Odd choke problem, not sure what to check next
 

My QL 1000 has been running great since I got it and replaced plug, points, and condenser a couple of months ago. I mowed yesterday, and it ran perfect when I parked it. Today before I started it, I hosed off the deck, and the back tires and up under the back fenders.

When I went to start it, at first I forgot to turn the gas on, which I've done before. After I turned the gas on, it started right up, but sputtered alot, and now it won't run if I push the choke completely back in. Usually I can shut the choke off right after it starts, but now I have to leave it pulled out about 1/4 to 3/8 inch, or it sputters and stalls.

I thought something had gotten wet, so I waited a couple of hours, let the fan blow on it for a while. I checked the plug and it seems to be burning clean. I shined a light in the gas tank, and do not see any water or dirt. I checked for loose electrical connections. I tried taking the air cleaner off. I took the gas cap off in case the vent was blocked. I rode it around and warmed it up good. The engine did not even seem to have much water splashed on it from the hose, but it's still running like a wet dog.

Anyway, I'm not sure what to check next. I thought maybe I got the wiring harness or something wet. Or maybe a piece of dirt from the bowl got sucked into a jet when I turned it over with the gas valve off. Seems odd since it's been running so well. Not sure if the hosing caused it, or if that's a coincidence.

Any ideas ????

Josh P

I think you have a piece of dirt/ gunk caught in the needle and seat..you might be able to clear it out by light tapping on the carb were the fuel line fitting is with a hard plastic screw driver handle. You may have dislodged the piece by shutting on and off the fuel, if you are not currently running one, I would add a cheap inline fuel filter between the tank and carb! I would think if what I suspect is the problem is in fact correct, it would be a very tiny piece caught in the needle and seat, if it were large, you would have gas pouring out of the carb and severe flooding, sounds as if you flooding problem is very minor (pulling the choke will cause the engine to more easily burn the excess fuel from minor flooding)! I think the tapping method should work, worst case senario would require removing the fuel bowl and cleaning the needle and seat manually using compressed air and/ or carb cleaner.

Good luck, hope this helps!

Back in business
 

Excellent advice Jeff, you were dead on. It took me two tries. I was thinking I was gonna have to pull the bowl off, but I grabbed a screwdriver with a little harder plastic handle, and tapped a little harder, hit the throttle, and she's back to purring like a kitten.

I do need to get a fuel filter on there. The PO replaced the tank, and rigged up his own fuel line and fittings. He did a decent job, but the vertical rubber line going from a 90 degree fitting to the carb is barely 2", and the inline filter I got for it a while back is way to big to fit. Not yet sure if I can find something small enough to work with that setup. If anyone has any ideas, please post it.

Thanks again,

Josh P

Glad it worked out for you, I haven't had that problem with a mower before, but had it happen several times on sb chevy's....but the symptoms you posted, lead me to believe that was your problem. I have used the small lawn mower gas filters, most of the time the ones I get are red in color, they are very small, I am guessing off top of my head, but am thinking they only require removing about 1/2" of fuel line to get them in place. You could order a new tank shut off valve, I got one from Patton Acres for around $10, and replumb your fuel system. The shut off vavles he has have a screen that goes inside the tank to catch larger pieces of sediment, the small filter would catch the rest. I usually change out the small filters on my equipment spring and fall, they are cheap (around $2.00 or less), they have barbed fittings on them and if your fuel lines are in good shape, they fit tight enough that they don't require any clamps(since they fit tightly in the fuel line, they are a bit of a pain to get them off, though)!

http://www.amazon.com/Fuel-Line-Repa.../dp/B000V9AIIE

Thx Jeff. Do those red filters look like these? I saw some red ones similar to these ones for alot cheaper. They look like they don't take up too much room.

Josh P

one of the long time members here posted something recently about making sure you get a fuel filter specified as meant for gravity feed. Just something to consider, it makes sense because a lot of filters you will find at the auto parts store are used in a system with a fuel pump.

Just mentioning because I was having fuel delivery issues with my cub after installing an inline filter I got from the parts store and was stumped. Took the filter out and it runs like a champ.

The ones I found like in the link above advertise as for engines without a fuel pump. I found red ones which are 150 microns, and white ones which are 75 microns. I need to figure out which is best. I'm sure too restrictive a filter could cause problems.

JP