Multiple problems on the "O"

[drglinski]

Yup, Lew hit it on the head. I'm betting your engine running problems are due to the fuel tank being mounted backwards. Mine was on backwards when I got it (the 147) and it experienced the same problems. Turning it around and shortening the fuel line helped.

[ricks]

Well, I re-ran the gas line so it's flowing downhill to the carb. It still does the same thing it did before. I did manage to fix the gas leak though. Now I can turn the heater back on. Although today temps are in the fortys, so both doors are open, no need for the heater. As I mentioned in my earlier post that there won't be any snow by the time I get this fixed, it will soon be time to cut grass.
I'm really leaning towards some type of timing issue. Will the engine still idle if it's not timed correctly, or if it's off by a little? It seems to be searching when I advance the throttle. Almost as if it were being choked out. When I do get it to a higher rpm, it bucks, and backfires. And I can return it to the idle position and it will purr like it was brand new. Am I looking at replacing a worn part somewhere?
Oh, and I can't seem to download Matt G.'s site for static timing or carb rebuilds. Is it just my ignorant computer skills? I'm really in a furough here.

[Methos]

Have you checked to see if you had a blown head gasket yet? I went thru the same sort of problems and turned out it was a blown head gasket. I got really good at setting the static timing and carb rebuilds tho.

[jbrewer]

Originally Posted by Methos

Have you checked to see if you had a blown head gasket yet? I went thru the same sort of problems and turned out it was a blown head gasket. I got really good at setting the static timing and carb rebuilds tho.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

John

[jbrewer]

I'd probably rebuild the carb. It's easy to do, and even if it's not THE problem it probably needs to be done anyway.

John

[mmzullo]

Also make sure your point push rod is not worn out. I bought an O the PO said it ran fine but when he tuned it up it would ran like crap.Turns out the pin was 2 or 3 hundred thous shorter then a new 1. It was aluminum. So I got a good used 1 and it ran like a top.
Also make sure the pin hole just past the throttle shaft is not clogged. I bet this is it. I've had this a couple times.

[JayJay]

I've heard reports that a bad condenser can cause the same symptoms --backfiring and rough running off-idle with little power at higher rpms (when you can get the engine to give them to you). High speed needle clogged up, hole by choke plate blocked, general crud in the main jet and passages as mentioned above all seem to cause the same (or similar) symptoms. If the head gasket is leaking, you can usually see evidence of oil leaking around the head. Let us know what you find.

[ricks]

NOT. Well after days of tearing apart, and putting back together each problem, I was able to zero in on THE problem. I believe Methos suggested that the head gasket was blown. Close. The three head bolts that have part of the shroud mounted to it weren't tightened down. And I couldn't see that until i took off the shroud. The timing was off by a little bit, only because I was going off an errant mark on the flywheel I thought was a timing mark. That's how I discovered the loose head bolts. I needed to take the flywheel off and re-mark the the "t" and "s". They were so full of crud. More distinguished now. It took a couple min. to get it going, but it runs like a top. Gotta love those cast iron engines. It idles so smoothly. Sure, now that spring is here and there's no more snow to plow. Oh well. At least it'll be ready for grass duty.
Thank you to those who offered advice. I'm amazed at how one brand of tractor can have so many faithful intelligent followers. Thank you again.

[ACecil]

Glad you got your cub straightened out!

[ricks]

Thanks Allen.