WH 312-8 Not Starting…Rebuild Carb?

[Ryan C 4]

Took my wheel horse 312-8 (1993?) out last week and wouldn’t start on me. Long story short I had a bad battery and what seemed like a bad starter. Replaced both and took out my carb to clean everything up. Was getting better juice and seems like it wanted to start but still nothing. Thought I cleaned the carb pretty good with carb cleaner and compressed air but still no start. I replaced the fuel line going into the carb, and confirmed the fuel pump is delivering fuel appropriately. Spark plug is also good. This was my first time taking apart the carb and putting it back together so I think I put everything back right but maybe not? Any advice or suggestions for a new carb?

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,137]

Try a new and correctly gapped spark plug. If it does not correct the problem remove it and save for the next time.

[ri702bill 11,770]

Carb - it is better to rebuild an OE carb than roll the dice on a Chinesium knock-off one. Not many of those yield "good as new" results...

[wallfish 19,721]

After a carb cleaning it will take a little time cranking to fill the bowl before it can start.

Remove the air cleaner cover and shoot a squirt of carb cleaner into the carb throat. If it fires right up, the issue you have is fuel related. If it doesn't, it's spark related. 

Safety switches can cut ignition 

 

[oliver2-44 11,376]

39 minutes ago, wallfish said:

After a carb cleaning it will take a little time cranking to fill the bowl before it can start.

Remove the air cleaner cover and shoot a squirt of carb cleaner into the carb throat. If it fires right up, the issue you have is fuel related. If it doesn't, it's spark related. 

Safety switches can cut ignition 

 

Stick with the squirt of carb cleaner in the intake. Don't use starting fluid it can hurt your small engine.

if it doesn't start with the carb cleaner buy a "good" spark checker, something like this. ot one of the cheap knock off kind. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XD64QN3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

[953 nut 65,152]

7 hours ago, Ryan C said:

Thought I cleaned the carb pretty good with carb cleaner and compressed air

 

Have you been using gasoline with ethanol added,  if so STOP, that junk will mess up your fuel system.  Recreational gas will cost a bit more but it will keep you from having fuel related problems. This site will help you find non-ethanol gas in your area. https://www.pure-gas.org/

Carburetors on small engines have several extremely small passages that can become clogged. Dipping it in a can of Carburetor Cleaner is the preferred method.

This thread is well worth reading, the engine may not be the same but the steps to be taken are.

 

[ri702bill 11,770]

Tecumseh carbs have a built-in weak spot. The non removable low circuit emulsion tube with a steel check ball. Once that ball rusts in place - NO idle circuit. Sometimes a soak in penetrating oil will free it up, but not often...