Tecumseh carburetor

[speyguy]

I have a wood splitter that has been running fine. All of a sudden it won't run unless the it's about 85% choked. As soon as I open the choke it wants to die. Close it back and it runs. The gas is not old. The gas it's been running on prior to this issue came out of the same can, and the gas was just purchased a few weeks ago. I pulled the gas line and the flow is good. I realize that this is typical if it's cold for the first few minutes but the engine was warm.

Any suggestions, ideas???

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Start by taking off carb, and then the float bowl, it's held in place by one bolt on the bottom.
The float is a round plastic thing, in the center of which is the main jet. A hole in the side allows gas to flow from the float bowl, to the jet, and up into the throat of the carb. My guess is there is a small piece of crud stuck in the hole or up in the jet. With the carb off the motor, you should be able to see up the jet and into the throat. If you can't there's some crud in there.

Another less likely place for dirt to stick is in the float bowl inlet. The pin that the float moves up and down on just pulls out, then the float comes off with this inlet jet (or whatever they call it). You can then make sure its open from where the gas hose connects to the carb, to this inlet.

[fubar2]

An air leak between carb and block will do that too.

[sawinredneck]

Depending on how new this motor is, it may have one of these wonderful new platic carbs. If it does, find a repair shop, order the new rebuild kit, it snaps in with a new float and mainjet on it. It's really easy. You can clean it, but if that doesn't help, go with this.

[speyguy]

Thanks for the replies. The air leak is what I thought as well as it was acting as if it had a vacuum leak allowing additional air to the mixture.

It's an older engine so I think it's and older carb.

As far as taking the carb apart. I will probably try it. I just don't like to mess with them. Carb's intimidate me. All those small parts to loose and remember where they came out.

Thanks again!!

[speyguy]

Mike,
Thanks for the tip. It seemed to do the trick. After removing the carb I dropped the bowl and cleaned out the jet and crud in the bowl and it runs good again.

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Yep, those carbs aren't so tricky. Most of the time it's just a bit of crud blocking the flow of gas.
If you take it in to the repair shop, they'll have it for two or three weeks, put in a carb kit and a spark plug, and charge you $120. Truth be told, most of the time they could do just what you did, and in less time than it takes to fill out the paper work to leave it there for repairs.