, attach the little red plastic nozzle to the carb cleaner can and judiciously spray the idle mixture port, reinstall idle mixture screw until it bottoms, now turn it out the number of times you counted, start engine, let it warm for a minute and turn of choke, if it still dies then follow the next step.

Purchase carb rebuild kit at local lawn mower shop, remove carb, disassemble carb carefully noting order of disassembly, clean parts and carb body thoroughly with GUNK carb and choke cleaner, reassemble carb.

 

[Kelemvor]

I just called the place near my house the sells and works on snowblowers and lawn mowers and they said I'd need the carb rebuilt which would run between $75 and $100.

The machine is olders (not sure exactly but I'd guess 7-10 years) and it hasn't had any maintenance done on it for the past 4 winters for sure. Does that sound like a reasonable charge or would a carb cleaner thing fix the problem as well and be much cheaper?

 

[Oger]

Do it yourself and learn something for a change, you can do it.


The average cost of a carb rebuild kit is under ten bucks.

 

[Zanix]

Originally posted by: Oger
Do it yourself and learn something for a change, you can do it.

I'm with Oger, I believe in you.




Edit: and I'll add, my old man used to be a "do it yourself" kind of guy, but now when ever the slightest thing breaks he's very quick to call somebody. He encourages me to as well, "... ah hell with it, just call somebody and have them do it." Dissapointing to me, because most of what I know about small engines, etc.. I learned from him.

 

[Colt45]

Yeah, just take it apart and clean it. small carbs for those 5hp engines and the like are terribly simple., probably just gunked up from sitting so much.

 

[Kelemvor]

*sniffle* Thanks Guys.

Not used to people having so much faith in my abilities. But you have given me the courage I need to undertken this endeavor on my own. I vow I will purchase the GUNK carb cleaner. I will clean my own Carbs. I will be free from the throws of the local repair shop that wants to rape me.

I Can Do It!!

 

[Oger]

Frankie ;


Here's what you do, go to your local auto parts store and purchase a can of GUNK carb and choke cleaner, locate idle mixture screw on side of carb, turn in the mixture screw slowly while counting the number of turns when it bottoms out, write this down, now unscrew it fully, attach the little red plastic nozzle to the carb cleaner can and judiciously spray the idle mixture port, reinstall idle mixture screw until it bottoms, now turn it out the number of times you counted, start engine, let it warm for a minute and turn of choke, if it still dies then follow the next step.

Do this first, 50% of the time this works and will save you considerable time


If you some how manage to screw it up, email me and I will guide you through the process.

 

[Kelemvor]

Well, hopefully I don't screw it up since we're getting 8 inches of snow this afternoon and tonight. heh heh.

 

[dsfunk]

You Can Do It!

 

[Zanix]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
*sniffle* Thanks Guys.

Not used to people having so much faith in my abilities. But you have given me the courage I need to undertken this endeavor on my own. I vow I will purchase the GUNK carb cleaner. I will clean my own Carbs. I will be free from the throws of the local repair shop that wants to rape me.

I Can Do It!!

Just don't leave us hanging, eh?


Pics would be fun too, but not as important as an update.

 

[Oger]

Your only hope

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Zanix

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
*sniffle* Thanks Guys.

Not used to people having so much faith in my abilities. But you have given me the courage I need to undertken this endeavor on my own. I vow I will purchase the GUNK carb cleaner. I will clean my own Carbs. I will be free from the throws of the local repair shop that wants to rape me.

I Can Do It!!

Just don't leave us hanging, eh?


Pics would be fun too, but not as important as an update.

Good idea. I'll snap some pics tonight as I go through it.

 

[Literati]

Check this out first...

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: Zanix

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
*sniffle* Thanks Guys.

Not used to people having so much faith in my abilities. But you have given me the courage I need to undertken this endeavor on my own. I vow I will purchase the GUNK carb cleaner. I will clean my own Carbs. I will be free from the throws of the local repair shop that wants to rape me.

I Can Do It!!

Just don't leave us hanging, eh?


Pics would be fun too, but not as important as an update.

Good idea. I'll snap some pics tonight as I go through it.

yes, let us know what happened.

If you can, get a book or good instructions to help you along.

It can be intimidating at first.

<--has rebuilt 4bbl carbs for himself and others.

 

[TheNinja]

HIJACK ALERT!!

I have the same problem with my dirtbike. I left it sit too long with old gas in the gas tank. I thought I drained the carb good but I cannot get that thing to idle anymore without full choke or half choke. Now my issue is that it is a DUAL CARB. I've taken apart and rebuilt carbs on a single carb dirtbike but never tackled a dual carb. Should I go for it, is there something special I need to do to sync them up? Or give up and take it in for fixing?

 

[Kelemvor]

Added ics to the OP. So, question time.

First off I'm assuming those are pictures of the carburator right? Boy I hope so, heh.

I think the screw that looks like the one I need to take out is the bottom one on the 2093 pic. Looks like it's west in there like something might have been leaking but is that right? Don't want to take out the wrong screw.... heh.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Added ics to the OP. So, question time.

First off I'm assuming those are pictures of the carburator right? Boy I hope so, heh.

I think the screw that looks like the one I need to take out is the bottom one on the 2093 pic. Looks like it's west in there like something might have been leaking but is that right? Don't want to take out the wrong screw.... heh.

Like I said, get a book or instructions. Should be able to pick them up at a repair place or even on the internet.

Edit: Second picture below the numbers stamped. The screw with the spring is your mixture screw. The spring prevents the screw from adjusting while the blower is running.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Colt45
Yeah, just take it apart and clean it. small carbs for those 5hp engines and the like are terribly simple., probably just gunked up from sitting so much.

yeah...one summer I found a lawnmower someone was throwing out, and since we had nothing better to do me and a friend decided to get it working again. We took it completely apart, cleaned it out, changed the oil, and put it back together without any prior knowledge or even a repair manual. Now it works perfectly. Small engines are a piece of cake.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

the seal between the carb body and the bowl looks wet to me. this is a sign of a clogged up carburator, theres a needle atatched to a float th gets plugged up with gellified gas. clamp that fuel line and pull the bowl off, theres a single 1/2 or 7/16 bolt in the bottom of it. there may be a needle valve in the center of it. don't touch it.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
its running too lean.

the carb idle circuit is probably clogged.

you may have use carb cleaner on it or take the snowblower in for maintenance.

Or you may have a bad vacuum leak.

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
HIJACK ALERT!!

I have the same problem with my dirtbike. I left it sit too long with old gas in the gas tank. I thought I drained the carb good but I cannot get that thing to idle anymore without full choke or half choke. Now my issue is that it is a DUAL CARB. I've taken apart and rebuilt carbs on a single carb dirtbike but never tackled a dual carb. Should I go for it, is there something special I need to do to sync them up? Or give up and take it in for fixing?

On your dirtbike you have a plugged pilot jet.

What year and make dirtbike?