Hello! I've watched this video and your previous one in helping me clean my carb from the same mower that I inherited (so I'm not the original owner). The motor was starting but was surging so I decided to clean the carb to see if that would fix the issue. Upon inspecting the needle, it doesn't seem original, nor the factory needle. It has a 'viton' coating, which looks like a red oxide coating on the tip. After cleaning, it wouldn't start. I don't have an ultra sonic cleaner, but I shot carb cleaner through every orifice I could find. One other problem that I can't fix right now is a new primer bulb (on order). However, I've been able to start it without priming in the past. Do you suppose it's the wrong needle that's causing the issue? probably not sealing and flooding? Or the opposite and sticking? Or should I wait until the primer bulb arrives? God knows how long that will take right now. Hah, sorry for the brain vomit but typing out loud is helping me brainstorm.
Scott, when I was waiting for my bulb to arrive- I would use a turkey baster to blow air in the hole where the bulb is. That would let me get it started. You can also put a rag in the intake and pull it a time or two. That would suck some gas from the bowl. Take out the rag and try to start it. I would try either of those- or wait for the bulb before going further on the needle. As for the tip on the needle- mine has a rubber tip as well. It's black in my case- but I've seen red/orange too. Make sure the hole for the needle is squeaky clean. I use a q-tip with cleaner to clean the hole. You can also chuck it in a drill and do it that way. If it's not shutting off- you should be able to pull the plug to see if it's wet. That would be an indicator. If it's not opening, try "tapping" on the bowl with the handle of a screw driver. If you have it in your hand with an empty bowl, you can turn it over and feel or hear the float moving. It won't tell you if it's sealing- but you'll know it's not stuck. In any case- dry the plug if it's wet and check for spark. Let me know how it goes! G.
@@ghostses Well, here's the status so far (lol): I installed the new primer bulb. The worst part about the whole carb clean is getting the primer tube back on the carb. It has to make a pretty sharp turn underneath the white governor flap. I feel like it's half kinked, but it's the only way that it will not interfere with the governor. New spark plug. It was getting decent spark before but it was cheap so what the hay. Now it's getting good spark so I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the ignition coil either, which I have heard is a common issue. I installed a new valve and seat. I was worried that the old one wasn't closing and therefore flooding, but the new one is definitely closing nicely. Since I had the carb opened for the tenth time, I made sure every nook and cranny was clean. I pulled out the main jet and that's squeaky clean too. The only thing I can surmise is that's it's an air/fuel ratio problem still? I feel like I may have inadvertently messed up the governor spring tension, however, I feel like this wouldn't prevent it from starting. I can't imagine there's a compression issue, but I don't have a pressure gauge to measure it either.
I really wish reply's to comments would go to the top on the list Scott. It's a real pain to keep track of a dialogue. I just happened to see you post while replying to others in the same manner. You have good spark- good! The spring shouldn't prevent it from starting- like you've said. As for compression without a tester- pull the plug and stick your finger in the hole and have someone pull the cord. You should feel and hear a "sphhssh" as it turns over. Not scientific but will give some input. Ground the plug wire so you don't get a jolt! Aside from that, There is a shear key on the flywheel that will shear to protect the engine. If it is sheared- the timing will be off and it won't start. Dig online for info on that. Keep me posted. I'm fixing it with you! G.
Is that a two stroke Lawn Boy? Seems like when they went from magnesium decks to stamped out sheet metal and from two stroke to four stroke engines they became Lawn Boys in name only.
It's a two stroke with a stamped deck Lee. I think I purchased this one in 2002. It's been a good machine and I can't believe it's still running good. Over all that time, it got a new primer bulb, coil, drive cable, and new drive wheels. It's still running the original plug...lol.
Ha! Years ago, I took my old Lawn Boy to a local LB enthusiast because it would not start. He determined that it was a bad float. I watched him install a new float, and put it in upside down! I quietly and politely mentioned that to him. “No, I’ve done 100’s of these.” Guess what? It wouldn’t start because the float was upside down! Ha!
One would think I would've Mac. I certainly would've found the problem way before now had that been the case. I put in a little fuel and immediately fire it up to mow. If the needle wasn't fully seating I guess the consumption may have been staying ahead of it with it running. It makes me wonder if the engine being warm when it was put away was evaporating what little was left that might have made it past. I don't put much in it, so any head pressure would have been fairly low I would think. Who knows... Take care, G.
