Questions tagged [small-engine]

Engines used in applications such as lawn mowers, go carts, chain saws, compressors, small pumps, generators, garden tractors, and string trimmers. Frequently hand (pull) started and without an electrical system beyond the spark plug. Technically there is an overlap with motorcycle / scooter engines, but for questions related to motor cycles or scooters those tags are preferred.

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Weed eater dies when idling or not at full throttle, but is near catching fire at full throttle

As the title says, my weed eater dies unless I run it wide open. If I release the throttle, it will die flat out without hesitation. Running it wide open causes it get red hot. It melted part of the ...
JLDN Admin's user avatar
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Weak spark with OK coil resistances

I am having an odd behavior with a two cylinder honda gx620 engine. There is no spark on both plugs. While not really an uncommon occurrence all my usual checks have yielded no result. I did the ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
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42 views

Why won't my chainsaw start?

I have a Stihl something-or-other, and it reliably has the same problem: It will start and run beautifully, then eventually it will no longer start, most likely due to too much oil in the mix, as the ...
user101434's user avatar
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Lawnmowers , just why?

I was mowing the lawns the other day , I managed to knock the oil cap loose and oil spurted out into the engine block I didn't think it was that much oil so I put the lid back on and kept mowing , the ...
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Is there any ecu(engine control unit)in a 70 cc bike like Honda cd 70?

I know that ecu is there in cars but I am confused is there any ecu(engine control unit) in a 70 cc bike like Honda cd 70?
DSP_CS's user avatar
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I have a new NIBBI racing carburetor for my 212cc

I just bought a new NIBBI carburetor for my 212 cc predator motor and the old one only had one line which was the gas line and this one has three so I’m not sure what to do with them one of the lines ...
Jonas L's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
39 views

Generator won't start cold - compression release bad?

I bought a brand new generator (an AIPower GXS7100iRD) late last year. From day 1, it was incredibly difficult to start cold. It would require being cranked until the battery was nearly dead before it ...
nsayer's user avatar
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Why Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start After Winter?

What are the most common reasons for a lawn mower not starting after being stored during the winter, and what steps can I take to troubleshoot and fix the issue? I have found the solution for this ...
greeneryguide's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
671 views

Scraping sound in new small engine

I normally only work with really old engines often abandoned for a long time and in that case typically hearing crunchy or scraping noises when moving the piston is undoubtedly a bad sign and warrant ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
19 views

Small edger engine - hard to start

I have a small edger 2-stroke that is hard to start. I cleaned plug, washed sponge air filter and it still won’t start. I sprayed starter fluid in air intake and it started. While running I put air ...
jlo-gmail's user avatar
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Small engine has gas or propane always turned on - will the fuel leak?

I have a gravity-fed-gas and propane dual-fuel pull-start 4-stroke portable generator which works well and with no problems. I am thinking of adding an add-on remote start so I don't have to go out to ...
Triplefault's user avatar
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620 views

Why is the engine surging in my Craftsman lawn tractor?

How can I stop my lawn tractor engine from surging at low throttle/RPM? I have an 18.5 hp Briggs and Stratton single cylinder. I have re-built the carburetor and adjusted the mixture screw.
XLRick's user avatar
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Low Oil Pressure in Cub Cadet ZT1 42" with Kohler 7000

I have a Cub Cadet ZT1 42" zero-turn mower. Last month, just after my mower was two years old, a quart of oil was on my garage floor. The shop I bought it from replaced the transmission under ...
Cofey's user avatar
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Purpose of clutch in transmission with multiple neutrals

I am currently repurposing the transmission and clutch of a pretty old walking tractor (Bucher K3). Here is a picture of exactly that transmission: So this transmission has 3 forward and one reverse ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
205 views

Binding mower motor

I have a mower (or mini tractor) with a Briggs & Stratton 12 HP motor which binds quite a bit, causing it to be difficult to start. I assume that it is either due to rust / missing lubrication / a ...
JoSSte's user avatar
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Small engine reliable spark only in wrong direction

I have a very old (date unknown but pre 1980 I think) Motowatt 1500s generator driven by a two stroke MAG motor. When I bought it it had no spark. After cleaning the points there was spark but only at ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
28 views

Mower won't start

I have a 4 hp Briggs and Straton lawn mower engine that won't start at all. I've changed the spark plug, air filter, carburetor float valve and seat. Gas is also new. Can't even get a sputter out of ...
cookiejorge's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
42 views

How to inspect and clean a small engine stored for year without oil cap?

