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4/7/2014 10:26:17 AM EDT
Toro 140cc mower engine left over the winter with ethanol gas in it.  No start at all unless I squirt some starting fluid in it.

I've replaced the gas with etha free high test gas and ensured that the gas tank screen is clear, gas drains freely from the tank.  I've taken the carb off and ensured there is no blockage of the gas tank hose to the carb.

Starts right up with starting fluid or carb cleaner but won't stay lit.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
4/7/2014 10:28:14 AM EDT
[#1]
There's a bunch of things I guess.  How's the carb's diaphragm?  Spark plugs?

ETA:

How long does it run before it dies?
4/7/2014 10:29:52 AM EDT
[#2]
The carburetor is probably gummed up.   It needs to be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt.
4/7/2014 10:33:17 AM EDT
[#3]
Friend just had similar problem, replaced fuel line which got all gummed up, otherwise clean the carb.
4/8/2014 5:43:37 AM EDT
[#4]
Must have been a piece of crap: I took the carb apart and the float assembly and sprayed carb cleaner in the float orific and plunger assembly.  Started right up after reassembly and stayed lit with no starting fluid used.  

Thanks for the help!
4/8/2014 5:45:45 AM EDT
[#5]
4/8/2014 5:46:43 AM EDT
[#6]
I swear I've seen more people with small engine carb problems in the last three or four years than in the thirty prior.
4/8/2014 5:51:00 AM EDT
[#7]
Tis the season!  If it's that bad you probably need to do a quick carb cleaning.  It's simple.  Just make sure you don't have any extra parts left over when you're done.  



Drain all the gas from the thing and when you refill with your freshly cleaned carb in place add a bunch of Seafoam to the gasoline.  It will do wonders on cleaning up the remaining varnish.  Don't fall for the snake oil claims that it will clean a carburetor on it's own.  



Next fall run your mower until it's out of gas and you won't have this problem again.  
4/8/2014 5:52:20 AM EDT
[#8]
I see you already switched to Non Ethanol gas. That is all I will run in my mowers and out door equipment.

Ethanol in gas is evil.
4/8/2014 5:55:08 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:
I swear I've seen more people with small engine carb problems in the last three or four years than in the thirty prior.
View Quote


Long term storage leads to nasty things like phase separation and I assume a lot of carbs have corrosion issues from the ethanol as well.
4/8/2014 5:56:09 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:


Long term storage leads to nasty things like phase separation and I assume a lot of carbs have corrosion issues from the ethanol as well.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I swear I've seen more people with small engine carb problems in the last three or four years than in the thirty prior.


Long term storage leads to nasty things like phase separation and I assume a lot of carbs have corrosion issues from the ethanol as well.



This and next time add Seafoam to it.
4/8/2014 5:57:28 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote History
Quoted:
Tis the season!  If it's that bad you probably need to do a quick carb cleaning.  It's simple.  Just make sure you don't have any extra parts left over when you're done.  

Drain all the gas from the thing and when you refill with your freshly cleaned carb in place add a bunch of Seafoam to the gasoline.  It will do wonders on cleaning up the remaining varnish.  Don't fall for the snake oil claims that it will clean a carburetor on it's own.  

Next fall run your mower until it's out of gas and you won't have this problem again.  
View Quote


The landscape company I just invested in, they use seafoam in all of their mower gas cans, said it saves him thousands on maintenance and man hours every year.
4/8/2014 5:59:29 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Quoted:
I see you already switched to Non Ethanol gas. That is all I will run in my mowers and out door equipment.

Ethanol in gas is evil.
View Quote


Even with regular gas you want to run the carb empty before you put it away.
4/8/2014 6:01:34 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:
Must have been a piece of crap: I took the carb apart and the float assembly and sprayed carb cleaner in the float orific and plunger assembly.  Started right up after reassembly and stayed lit with no starting fluid used.  

Thanks for the help!
View Quote

Cool, now take one more step to prevent problems in the future.  Install a fuel shutoff valve, and always run the carburetor dry before putting the lawnmower away.  I started doing this several years ago and I haven't had an ethanol related carburetor problem since.  Here is the valve I'm talking about:  http://www.jackssmallengines.com/Parts-Lookup/120212/54098/ps?gclid=CJeMsI-G0b0CFchFMgodhSMAWA