Hello! I've watched this video and your previous one in helping me clean my carb from the same mower that I inherited (so I'm not the original owner). The motor was starting but was surging so I decided to clean the carb to see if that would fix the issue. Upon inspecting the needle, it doesn't seem original, nor the factory needle. It has a 'viton' coating, which looks like a red oxide coating on the tip. After cleaning, it wouldn't start. I don't have an ultra sonic cleaner, but I shot carb cleaner through every orifice I could find. One other problem that I can't fix right now is a new primer bulb (on order). However, I've been able to start it without priming in the past. Do you suppose it's the wrong needle that's causing the issue? probably not sealing and flooding? Or the opposite and sticking? Or should I wait until the primer bulb arrives? God knows how long that will take right now. Hah, sorry for the brain vomit but typing out loud is helping me brainstorm.
Scott, when I was waiting for my bulb to arrive- I would use a turkey baster to blow air in the hole where the bulb is. That would let me get it started. You can also put a rag in the intake and pull it a time or two. That would suck some gas from the bowl. Take out the rag and try to start it. I would try either of those- or wait for the bulb before going further on the needle.
As for the tip on the needle- mine has a rubber tip as well. It's black in my case- but I've seen red/orange too. Make sure the hole for the needle is squeaky clean. I use a q-tip with cleaner to clean the hole. You can also chuck it in a drill and do it that way.
If it's not shutting off- you should be able to pull the plug to see if it's wet. That would be an indicator.
If it's not opening, try "tapping" on the bowl with the handle of a screw driver.
If you have it in your hand with an empty bowl, you can turn it over and feel or hear the float moving. It won't tell you if it's sealing- but you'll know it's not stuck.
In any case- dry the plug if it's wet and check for spark.
Let me know how it goes! G.
@@ghostses thank you so much!
No problem Scott! Do let me know what you find. G.
@@ghostses Well, here's the status so far (lol):
I installed the new primer bulb. The worst part about the whole carb clean is getting the primer tube back on the carb. It has to make a pretty sharp turn underneath the white governor flap. I feel like it's half kinked, but it's the only way that it will not interfere with the governor.
New spark plug. It was getting decent spark before but it was cheap so what the hay. Now it's getting good spark so I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the ignition coil either, which I have heard is a common issue.
I installed a new valve and seat. I was worried that the old one wasn't closing and therefore flooding, but the new one is definitely closing nicely. Since I had the carb opened for the tenth time, I made sure every nook and cranny was clean. I pulled out the main jet and that's squeaky clean too.
The only thing I can surmise is that's it's an air/fuel ratio problem still? I feel like I may have inadvertently messed up the governor spring tension, however, I feel like this wouldn't prevent it from starting. I can't imagine there's a compression issue, but I don't have a pressure gauge to measure it either.
I really wish reply's to comments would go to the top on the list Scott. It's a real pain to keep track of a dialogue. I just happened to see you post while replying to others in the same manner.
You have good spark- good!
The spring shouldn't prevent it from starting- like you've said.
As for compression without a tester- pull the plug and stick your finger in the hole and have someone pull the cord. You should feel and hear a "sphhssh" as it turns over. Not scientific but will give some input. Ground the plug wire so you don't get a jolt!
Aside from that, There is a shear key on the flywheel that will shear to protect the engine. If it is sheared- the timing will be off and it won't start. Dig online for info on that.
Keep me posted. I'm fixing it with you! G.
That proves it when they say it happens to the BEST of us.
Very true Hank! G.
I had to chuckle, I am guilty, we all learn form our mistakes. LOL
Very true Dev! Take care, G.
Is that a two stroke Lawn Boy? Seems like when they went from magnesium decks to stamped out sheet metal and from two stroke to four stroke engines they became Lawn Boys in name only.
It's a two stroke with a stamped deck Lee. I think I purchased this one in 2002. It's been a good machine and I can't believe it's still running good. Over all that time, it got a new primer bulb, coil, drive cable, and new drive wheels. It's still running the original plug...lol.
Ha! Years ago, I took my old Lawn Boy to a local LB enthusiast because it would not start. He determined that it was a bad float. I watched him install a new float, and put it in upside down! I quietly and politely mentioned that to him. “No, I’ve done 100’s of these.” Guess what? It wouldn’t start because the float was upside down! Ha!
At least I only did it once...lol G.
Surprised you didn’t have problems these past two years even with only putting a little fuel in the tank. Oh well, live and learn.
One would think I would've Mac. I certainly would've found the problem way before now had that been the case. I put in a little fuel and immediately fire it up to mow. If the needle wasn't fully seating I guess the consumption may have been staying ahead of it with it running. It makes me wonder if the engine being warm when it was put away was evaporating what little was left that might have made it past. I don't put much in it, so any head pressure would have been fairly low I would think. Who knows... Take care, G.