Small engine

[Notgrownup]

I have an older Craftsmen generator, it cranks up on choke and I turn the choke off and it only runs for about 10 seconds and stalls . I can crank it right back up and does the same. I know it’s carburetor related but but any first thing I should look at? Any ideas or tips would be appreciated. I’ve had it for over 20 years and is a spare. I still would like to salvage it. I only have ever run non ethanol fuel in it and I usually run it 3 times a year but this time it did this.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Running on choke only usually means the main jet is clogged. The carburetor needs to come apart so the jet can be soaked in cleaner and blown out, in extreme cases it will need to be cleaned out with a piece of fine wire (although be careful doing this so the jet doesn't get damaged.)

 

[gizardlizard]

Classic carb issue. Agree with Stuart. Time to take it apart and clean. Ethanol based fuel or not, I always make sure carb bowls are empty for long term storage.

 

[Copymutt]

Above, particularly if you run ethanol blend.

 

[Notgrownup]

I usually run it with the fuel shut off until I shots off completely after giving it a few choke shots. Might be time to drain and clean the tank as well. It was a free generator my BIL threw away and cost me $10 to fix with some valve retainers and a gasket. It’s save many freezer full of foods with severAl families.
I will take the carb apart.

 

[OccupantRJ]

If a bowl type carb, removing the bowl and cleaning the main jet and emulsion tube will quite often take care of it. Even the non ethanol builds up a clogging varnish in passageways over time. I usually start with spray carb cleaner and compressed air, then to some spray cleaner sprayed into a small metal container to let it soak for a bit If the first attempt did not do it.

 

[CraigStu]

I think on some carbs the jet is right there in the bottom of the float bowl. If so, you may only need to remove the bowl, clean and reinstall and only need a bowl gasket. I hope it is that easy for you.

 

[Notgrownup]

Yes, I’m gonna take the bowl off first and inspect.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Yes, I’m gonna take the bowl off first and inspect.

Then I will be able to refer to you as Inspect-a Gadget!
if all else fails, let me know and I likely have drills to hand clear the hole with. I should have down to around .005 in the shop. Tag wire will often work. I have used a wire brush bristle a few times also.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The wire inside a bread twist tie is relatively small If you can strip off the covering.

 

[Metallitubby]

Or buy a carburetor cleaner tool:

https://www.amazon.com/Herain-Carburetor-Cleaning-Carburetors-Sprinklers/dp/B09B3T85BM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[The Cobbler]

Carb issue for sure. watch some James Condon videos on You tube, he has several showing in depth carb cleaning techniques

 

[BearsFan315]

agree, i pull carb, blow carb cleaner through all ports, jets, etc... if needed run wire (carb cleaner set) through jets, tube, etc... then new gasket and reinstall. then i run a dose of Techron complete through it. maybe half gallon gas and some Techron, let it run and clean itself up. had to do this to a lawn vac i recently acquired, told it was not running. well now it it runs great. first full tank i ran was techron & gas.

 

[dcg9381]

Or buy a carburetor cleaner tool:

https://www.amazon.com/Herain-Carburetor-Cleaning-Carburetors-Sprinklers/dp/B09B3T85BM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This. These small jets can get really "hard plugged" with fuel residue. These tools are great for cleaning jets... Otherwise you're poking through with a small piece of wire, etc and may not get it clean.

 

[Notgrownup]

I have some fine wire gauges to clear the orifice.

 

[30-30remchester]

I had a similar situation with a Polaris ATV. The culprit was the carb's vent tube had been melted shut. Put a new vent tube on it and that cured my problem.

 

[kctgb]

Those older generators with flat head engines have very simple carbs. I assume it has a flathead Briggs. The one draw back to using the flathead engines on generators is the old flatheads were designed to run at 2600 RPM. A generator has to run 3200 RPM to get 60 cycles, the old flatheads would wear out prematurely from the higher RPM. There are many YouTube videos on how to clean those carbs.

 

[Notgrownup]

I will inspect the lines as well because it’s age.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Running on choke only usually means the main jet is clogged.

If the main jet was COMPLETELY clogged, the engine would not start. (Where would the fuel come from ?)

If it is a manually choked engine, try starting it and slowly remove the choke. If you get to the point where the engine will stay running, then it is the primary/idle/low speed jet that is clogged. This very common.

The carburetor needs to come apart so the jet can be soaked in cleaner and blown out, in extreme cases it will need to be cleaned out with a piece of fine wire (although be careful doing this so the jet doesn't get damaged.)

This statement is still true.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Classic carb issue. Agree with Stuart. Time to take it apart and clean. Ethanol based fuel or not, I always make sure carb bowls are empty for long term storage.

ABSOLUTELY !

I have gotten to the point where, if the engine has a built in fuel shut off, I tell people to never use the ON/OFF switch. Rather, turn the fuel off and let the engine die.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Those older generators with flat head engines have very simple carbs.

IMHO, the Honda single cylinder engine carburetors (and the millions of clones) are even simpler !

 

[bob from indiana]

guitar strings work very well as jet cleaners. I attract a crimp on electrical connector to make them harder to loose.

 

[Mick56]

I use a torch tip cleaner to poke out the jets

 

[KenC]

I use a torch tip cleaner to poke out the jets

I always have also. Designed to clean holes in non-ferrous metals without damage. Mine are slightly undersized with a short spiral ribbed section to scrape the hole walls clean without damage. and, I can always find it! in my welding tool drawer.

 

[andyvh1959]

Ditto to all the above. I only run non-ethanol blend fuel (whole gas) in all my small engine equipment, and no problems, ever. I usually also run Techron through them once per season.

Friend of mine is a retired engineer from Ariens. He said 85% of their calls for tech support were fuel and carb issues, most often caused by ethanol blended fuels and missuse.