I borrowed a Try Bilt chipper from a friend who said it hadn't been used for a few years so no guarantees it would start. It has a battery starter, but the battery is dead so I put in a little fresh gas and gave it a try After a few tugs gas came out the exhaust. I took off the air filter and gas was down in the neck. I'm thinking this unit was stored outside, and the carb froze and cracked. TIA.
or there's dead spiders in the float bowl
Unlikely froze or cracked (gas doesn't freeze at normal temps). Most likely is that it was stored with gas in it that has gummed up the carb. The excess gas will almost certainly be due to the needle valve being stuck open.
Warning: Do not fix the carb and then start that motor. Do a total oil change first as the crankcase is probably also full of gas.
Harry K
thanks for these tips.
This happened on my 3800 watt generator before I started using Sta-Bil in everything year round. Doesn't take much to gum up a float and needle and yes the crank case needs drained and refilled.
So you use an additive to the gas so it doesn't gum up, and the water which might be in the fuel or which condenses in the system won't freeze? I'm not a ace mechanic but if I disassemble the carb, I can examine the needle valve, and clean it out thoroughly. It looks like there is an in-line fuel filter which is obviously not blocked. thanks for the additional info.
Never had a problem with water. If it's going to collect somewhere it will be in the crank case not the fuel system. Once the engine is hot any condensation will evaporate. And it's not likely to collect condensation sitting idle over the winter. And yes do use a fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil. It does a great job and may even help prevent condensation. All my small motor tools stay out in the shed over winter and since I've been using Sta-Bil they always start easy the next spring.
thanks
Have my buds super tomahawk with the same motor- let it sit out all the time (to the machines definite detriment) and the problem I had was identical. I tapped on the float bowl (presuming that perhaps the float had stuck) and the problem went away. Since then I have been using stabil and the problem with the incontinent carb hasn't reared it head. Pat
I have had water in the gas problems. Usually pull a float bowl and you can find a drop or two in there. Not enough to worry about it freezing and breaking anything though.
Last winter I got a wake up. About 10 below and I picked up the can to fill the snowblower. Heard a 'rattle' in the can. Yep, a thin sheet of ice was in the bottom. I decanted all the gas into a clean coffee can then into another can to be sure I didn't have any water in it, then shook out the chunks of ice before refilling the can. That can had been in use for probably over 10 years without ever being totally dumped.
Harry K
Yeh there's a lot of situations and variables. I guess my statement was too broad. However I don't recall grabbing my can in the winter to fill the blower and finding ice in it. Most fuels have additives to prevent the build up of ice or we'd be towing a lot of cars in the winter for fuel line freeze up.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.