Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I have a Craftsman ride on mower 917275180, with a Kohler engine. I can't get gas to pass the carburetor. I tried blowing, cleaning, new gas, etc. It works for a few seconds, if we spray gas into the carburetor.
By postalpete from Baltimore
These mowers use gravity feed to the carb. You may have a kink in the line or a plugged gas line coming from the tank. Try disconnecting the gas line to the carb and see if you have gas running out of the gas line.
Could be the carburetor float, fuel filter or bad gas.
You might have blown out the seet. its in the little hole where the float valve goes in.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
My riding lawn mower needs gas poured directly into the carburetor for it to start. Once it fires up, it runs fine, but even after I let it run for a few minutes I have to take off the air filter and do it all over again. Suggestions?
By Evan from Dighton, MA
My husband says: 1. Clogged fuel line or 2. carburetor needs cleaning (needle valve) or 3. fuel pump needs replaced. (12/25/2009)
By Myrna
I have a Murray riding mower and it has spark, gas in the lines, but only runs if you dump gas down the carb! Help?
CHUCK from Atlanta, GA
Chuck, I can't answer your question, but I can tell you I have had umpteen burn patients I've treated through the years who came to me courtesy of putting gasoline in a carb. Please be careful, or you might be umpteen and one! (11/19/2007)
By Brenda
My husband said to tell you this, "The float may be stuck and gas is not getting into the carburetor. If it doesn't have a float in it, then try removing the carburetor and cleaning it." But as the Dr. said, "Please be careful!" (11/19/2007)
By Ariela
My hubby agrees it's either the float stuck or something stuck in the needle, so it's cleaning time. (11/20/2007)
By denise w
My Murray riding mower requires the speed selector to be placed in the START or CHOKE position to start. It won't start otherwise.
I'd spray some Carb-Cleaner into the carb while it is running until it stalls, let it set an hour and start it up again.
Try some carb cleaner additive to gasoline also, as it dissolves the gummy deposits in bad gasoline.
Here is a very important note: Every winter you must put something called "STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer" into the gasoline. You leave it setting in any 4-cycle gasoline powered device.
This stuff is not very expensive and will keep the gasoline from gumming up the carburetor when it freezes during winter months. I swear by it! Had many carburetor problems in the spring before I discovered STA-BIL (sold in any "Hardware" type of store in a nice dispenser bottle). (12/26/2007)
By DoctorBill
Hi. Check to see if the carb has a shut-off relay screwed into the bottom of the bowl. If so, you should be able to hear it click when the key is turned to on position. If you do not here the click, check the voltage to relay, and also the ground wire to relay. If it's ok, I would pull carb bowl and blow out jets, and also where the relay screws into the bottom of the carb . Hope this helps. (06/07/2009)
By jim
