1450 issues

[Green03TJ]

Having some issues with my 1450, sure hope y'all can help.

Did a tune up a few days ago, installed new plug, points, and a Pointsaver for Kirk engines. After a long struggle to find the timing marks, I finally got the engine timed per the pointsaver instructions and started cutting grass. I was happy as could be with how good it was running. But then half an hour or so in it started cutting out real bad under load. Would barely run at full throttle.
So far I've verified timing and spark plug gap, cleaned out the sediment bowl on the carb, pulled the high speed needle to clean it and reinstall at factory settings, and checked wiring and grounds. Still the same story even when engine is cool.

Here's a video of what its doing.

Cub cadet 1450 issues: https://youtu.be/-KlgbdhTs-c

Sorry I'm not good with hot links.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

[dvogtvpe]

take the point saver off and put a condenser on,

[Green03TJ]

Originally Posted by dvogtvpe

take the point saver off and put a condenser on,

Be glad to try it if you think that's the problem. Not arguing, but I was under the impression that the guy behind the pointsaver and his products were pretty well regarded? Not arguing, just asking.

[Darrell]

Originally Posted by dvogtvpe

take the point saver off and put a condenser on,

Why ???? Not saying you are wrong , just curious.

I have had a few mowers that did that and the high speed needle was set to rich. I would try to adjust that and see what happens. I seen some black smoke from your exhaust. Is it spitting fuel out of the carb. ??

Try to screw the needle in some and see if it will go to WOT and then adjust it to get the best setting. Factory setting is just a starting point.

Couldn't hurt to try.

[Green03TJ]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Why ???? Not saying you are wrong , just curious.

I have had a few mowers that did that and the high speed needle was set to rich. I would try to adjust that and see what happens. I seen some black smoke from your exhaust. Is it spitting fuel out of the carb. ??

Try to screw the needle in some and see if it will go to WOT and then adjust it to get the best setting. Factory setting is just a starting point.

Couldn't hurt to try.

I'll try that. I assumed the black smoke was from when it cut out it was loading up on fuel, but now that you mention it I may have seen some fuel spitting out of carb. I'm just always paranoid about going too lean.

[Darrell]

If you screw the high speed needle in enough and it starts and will go to WOT , start to richen the needle until it starts cutting out and then slowly screw the needle in until it starts cutting out and then back it out until it smooths out.

Somewhere in the middle of lean/rich will be a sweet spot. If you are paranoid about setting it to lean , once it smooths out , richen the needle SLIGHTLY and run it for awhile and then check your plug to see if you have a lean rich mixture.

To lean is not good !!

[Green03TJ]

OK so I had a day off work today and tried your suggestion of leaning out the fuel mixture. Seemed to be helping, was finally able to get it to run decent at WOT. Until I put a little load on it. Then it was back to the same. However, new information that might help. After it started cutting out I idled down and shut it off and noticed it was dripping gas from the carb. My assumption at this point is that its time for at minimum a new float, probably a total carb rebuild.
Also, it looks as though the fuel line may be interfering with the movement of the governor linkage on top of the carb. However its the same fuel line that's been on the tractor since I bought it 2 years ago, so I don't know what would've changed there to cause any issue.

Any thoughts?

[j4c11]

Originally Posted by Green03TJ

OK so I had a day off work today and tried your suggestion of leaning out the fuel mixture. Seemed to be helping, was finally able to get it to run decent at WOT. Until I put a little load on it. Then it was back to the same. However, new information that might help. After it started cutting out I idled down and shut it off and noticed it was dripping gas from the carb. My assumption at this point is that its time for at minimum a new float, probably a total carb rebuild.
Also, it looks as though the fuel line may be interfering with the movement of the governor linkage on top of the carb. However its the same fuel line that's been on the tractor since I bought it 2 years ago, so I don't know what would've changed there to cause any issue.

Any thoughts?

My thought is you need to rebuild the carb. Could be the float, could be the needle valve and/or seat. Give it a good cleaning and be sure to replace the needle valve seat. The fuel line should not interfere with the governor linkage, you can move the governor arm in/out on the governor shaft until it no longer interferes. If you do mess with the governor arm, read the instructions in the manual very carefully on the proper procedure to put it back on.

[dvogtvpe]

Originally Posted by Green03TJ

Be glad to try it if you think that's the problem. Not arguing, but I was under the impression that the guy behind the pointsaver and his products were pretty well regarded? Not arguing, just asking.

how many point sets do you go through? I still have the same points and condenser on one of my tractors that I put on it when I rebuilt it in the mid
80's. another tractor I have has to have the same set from the 90's. I guess I don't see how you can call something a saver when there isn't a problem there in the first place. and it costs more than a condenser. I've seen problems with them and I'm not very fond of them. the few that I've seen I just take them off and put a condenser back on.

[105_Tom]

Condensor, condenser, condenser. Put it back the way you had it; it looks like it's rejecting the PointsSaver mod. A bad condenser will look like carburetor issues almost every time. Double check the timing (points gap) and start over with the factory hi and low speed screw settings and go from there.