IH 454

I can not keep IH 454 gas running. I have removed the gas tank and had it boiled out, installed new sediment bowl, blew out all gas lines, installed new fuel pump, installed new carb kit and then took off carb three times to clean and re-cleaned. The tractor will start on full choke and will barely keep running for about 20 to 30 seconds at half throttle, and then will run to higher RPM and sound very good and strong for about 20 seconds and then back down to hardly running. All with the choke on full and not touching anything. At first black smoke was coming out for exhaust pipe (running very rich). At first time starting, the carb was leaking gas but when removed and check and re-installed it did stop leaking gas. Then when restarted there was no black smoke from exhaust. All of the ignition was checked and there is gas getting to the carb. But just sounds like it is starving for gas. Only one setting on carb for idle. Why? What else?

The first thing that comes to my mind is, did you set your float? Also, when you rebuilt the carb, did you boil it?

How do you set the float? No adjustments or gauge to use??

I'm not sure what carb you have, but most carb floats have a metal tab that you can bend (gently). Either in your carb kit or in a manual for your carb (not familiar enough with the 454 to know what carb it is). If you look at your carb, you should be able to find a manufacturer and usually model number. With that info you can find your float setting. There are a lot of videos and tutorials on how to set float levels, so I'd look for some of those. Though you can buy a float gauge, I usually just make one out of a cereal box or similar pressed cardboard.

I'm guessing it's a float just from it dying in the way you describe. Like its running out of fuel.

If you let it sit for say 10 minutes or so, will it start and run well... then die again like it's losing fuel?

I know you said at first, gas was running out of the carb (which sounds like the float needle wasn't seating or the float was set too high... or the float is bad). But then after taking the carb apart it doesn't poor out anymore but runs out of gas.... which sounds like the float is set too low. Your carb kit did include a new float needle and needle seat, correct?

Also, make sure your bowl gasket isn't upside down... it can block the vent on some carbs (like the Marvel Schebler on my Case)

Inside the carb is a metal or plastic venturi, it has to go big end up - How is yours?

paul does this thing have the zenith down draft carb on it.we have a 354 with this on it , it ran like u say ,carb was just plain shot

(quoted from post at 07:52:02 08/23/13) paul does this thing have the zenith down draft carb on it.we have a 354 with this on it , it ran like u say ,carb was just plain shot

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This has a Marvel Schebler and it is on the bottom of the intake manifold so I think that is an up-flow. It also has mechanical fuel pump on the left had side of the motor and I just replaced that. Some one also put an inline filter on the out put side of the fuel pump (dumb) and I replaced that with one that you can see the fuel pump through it so I know I'm getting fuel to the carb. Thanks.

What Mikevan said about the venture(sort of funnel shaped). Mine was plastic and had to get a new one to make it run correctly. I don't remember details cause it was 10 yrs ago.

Just wanted to advise to loosen gas cap to see if it is venting.