Engine will not keep running!

[LouM 3]

Hi, I'm a new member and first time posting. I have a Wheel Horse 312-8 from the mid-90's that I had since new. The tractor has been very well maintained and always stored indoors. I brought the tractor down to Southwest florida where we moved to and it sat for about 2 years. I recently put a new battery fresh fuel but the only way to keep it bearly running is if I choke it using the palm of my hands so it draws in enough fuel. I replaced the fuel pump and didn't help. I removed the carburetor took it apart to clean using a cleaning kit and compressed air then put it all back together and it's doing the same thing. The engine is a M12S Kohler. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.  

[rjg854 12,156]

Drag a dollar bill thru the points 

[ineedanother 1,668]

Disconnect the fuel line from the carb and turn the motor over to be sure you are pumping fuel. If you are and you're getting good spark, you still have a dirty carb or it is way out of adjustment.

[Ed Kennell 41,800]

11 minutes ago, ineedanother said:

Disconnect the fuel line from the carb and turn the motor over to be sure you are pumping fuel. 

                         If it is NOT pumping fuel, disconnect the fuel line at the bottom of the tank to see if you have fuel.    The screen on the petcock inside the tank may be blocked.

[953 nut 59,779]

1 hour ago, LouM said:

I removed the carburetor took it apart to clean using a cleaning kit and compressed air then put it all back together

The passages in a carburetor are very small and you probably will have good results if you soak it for a day or two. If you had been using gas with ethanol that would leave deposits that won't be removed any other way. Once you get it running be sure to only use ethanol-free gas, use this website to find a station that sells it. https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[LouM 3]

Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to try and get some and soak for a couple days, hopefully it will help. Thank you 

[kpinnc 14,584]

Before going to that extent I have an alternate suggestion, not that rebuilding the carb isn't a good idea. 

 

But a short term fix may be to simply drop the carb sediment bowl and clean it out. Also the long fuel line from the fuel tank may need replacing. Of course you'll know when you do as @Ed Kennell suggested. Those strainers in the bottom of the tank are known to rust completely shut. 

 

But anyways, my old Magnum engine powered 310-8 was notorious for getting accumulated condensation in the sediment bowl (or sucked up from the tank on the first start) after a winter nap. It's a southern thing I guess with the crazy humid climate. 

Edited June 16 by kpinnc

[oliver2-44 10,688]

1 hour ago, kpinnc said:

It's a southern thing I guess with the crazy humid climate. 

Central Texas Included!  I just had to pulled the bowl on my C160 clean water out.  Pulled the tank and dumped it in a 5 gallon bucket. Probable 2-3 tea spoons of water in it. I've used ethanol free gas and stored in garage.   Its probable been 4 years since I pulled the tank.

[953 nut 59,779]

12 hours ago, kpinnc said:

accumulated condensation in the sediment bowl (or sucked up from the tank on the first start) after a winter nap. It's a southern thing I guess with the crazy humid climate. 

 

11 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

I just had to pulled the bowl on my C160 clean water out.  Pulled the tank and dumped it in a 5 gallon bucket. Probable 2-3 tea spoons of water in it. I've used ethanol free gas and stored in garage.

That is why I use Sta-Bil Storage additive in every drop of non-ethanol gas I buy for the Wheel Horses and always maintain a full fuel tank. After I had my stroke everything sat unused for a year or more and ran like it never happened.        

Edited June 16 by 953 nut
fat finger

[Horse Newbie 7,395]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

That is why I use Sta-Bil Storage additive in every drop of non-ethanol gas

I do the same …

[Bill D 2,246]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

 

That is why I use Sta-Bil Storage additive in every drop of non-ethanol gas I buy for the Wheel Horses and always maintain a full fuel tank. After I had my stroke everything sat unused for a year or more and ran like it never happened.        

Same here.  When I fill up my cans the first couple of gallons go in the car.  This flushes any ethanol out of the pipes. 

[kpinnc 14,584]

2 hours ago, Bill D said:

When I fill up my cans the first couple of gallons go in the car.  This flushes any ethanol out of the pipes. 

 

Same here. Always a good plan.