Why it started and stopped after a few minutes?
I replaced a lot of things and it still not functioning, new blade, new spark plug, new air filter, new oil, new gasoline.
This is a Sear's Craftman Self-propelled machine, bout 3-4 years ago. It was running really well, just dies this week. Lots of smoke coming out, something is wrong with it. Before I didn't see this much smokes like oil is not being burn completely.
Thanks for your suggestion.
Andy writes: My guess is a broken piston ring.... If you do a compression check it should be at least 60 psi. If it is not, squirt some oil into the cylinder and pull it thru a couple times to distribute it... Then do another compression test.... If it improves a lot, it is rings. If it doesn't it is valves.....
Of course, it may not be this at all ---- just something easy to try..
Andy in Eureka
Did you replace those things before or after it stopped? When you replaced the blade did you tip it over or on it's side? You should always tip the machine so the spark plug is up. Will it run at all now?
It's likely the smoke is just oil burning from when he tipped the "Lawnmover" and replaced the blade.
Thanks folks for your reply.
My machine never complained about being tipped over. My lawn is not quite leveled, it never complained for 4 years.
4 months ago, I replaced a lot of things, things was working so well. Last two weeks after using it, I released the handle to stop the engine, I saw a lot of white smoke came off, I thought nothing big to be concerned about. Two weeks later, I tried using it and it never continues to run, it starts and runs only a few seconds, with lots of white smoke then it stopped by itself.It does look like there is oil in the combustion chamber, because when I removed the spark plug to check what's going on, I saw oil filled the tip of the spark plug.
Why the flood of motor oil happened now and not 3-4 months ago ?
It beats me concerning the timing of this incident. It makes no sense.
I can't help but wonder about the "white" smoke... oil doesn't burn white! :)
Is it worthwhile thinking that perhaps you've somehow got a bunch of water in your gas? Perhaps from the machine (or your container) left open out in the rain? Or sprinkler?
Perhaps the machine sits for a few days; the water separates, the machine starts easily. Then running, it shakes and mixes the water and gas, which burns (steams) for a while until it eventually shuts the machine down?
For what little it costs, why not empty the machine, put in a fresh tank of brand new gas, add a wee bit of methyl hydrate, and see what happens?
Just a thought...
Take care.
Ken
No, the cover was on all the times. It's white mixing with Black color, I couldn't say it's all white smoke.
Already did it today, with no different. I tried several times (10+times) to burn off the oil or whatever got inside the combustion. Still no chance.
Thank you for your thinking and feedback.
It is either over filled with oil or you tipped it in such a way that oil ran into the intake and filled the air filter.
Remove the air filter and run it until the smoke clears up. Then either clean or replace the air filter.
I'll say it once again - You should always tip the machine so the spark plug is up. - If you don't want to follow good advice that is you choice.
Hey Art, Thank you for your concern. It's not that I didn't want to take your advice, all advices you suggested had been tried, I run the machine without the air filter and yet it still stopped after a 4-5 seconds.
Yes, I tried it, and I still had the machine up in this position right now.
Someone mentionned about the carburator being filled with oil? I thought that might be the problem too but I won't know how to access this area. I am about to send it to a specialist.
-Cam
Hi Cam, One more thing to look at that has not been mentioned yet. Maybe the choke has been stuck in the cold position. That will make it start, then sputter and maybe smoke a lot and die if the choke does not go back to the normal running position. How about that? Tomes
My problem is solved.
What I did was to burn off the oil, I kept it going even though it stopped frequently, eventually the oil got burn off, and it works like very nicely.
Thanks a lot folks for your feedback.
-Cam
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