carb clean or replace ??

[tallen4392 71]

Good morning  my charger 12 has been used for snow removal for the last 7 or 8 years  awesome machine  all of a sudden  it is running better only when the choke is 1/4 open  when I open it all the way it starts to run rough  never happened before   should I remove carb and clean it  or try to find a new carb  the ones I see look like junk carbs where can I get a original carb ??

[ebinmaine 81,003]

Rebuilding your own is a pretty easy thing to do. It's just a matter of taking the time to clean things properly. Not at all complicated. The biggest thing to check for is, make sure the throttle shaft is not too loose in the bore.

 

@76c12091520h Brian Badman may have a rebuilt carb for you.

 

 

[702854boy 1,168]

It would be better to try to remove the original carb and clean it up since as you said the repops are junk, but if you'd rather buy a carb instead of cleaning, a couple of our vendors here such as K&B Horse Parts @76c12091520h have them for sale

Edit: @ebinmaine has faster fingers than me

Edited 8 hours ago by 702854boy

[lynnmor 9,055]

33 minutes ago, tallen4392 said:

YOU 

should remove carb and clean it

 

 

[peter lena 10,099]

@tallen4392  ever drain out clean ,your  fuel tank ?  bet you your repetitive problem starts there, years ago  did that , then installed a new flow valve , with  fuel filter  close to tank , been adding  an ounce or two of STA BIL , fuel storage additive , to  EVERY TANK TOP OFF . also  dropped carb bowl , clean out , guess what ?  also  replaced , old original  fuel  hoses , NEVER HAD ANOTHER  , FUEL DEBRIS ISSUE !  love repetitive  issues / problems ? dissect them , make a change , this issue is like , bearing lubrication failure  , what could you  possibly do ?  also  killed that years  ago , easy stuff , pete   

[ri702bill 13,242]

1 hour ago, tallen4392 said:

should I remove carb and clean it

Absolutely. The best results are achieved by disassembling the carb, soaking it in an Ultrasonic cleaner - 2 or 3 cycles, and using a quality (Kohler preferred) carb rebuild kit.

As @ebinmaine stated, check the throttle shaft and the bushings first for excessive wear. Both are replacable on your carb (unlike the lower HP versions). Then decide if it's keep it or toss it....

Worn bushings & shafts make the engine run too lean, as it makes for a large vacuum leak.

DO check the condition of the Main mix needle - it is hollow with a small hole at the top & bottom - those must be kept open, If either are clogged, the main circuit will not be able to be properly adjusted...

Edited 6 hours ago by ri702bill

[ebinmaine 81,003]

2 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

quality (Kohler preferred) carb rebuild kit.

 

Kohler has discontinued them

[ri702bill 13,242]

Some folks still have them advertised for sale - though they are very proud of them judging by the prices...

[Ed Kennell 47,693]

Check the two bolts that hold it to the block.   I just had a Briggs that needed 1/2 choke to run.    The bolts were loose permitting too much air.

[953 nut 69,932]

1 hour ago, tallen4392 said:

 all of a sudden  it is running better only when the choke is 1/4 open    Fuel starvation issue.

Sudden leads me to believe your fuel system needs to be cleaned and inspected. Junk in the tank blocking the outlet, a gas line with a crack in it allowing air in which the fuel pump can't pump, a valve in the fuel pump that is not closing. 

Before you spend money on a carburetor you probably don't need look over the whole fuel system. The carb is the final component in the system but everything before it has to be doing its part too. Cleaning the carb can't hurt but cleaning the fuel tank and replacing the rubber hose and a fuel filter don't cost much and should be done anyway.

By the way, if you are not using ethanol free gas you should be. Ethanol will kill small engine fuel systems, use this link to find E-Free Gas.   https://www.pure-gas.org/

[ebinmaine 81,003]

9 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Sudden leads me to believe your fuel system needs to be cleaned and inspected.

 

 

 

Excellent point. Always do maintenance before repairs.

[ri702bill 13,242]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

Check the two bolts that hold it to the block.   I just had a Briggs that needed 1/2 choke to run.    The bolts were loose permitting too much air.

Also check that you don't have this situation either!!

 

[702854boy 1,168]

What happened there?

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Also check that you don't have this situation either!!

 

[ri702bill 13,242]

This is typlical of what I found thruout this C81 - I named it "Good 'nuff" after the PO's attitude to "fixing" things...

[ri702bill 13,242]

2 minutes ago, 702854boy said:

What happened there?

 

The inattention of the PO ... the only reasons I bought it was that it had a gray, low hours service replacement K181 and I already has a disassembled twin to it minus the engine. Everything that was removed & reassembled to swap it was either done poorly or just flat out butchered. But, it actually ran !!

[tallen4392 71]

Thanks for all the tips I did remove and clean the tank new line and fuel filter I took the carb off will clean it tomorrow I have been using  reg gas in it since I got it 8 or 9 years ago  never a issue  I also start it once a month when it does not get used and always add stabilizer  to the gas I will see what happens this weekend when I put the carb on  Thanks

[ebinmaine 81,003]

2 minutes ago, tallen4392 said:

stabilizer

 

Just an FYI....

 

Stabilizer does NOT negate the effects of ethanol.  

 

 

3 minutes ago, tallen4392 said:

since I got it 8 or 9 years ago  

 

 

Simply a matter of time. 

You did well.