C-175 / KT17-Series I Carb Cleaning

[boovuc 1,090]

Near the end of the year, my snowblower machine, the C-175 with the Series I KT was acting up. It ran well at high RPM but was again sloppy, surging and searching at mid RPM and Idle. I started it a few times since the snows stopped and AFTER I had changed out the condenser and cleaned the points. I thought I had it fixed. Today, I fired it up again to run until hot and it was acting up again. Tore it down to get to the main jet needle and found a light reddish rust all over it and right at the point of the needle. I had just cleaned this up before the snow flew last fall and it was back again. I'm going to blame it on not being used often and being put away hot covered with snow in a cold environment.

Last year, when it acted the same exact way at medium RPM and idle, it was an intake manifold leak that required all new gaskets.

 

I fired it up later this evening and ran it around for a half hour and it is running great. It's amazing how this engine can show this issue but have it be three or four different fixes individually or maybe several at the same time. 

(Condenser/points, leaking throttle shaft on carb, leaking intake manifold, dirty carb/needle valve and seat).

 

 

[tunahead72 2,581]

Hmm...

 

Are you running this machine on the same fuel that was in the tank at the end of snowblowing season?

 

Have you removed the carb for a complete and thorough cleaning?

 

Do you have a fuel filter installed?

 

And how are the fuel lines?

[boovuc 1,090]

In order Tuna..................

 

I siphon the fuel out of the tank and run the gas out of the lines at the end of the season and once or twice thru Spring and Summer. (Tanks are always full).

 

I have had, (count em'), three carbs on this motor and two complete removals and cleanings since I have owned it which is over 20 years. (I have another one in reserve just in case with a new kit).

 

Fuel filter has been on it since new and they are changed every year before the season. (Mowing season when it was my main mower and now winter).

 

New fuel lines twice and a new tank valve. (Screen is long removed before I bought it).

 

Also a new fuel pump rebuild and I still need to add a check valve in the line due to hard starts when it sits. (And this may be contributing to the needle valve/orifice plugging since the gasoline is draining back into the tank).

 

I have always had "icing" on the intake manifold even some with the manifold heater attached when it's cool or cold. No leaks. Just the nature of the KT series and why they added the manifold heater to begin with. I'm going to guess this tractor has between 1500 and 2000 hours on it with one top-end rebuild in it's life. (No smoke or oil burning and seemingly good compression based on the spark plug life and plug tip appearance). I just think it's funny that the one BIG complaint of this machine which is the first WH I ever owned has always been it acting up on idle and mid RPM. The reason for my post was to simply state all the "fixes" that have cleared up the same issue. And back then, it was my only tractor so it was used year round.

 

The next time it acts up, I'm going to do all of them at the same time and see how long it goes. It was fine last winter with the exception of March when it started to not idle down without choking and keeping the RPM's up a little.