How much fuel should my 100 be using?

Stitch · #1 12-09-2009, 01:57 PM

It came to my attention while plowing snow that my tractor wasn't losing fuel, it just burns through it. It took me about a half gallon to drive 200 yards down gravel, and I used nearly a gallon plowing a small piece of my drive today (although the snow was deep and I was working it really hard). My first thought was to smell the oil I just put in, and it didn't smell like gas at all, plus the color and viscosity was the way it should be. Should it use this much gas?

Stitch · #2 12-09-2009, 04:35 PM

I figured it was going to use a lot of gas pushing snow, but using that much just driving up the road seemed off. What may cause this? Carb need rebuilt?

rmunro · #3 12-09-2009, 04:51 PM

If it's not blowing tons of black smoke, collecting in the oil then it has to be one of three things, or a combination

1) It's leaking.

2) It ran for long,long time plus the little trip.

3) Or you calculation on amount of fuel used isn't right

My bet is on a leak.

Stitch · #4 12-09-2009, 06:47 PM

I don't think it's any of those. I started it right up and headed down the road, so it wasn't running for a long time, and no smoke whatsoever. My first thought was a leak too, but unless it only leaks while it's running (totally possible), that's not it. I parked it on a clean piece if cardboard for a week and there wasn't a drop on it, I even let it idle for a couple minutes here and there, and nothing. The fuel amounts are rough estimates, but I have been using a one gallon can, so I'd be willing to bet I'm pretty close!

Matt G. · #5 12-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Something is not adding up here. If it really used half a gallon of gas to go 200 yards, then the tractor is consuming 4.54 gallons per mile by your estimate, or 0.22 miles per gallon. The biggest, heaviest, most gas-guzzling big-block V8-powered car uses less fuel to go the same distance.

Short answer: There is NO WAY your K241 is using that much fuel.

Stitch · #6 12-10-2009, 06:38 PM

The darn thing leaks whenever it feels like it! It sat there for weeks and didn't lose a drop (and yeah, there was gas in it). Between yesterday and today, it lost prolly a half gallon on the floor. It appears to be leaking out of the float housing (that is what the black round bell on the bottom of the carb is, right?). There's a place in DSM that will rebuild the carb for $70 bucks, I could do it myself, but for that I may just have them do it and save me the headache. I still don't understand why it only leaks sometyimes though.

Anyway, thanks guys!

wshytle · #7 12-10-2009, 07:08 PM

All you need is a $12 or so kit (the sponsors will have them) and an hour and you can easily rebuild the carb. The hardest part of the rebuild will be getting the carb off of the engine and that's pretty easy in itself. It sounds like your float needle valve is sticking open letting the fuel flow. Everything you need to fix this is in the kit. I think there are 7 pieces including the gaskets. $70 for a rebuild probably includes butterfly and shaft work which really isn't necessary unless the carb is in real bad shape. I have bought complete carbs for less money.

I think it would be worth your time to give it a try.

Just my .02 worth once more.

Yosemite Sam · #8 12-10-2009, 10:11 PM

Sounds like the needle is sticking or the float is sinking...

I just ordered a carb kit from NAPA day before yesterday $8.37 plus tax. Normally takes overnight to get Kohler parts from NAPA.