I recently discovered my wood chipper's oil filler cap is missing. Assuming it fell off last time I used it, the engine has been uncapped for over a year. Wind often blows dust and leaves into my ...
zwiebelspaetzle's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
73 views

When should I do the first oil change for a rarely used lawnmower?

I bought a lawnmower that has these oil change service intervals in the engine operating manual: After the first month or after 5 operating hours: change the engine oil Every 6 months or after 50 ...
juhist's user avatar
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Tuff Torq Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting

I have a Tuff Torq hydrostatic transmission (model: 7A646084591) that I'm suspicious of, but I can't quite figure out the best way to troubleshoot. I'm looking for a way to determine if: The ...
cam.b's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Ariens 911016 mower fuel intake problems

Started up mower this season after sitting all winter with fuel in the tank. Engine will start up for a few seconds very robustly and then sputter out. It was running last season, not perfectly but no ...
Nick Cherry's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
607 views

2019 Cub Cadet XT1 Riding Lawnmower Under Powered

I have a 2019 Cub Cadet XT1 (model: 13A9A1CS056) that has been experiencing some power loss under load, especially after mowing for a bit (~30m ~ 1h). It struggles to move as fast as when I first got ...
cam.b's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Stihl fs 55 string trimmer not idling and blowing out white smoke

I just bought a string trimmer off of Facebook marketplace for 100. The guy that I bought it off of said that he put too much oil in it and that’s why it was blowing out smoke. I got it back home and ...
Brock Neill's user avatar
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1 answer
52 views

Dimethyl Ether as a fuel for (mostly small) spark-ignited engines

Currently, many small stationary (and some not so stationary) spark ignited engines are sold with the capability of being converted ("on the fly" even) from gasoline operation to operation ...
ThreePhaseEel's user avatar
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32 views

2018 tgb tapo (202) engine turns over but won't fire up

tgb tapo rs 50 I have spark and fuel cock seems to work, iv'e also removed carb and cleaned it wondering if i need to remove inlet manifold and check the reeds
Gaz's user avatar
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2 answers
560 views

Honda GX270 engine very high compression

I have a (previously working) Honda GX270 engine that I was transporting in my truck recently. The strap came off and it tumbled in the back. Nothing serious, but it was lying on its side for about 15-...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
216 views

Coleman CT200U EX starts when dies

I initially was putting a new carb on but decided to just keep the stock one. I have put it all back on. But when I started it it instantly when full throttle. So I did some research and learned about ...
Zeus's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
211 views

Power from magneto (for LED)

I've got a lawnmower engine on a hovercraft and I'd like to power the headlight on it without a battery. I understand there isn't an "alternator" per se in these engines, but there's a ...
Brydon Gibson's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
302 views

Electric motor replaced with Gas engine

I have a vacuum that that currently powered by a 3 phase 5 HP electric motor. Currently I cannot power this vacuum with a generator, I would like to convert this vacuum to a gas engine instead. I know ...
Travis Pettry's user avatar
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1 answer
39 views

Poulan chain saw

How do I install a new piston with 21 loose needle bearings around the wrist pin in the little end of the connecting rod? I have tried to install the wrist pin but the needle bearings keep falling ...
willie's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
1 answer
586 views

Two stroke engine with unreliable idle

I am currently restoring a Partner 22 GBI leaf blower and facing some weird issues. I have removed the carb, cleaned it in the ultrasonic and restored everything to factory settings. After running ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
107 views

Does a new small-engine carb need to be adjusted?

(Stihl FS55 string trimmer) After years of regular use, the engine degraded fairly suddenly to barely keeping alive, uselessly low power, and running very rich. For reasons good or not, I decided to ...
George's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
194 views

Do few pull starts with fuel and ignition off cover the cylinder in oil in a splash lubricated small engine?

