Why do I need fuel solenoid on B&S

[MikeC]

Got a B&S 12 hp twin with fuel problem.
Got carb kit, clean carb, put in new kit for carb and fuel pump. Same problem.
Check solenoid, got 12 volts, plunger not seized, so remove solenoid and plug hole. Everything runs fine.
So my question is What is the down side of running without solenoid? What does it do?
New one anywhere from $50 - $72 without shipping. Carb is a 404707.
Thanks, MikeC

[ol'George]

It was designed to stop Dieseling/run-on when shutting off, thus lowering overall emissions

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by MikeC

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So my question is What is the down side of running without solenoid? What does it do?

Keeps the EPA turds happy

[Merk]

It doesn't have a thing to do with emissions...Briggs figured out a system to shut fuel off to the carb so you don't have fuel/flooding problems.

I have a friend who try to start his IH 460 farm tractor last week. Barn had a fuel smell inside the building. When the tractor started the whole barn caught on fire. He has 2 degree burns on his hands and face. He lost 2 semi-grain trailers, grain cart, big 4 wheel drive trator and the IH 460 tractor.

Yes you can run without fuel solenoid.....Is your building, tractor and your life worth $72?????????????

[MikeC]

Thanks for the answers. It's not so much the money as it is about trouble shooting what is going on with the engine. Plugged it w/ brass plug, and it ran great. Ah ha I said, that's the problem, until I put a load on it. It bogged down under load, but not as much.
So I was wondering if the solenoid did more than cut emissions or stopped the dieseling.
Now I'm back to what's next. A bit stumped.

[cubby102]

Yea all it did was shut the fuel supply off. I had one on a old junker lawn mower. I cut off the plunged in and put a fuel shut off in line

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Merk

It doesn't have a thing to do with emissions...Briggs figured out a system to shut fuel off to the carb so you don't have fuel/flooding problems.

I have a friend who try to start his IH 460 farm tractor last week. Barn had a fuel smell inside the building. When the tractor started the whole barn caught on fire. He has 2 degree burns on his hands and face. He lost 2 semi-grain trailers, grain cart, big 4 wheel drive trator and the IH 460 tractor.

Yes you can run without fuel solenoid.....Is your building, tractor and your life worth $72?????????????

Sorry to hear of your friends fire, but the EPA in part, did mandate it with their requirements to be in compliance.
It lowers overall emissions by cutting the fuel on an engine that is being stopped, also tends to stop the raw fuel from being put into a hot muffler, on shutdown causing a back fire, which briggs had problems with.
It is not a "fuel shutoff" it only keeps the fuel in the carb bowel, from being sucked into the venturi.
If the float controlled needle fails to shut off, the carb will still flood and piddle gas out till the tank is depleated of fuel with or without the sol. valve.
But what do I know.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Sorry to hear of your friends fire, but the EPA in part, did mandate it with their requirements to be in compliance.
It lowers overall emissions by cutting the fuel on an engine that is being stopped, also tends to stop the raw fuel from being put into a hot muffler, on shutdown causing a back fire, which briggs had problems with.
It is not a "fuel shutoff" it only keeps the fuel in the carb bowel, from being sucked into the venturi.
If the float controlled needle fails to shut off, the carb will still flood and piddle gas out till the tank is depleated of fuel with or without the sol. valve.
But what do I know.

You got it. It only shuts off fuel to the main jet. Briggs is not the only engine with it also. I have them on my Kohlers and my Kubota gas engine.

[Merk]

Need to read this:
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/sup...re%20solenoid/
First sentence proves my point.

Reasons for backfire:
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/sup...ting+-+Repairs

Main reasons are shutting engine at high rpm, muffler and carb adjustments.

[ol'George]

I agree with the first sentence, it indeed shuts off the fuel, but only to to the venturi from the bowl.
it does not stop the fuel TO the float bowl before the needle valve.
I have one on my 806 gas that was built in '64 it was before emission requirements, it stopped the run-on that occured when shutting down an hot engine.(mostly) as they do not always shut/seat tightly
If the float controlled needle valve sticks/held open for any reason, it leaks fuel from the carb.
It is always a good practice to shut off the fuel shutoff valve under the tank on a gravity feed system
BTDT.