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Hey guys, welcome back to my small engine repair channel. Today, I've got a lawn tractor in the shop. It's almost brand new but it runs for a bit and then starts to sputter and die. So, I'll be going through the diagnostic process with you all so you can see exactly what to do if you have the same problem.
First, let's talk about surging. Surging is when the engine revs up and down. Some things to check first are the gas cap, air filter, fuel filter, and spark plug. You can also check the carburetor solenoid.
I've already checked all the things mentioned, so now I'm going to start up the engine. When it warms up, it starts to surge, but it runs perfectly when it's cold. I'm going to bring it back into the shop and take the carburetor off.
Now, let's start it up and see what happens. It doesn't surge when it's cold, but as you can see, it dies when warm. Let's try to start it up again, but this time, there's no choke since it's an auto choke machine.
Although I don't think it's a spark issue, I'll check for spark since the machine is warm. Great spark! Now, let's check if the solenoid is still working. It's clicking, so that's good.
Now, I'm going to take the carb off. If you have a fuel shutoff valve, turn it off. Otherwise, you can install one or use a container to catch the gas when you remove the fuel line. Start by removing the air filter cover, then the Phillips screw and the 10mm bolt. There's a spacer that goes between the part and the engine. There are also two 10mm nuts and a breather hose to disconnect. Don't forget the other 10mm bolt under the cowling. Remove the cowling by unscrewing three nuts and removing a bolt.
Now, the carb should come off easier. Disconnect the breather tube and the choke linkage. To disconnect the choke arm, move the white retaining clip and pop it up. There is a gasket here, so remember that. Unplug the two wires to disconnect the solenoid.
To remove the carb, remove the two 10mm bolts and the linkage. Now, the entire carb is off the tractor.
This carburetor has a screen, just like on the MTD snow blowers. It's completely plugged, so I'm going to clean it out. You can remove the screen with a pick if you want, but I'm just going to clean the bowl from the inside. Remove the bowl nut and clean it out. There's some fuel left inside, so be careful. I expected the carburetor to be clean, and it is.
Now, I'll blow some air through the needle valve hole to clear out any dirt. You don't need that screen in there. You can remove it and add an extra fuel filter. If you want a screen, you can get one from a two-stroke carburetor kit.
Now, I'll install the inlet and put all the parts back together. Make sure the connector lines up with the fuel line.
Finally, I'll tighten the bowl nut and jet, making sure they are clean. Tighten it, but not too tight. The carb is now completely back together.