Some 1-cylinder small engines have instructions that before long-term storage you should take off the spark plug, pour few milliliters of oil into the cylinder, and very slowly pull the starter cord (...
juhist's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Throttle Linkage for Kohler Command 18 Engine in Cub Cadet 2186

I pulled apart my engine and now can not figure out how to connect my engine controls. Update: I did eventually get the bushing (#22) and rod (#23) to fit in the large hole by putting the bushing in ...
James Valeii's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
119 views

White outdoor riding mower wont start

Mower was running let sit for 2 months so I drained the gas took bowls off carbs cleaned everything .still won't start unless I spray carbs acts like not getting gas
Tom's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
270 views

How do splash lubricated horizontal crankshaft engines lubricate the valve mechanism?

In many small engines, splash lubrication is used unlike in cars which always have an oil pump. I understand that when the small engine is a vertical crankshaft one like in lawnmowers, where the ...
juhist's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
496 views

Small engine air return to gas tank

I've got a gasoline powered generator - it was dying after running for a while, and I've finally figured out it's because the engine is starving itself of gas. If I slightly open the fuel cap, I can ...
Brydon Gibson's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
336 views

What causes a puff of white smoke every time starting a cold lawnmower?

I have a new lawnmower that seems to make a puff of white smoke every time I start a cold engine. It doesn't make any smoke when starting a warm engine or during operation of a warm engine, and has no ...
juhist's user avatar
  • 14.5k
2 votes
0 answers
64 views

Finding rig gap specifications of old engine

I am currently restoring an old Briggs & Stratton engine. I found that it burns a little bit of oil and also saw that the head was oily after removal. I removed the piston and checked the ring gap ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why does my lawnmower air filter have a metal wire mesh?

I bought two spare paper air filters for my lawnmower. Once they arrived, I noticed an interesting feature in them. The side of the air filter that is at the carburetor/engine side has a thick metal ...
juhist's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
747 views

Engine for Briggs & Stratton mower not starting. Might be flooded

My Briggs and Stratton mower won’t start. Only used it twice. I may have over filled the gas tank and flooded it. Not sure. Gas is leaking from the air filter.
Jim's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
71 views

1996 40hp mariner magnum - no start

The above mentioned motor is new to me. Since it was new to me and I couldn’t be sure if the oil injector was working, I mixed 10 liters fuel 50:1 so I could see if it was consuming oil. After ...
Oldoldhouseguy's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
2k views

Carburetor not drawing fuel from tank

So the title is kind of generic, but I am facing a bit of a weird situation. I am going to explain it first, but I also have some pictures at the end that might help. I have bought a cheap 2 stroke ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
208 views

Does a carburetor have constant fuel mass flow, constant liquid volume flow, or constant molecule count flow?

I have a generator with carburetor. It seems to consume a bit more fuel than I expected, 0.44 liters per hour for 386 watt production, or 1.14 liters per kWh. I'm also bit more annoyed by the exhaust ...
juhist's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
513 views

Replacing Briggs and Stratton small engine on Troy Bilt Horse

I have an old Troy Bilt Horse tiller, model 12090 with a 8hp Briggs Industrial Plus 196437, type 013401, code 9612181A. I bought a direct replacement engine, Briggs 19N137-0084 (https://www....
biostatrat's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

How harmful is it to not put oil in spark plug hole of a stored small engine?

I have a small engine inverter generator. This generator is to be used during power outages which happen rarely where I live, and also tested shortly every 2 years (the testing is also to keep the ...
juhist's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
2k views

How many minutes to wait after turning off small air-cooled engine before oil change?

I am breaking in an inverter generator with small air-cooled 80cc 4-stroke single cylinder engine. After the break-in, I will change the supplied mineral oil to a high-quality fully synthetic oil. My ...
juhist's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
222 views

If I start a previously unfueled small engine, do I keep choke on for first pull only or until it starts?

I purchased a small engine inverter generator. It obviously has a carburetor and a choke valve. I just put in the oil and oiled the foam air filter element and am ready to break in the generator with ...
juhist's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
50 views

Normally-high run switch vs coil-ground out to turn off

I'm restoring a 1958 larson Playboy - it looks like it originally came with an evinrude engine as there was an evinrude starter solenoid box in the back. This was cabled into the main key which has ...
Brydon Gibson's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
144 views

How do I find a replacement clutch and brake assembly for my chainsaw?

I don't know anything about technical specifications for chainsaw clutches. I'm not asking for shopping advice, but I don't know how to determine which parts are compatible. Last year I bought an ...
Giffyguy's user avatar
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