Small engine trouble

[armylifer]

When you finally get it fixed, no matter if you R&R the current carburetor or replace it, stop using ethanol. That crap is the source of most small engine fuel related issues.

The other thing to do is make sure that you turn off the fuel and let the fuel run out of the carburetor before putting it away. I do this every time with all my small engines as well as my Model T, and I have not had any carburetor issues in more than 50 years.

 

[RCW]

When you finally get it fixed, no matter if you R&R the current carburetor or replace it, stop using ethanol. That crap is the source of most small engine fuel related issues.

The other thing to do is make sure that you turn off the fuel and let the fuel run out of the carburetor before putting it away. I do this every time with all my small engines as well as my Model T, and I have not had any carburetor issues in more than 50 years.

Haven’t followed all of the thread, but I agree with @armylifer - I avoid ethanol gas for any old and/or small engines if at all possible.

Got some carburetor issues with my old Minneapolis Moline that are likely caused by my father putting e-gas in it before I got it.

After tinkering for a couple years, I finally gave up on my own Stihl FS86 Brushcutter because of e-gas. That was my fault because I wasn’t attentive to the problems e-gas can cause. Lesson learned.

Wasn’t commonly available around here for a few years but has been for quite a few years now.

 

[lugbolt]

I have a high $$$ washer, couple 8 or 9 years old now. I only wanted to buy one so I bought a good one

It too does the same thing, only cold. I sold/serviced these things for a good minute. The carbs are EPA rated (thanks to CARB and EPA), they are lean on the pilot circuit and won't really stay running until the engine is hot. Once hot, it's perfect. Mine has an auto throttle, idles down with no load. Soon as you pull the trigger to wash, it idles up. If it's not at operating temp (HOT), it will die when it's loaded and throttles up. Run it on half choke at idle for a while & let it warm up. Problem solved. Inconvenient but I've gotten used to it. I don't bother with trying to richen up the pilot circuit in the carb; if I do that I also have to play with the idle mixture and main circuit-neither of which are adjustable so I'd have to make it adjustable, which entails a whole lot of other things (drilling, etc). Just ain't worth it to me.

may be an issue on yours too. If OHV have you checked the valve clearance? It'll make a difference. Also if it surges when running, it's entirely possible that you have an air leak (aka vacuum leak), so you might look at that too.