Miatapower List Archive

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Mail From: "Ackley, Ray (R.A.)" <(email redacted)>

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, but the saga continues. Fuel line is
fine - when I open the shut-off valve it flows half of a 20oz bottle in
60 seconds. That's a good amount of gas, and with the cap on so I know
it isn't running into a vacuum situation in the tank.

=20

Complication and possible symptom of problem - after leaving the fuel
line open for a while (>5 min), I noticed the carb was dripping gas.
Further testing shows that it was leaking from just about everywhere -
the needle inside the air flow path, the bowl gasket, everywhere it
possibly can. So I'm thinking that there's a problem in the carb like
the float isn't properly moving and/or the doohickey attached to it that
closes the inlet for the fuel isn't closing it and basically the whole
gas tank is trying to flow through it.

=20

Took it apart and inspected it, bent the clip on the float a tad so that
the pointy thingy (love this terminology) would close the inlet at a
lower float position than before, reassembled and retested and it still
overflow/leaks.

=20

Thinking about taking it in to someone to fix. Bah.

=20

Ray

=20


_____=20=20

From: Larry Alster [mailto:(email redacted)]=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 1:55 PM
To: Ackley, Ray (R.A.); (email redacted)
Subject: Re: [NPC] [NMC] Snow thrower won't run :-/

=20

Fuel line itself??? Might be collapsed inside.

=20

=20

Larry

=20

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM FM I+ Turbo
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whooosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

=20

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----=20

From: Ackley, Ray (R.A.) <mailto:(email redacted)>=20=20

To: (email redacted)=20

Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:10 AM

Subject: [NPC] [NMC] Snow thrower won't run :-/

=09=20

I'm not a small engine specialist, but I figure the list is
fairly dead and at least a few are bound to have some
knowledge/experience...

=09=20

Picked up a snow thrower for $200 from a buddy of mine's
roommate. Manufactured 1986. Mechanically in quite good shape.
2-stage snow thrower. Tecumseh 5-hp engine. Only catch is that it
didn't run right.

=09=20

I looked it over and fired it up. It runs for a few seconds (up
to 5 seconds on slower speeds, less on faster) and then poops out. It
sounds great until it poops out. If I prime it while it's running it
runs longer. If I prime it between starts it runs longer. If I don't
prime it between starts it barely starts. It's seems to me like a fuel
supply issue. Fuel is getting to the carb (I can see/smell it) but then
it's like the engine dies off once it uses up what's in there.

=09=20

I bought a carb rebuild kit for like $10, pulled off the carb
and disassembled it. Soaked/cleaned it in carb cleaner. Everything
looked ok, but the rubber seals were a bit old. Replaced all
serviceable parts. Needles, all seals, etc. To be honest, there isn't
a whole lot in there to go wrong, and nothing looked bad. Slapped it
back on. Exact same behavior.

=09=20

Any ideas?

=09=20

Thanks,

Ray Ackley