Adjusting Carberator "under load"

[scotsman]

Hey everyone..
im new to the hobby! only a couple years..
I have very little experience with engines, but im learning!

I subscribed to "Cadet Connection" magazine about a year ago, and I also ordered the back-issues for issues #1 and #2..

So just now I was leafing through issue #2 (Winter 2002) and I came across the article on Carburetor Adjustment, which says:

3. After letting the engine reach operating temperature, adjust the throttle up and check the response, Now place the engine under full load and adjust as needed.

4. If the engine hesitates, backfires, or misses under full load the high speed adjustment screw needs to be turned counterclockwise 1/4" at a time until the engine runs smooth. (The engine was running too lean)

(and there is more to the article, I didn't post it all)

Question..How do you put the engine "under full load" when its just sitting in your driveway? not even moving? I do not understand..

Can anyone explain?

thanks!
Scot

[_DX3_]

Engage your deck. That is what I do.

[scotsman]

Originally Posted by _DX3_

Engage your deck. That is what I do.

Ah, ok thanks..that would be enough of a load?
by "full load" I guess I was thinking "heavy load" or "nearly maximum load"..
like mowing while wheels turning, or snow plowing, or something really working the machine hard...but just *any* load will do then?

This relates to a carb issue I am having on another machine..
im working on adjusting the carb on a 1971 Ariens snowblower..
it stalls out "under load", while actually being used to "blow snow"..

But when I work on the carb, there usually isnt any snow handy, so I don't really have any way to test it "under load", so I have never been sure if the carb is properly adjusted or not..until a day like today, when it snows, and I found out is *isnt* very well adjusted after all..

So if I didnt have any snow, would just engaging the augers be enough to adjust the carb "under load"? I guess I was thinking the load needed to be much more "full" than that..a real "working full load"..but perhaps not? good to know!

thanks,
Scot

[_DX3_]

Yeah, engage the augers. It would be pretty much impossible to adjust a carb while actually working the implement. You are simply wanting to put the engine into a working condition, instead of just idling, even if you have the throttle opened up.

[Mike McKown]

I'm not sure if it's been made clear, you have to open the throttle all the way up to make the engine work against the governor, then adjust your carburetor after you have engaged whatever it is the engine is driving. Mower deck, augers, etc.