bobwhite

oK i have this tractor and it needs some work.I hate to buy another one yet..Deck is still good as well...It has a Kohler motor..It started acting up this summer and now it wouldn't start....To give a little more detail,I filled the tank and the next morning all the gas was gone.At first I thought it was stolen..But then I realized it was running through the carburator..Not being a small engine mechanic,I took the carb. off and cleaned it out and noticed the pin holding the float was half out,so I pushed it back in..Reinstalled it and added some gas,but still,no start....What is the thing on the bottom of the carb.?
Could that be bad...It does sound like it wants to start but acts like it is floating its self..Any ideas? I believe I can still get a couple more years out of it....John

Bill Kapaun

The thing on the bottom of the carb is the fuel solenoid.
When 12V is applied to it, it retracts a pin and allows fuel to flow through the carb Main Jet.
It is an anti after fire device. The idea being that you don't have atomized gasoline still entering the combustion chamber and igniting on "hot spots" even though the key has been turned off and the spark "killed".
It has NOTHING to do with fuel flow to the carb from the tank.

The problem you have/had is a leaking needle & seat assembly in the carb.
It acts similar to the flush valve in a toilet.
As the fluid level decreases, the valve is opened, allowing the fluid level to get back to/maintain the proper height in the carb bowl.
This is important to maintain the proper air/fuel ratio.
There is/was probably a piece of "crud" keeping the needle from seating properly.
Another possibility is that ethanol in the fuel may have deteriorated any rubber parts in the fuel system.

You might want to pull the spark plug(s), grounds the plug wire(s) for safety, and crank the engine over a few seconds to "blow" any excess gas out of the combustion chamber.

Have you changed the oil? It's probably totally diluted with gas and overfilled.
Overfilled and it can seep into the combustion chamber flooding it.

It's best to post the Sears 917.xxxxxx number so one can determine WHICH tractor you have.

bobwhite

Thanks for the reply...Here is the number you ask for..Mod...917-273140

Engine mod.CV490S I will have to check the oli level tomorrow and see if it is full of fuel...I will change it anyway as I need to do that....Where can It get a new needel valve and seat if need be....John

Bill Kapaun

Any local small tractor type repair place should have one.
Your complete engine# is CV490-27508

bobwhite

Had to go to 3 different shops to find a carb. repair kit for this tractor.

And of course I had to have it ordered in..But there is still a couple of months befor
I will need the tractor...After all.I would like to try to keep it running a year
or more before having to give in to getting another one....Thanks for your help on this..John in Alpine,NY

Bill Kapaun

You may want to replace the fuel line too.
The old one is probably deteriorated enough that you flake off a few "small chunks" just my moving it around.

Flush it before attaching to the carb so that you don't wash a chunk right back to the needle/seat assembly.
That might actually be the problem you have now.

Did you smell the oil for the presence of gasoline???

bobwhite

Bill------Yes I could tell there was gas in the oil..And I changed the fuel line close to the end of the mowing season....The man said it would be a couple weeks befor the carb, kit comes in...12 bucks it cost....so in the mean time I have other things to do anyway...I really appreciate the support on this...John

jem131313

Bob, I just had to clean up the carb on my LT1000. I have a B&S motor, but the carbs sound similar. I pulled mine apart and cleaned all the varnish (dried up gas and other deposits) out of the float bowl and made sure the jets were clear. Now she fires right up. If only the steering wasn't froze up...

jc56

Hey guys!I'll tell ya something I did when I starting having problems with fuel leaking thru the carb was to install a fuel shutoff valve in the fuel line.Cost like $6,took 10 minutes to install.It kinda sounded like a hassle to me turning it on and off,but no kidding,got used to it with no problem.I have a LT1000 Craftsman with 17hp Kohler and have it sitting right on top of the oil filter where you don't have to raise the hood to get to it.It's been working out for me.Maybe that will help ya out.

jem131313

Good idea JC. I know my girls motorcycle has one, and I;ve seen them at the parts house cheap. That'll solve the problem while it's in storage. but he had a sticky needle and seat problem.

dangeroustoys56

First off - change the oil- if its run with gas in the oil, itll thin it out, gall the berings and blow up the motor - clean and rebuild the carb - personally i think those antifire solenoids are nothing but trouble- i bypassed every one of mine. I added a separate shut off switch , when i go to shut it down before parking it, i shut the valve and let it run out of gas - that way theres no chance of leaking gas thru the motor.

jc56

Just thought I would follow up with a pic regarding fuel shutoff.Thought it might help.

Attached Images

 

bobwhite

Ok...I got the parts to do the carb.work.Drained the oil,added new filter and new spark plug...Put in a new needle..Now? The package came with 2 needles..One said it goes in the brass seat...Which I did..There did not appear to be any rubber seat in there..So I figured it ment what it said..Brass seat...Everything back together....Still it will not start..But it does not appear to be leaking gas through the carb. now.....So whats next you guys?...John

Bill Kapaun

Did you reconnect the fuel solenoid wire?

You might try priming it with a teaspoon of gas or a "puff" of carb cleaner to see if it will fire.

Sometimes it takes a bit to get everything purged.

dangeroustoys56

Carb kits will come with 'extra' parts - just match them up with the originals. i bot a carb kit for my twin 17HP opposed briggs - thing came with 6 carb gaskets .

Yeah id check the antifire solenoid on the carb bottom.

bobwhite

Yeah id check the antifire solenoid on the carb bottom.

How do I check that to see if it's working or not?

dangeroustoys56

Antifire solenoids are notorious for sticking - if its removed from the carb ( wire still hooked up) and its touched to a clean ground - with the key off it should be fully extened - with the key on it should be fully retracted.

Most times the needle will stick out and not retract .

bobwhite

Good morning...Ok I got the darn thing to run but runs very poorly....It is makinga hissing sound..My guess is blown head gasket? What do you guys think aout that? The engine will not rev up..Like I said,Barely runs at all....Would this have been caused by the gas in the crank case...I hope the engine is not ruined..Damn,,,I did not want to buy another this year....John

jc56

Have ya run a compression test on it???

bobwhite

i aint got no compression tester gadget.....