Techumse ran when parked but . .

won't start.
Parked it after running it dry last fall and now it will run while you are priming it but not on its own Getting 'old, bad gas smell' when it trys to run.
Any ideas? This thing is my primary leaf mover and fall is on us here.

Running a piece of power equipment "dry" never works due to there is always some gas left over in the bowl and in the small passageways of the carb, which is causing your problem now due to it has gummed up the small orifices and passageways. The carb will have to come apart and be cleaned. Always leave the tank full with fuel stabilizer and run it a few minutes before storage to get the stabilizer into the carb.

Good advice, unfortunately about 11 mos. late.

Guess I'll be tearing into it soon.

Any advice on what to clean it with? Carb cleaner?

Techumse carbs have always given me fits. That's why I'm glad they went out of business. Wish I could advise on a good carb cleaner. I don't know of any.

I have a Tech carb that will work at full speed, but the idle circuit is choked up. I took it apart and used compressed air, but no luck.

It's one of those EPA carbs with no adjustments. Hate them.

Plan to replace engine with a briggs tomorrow. Told my friends that if I ever buy another tech, they can kick me.
George

Bruce, I use Walmart's store brand carb. cleaner in a spray can. It comes with a little straw to shoot it into tight places. I just dismantle the carb and shoot the cleaner into every hole I see, most are drilled passages, one or two are blind holes and you may get sprayed on,but it generally does a good job of cleaning. Then blow it out with compressed air if available.

Most tecumseh carbs have one/more welch plugs in body casting depending on mfg/carb pn,to do a complete cleaning of internal passages carb body these plugs must be removed & are usually destroyed in order to remove,under plugs 2-3 internal passages in carb body join,dirt/gum buildup in cavity for plug/passages or in passages,the only way to clean carb is remove all plugs you can find in body,soak body in carb cleaner overnight,run a fine wire thru all passages you can find then blow out all passages with compressed air,then locate/buy a rebuild kit for carb & rebuild,get a kit that includes welch plugs to replace plug(s) you destroyed when removing if you choose to go that route,your problem is common to most tecumseh carbs.

IF you want a quick fix & save time,money & flustration goto link below & lookup your eng mod/spec# in tecumseh eng parts listings,get pn for carb,then goto ebay & type tecumseh + carb pn in search & look if any oregon aftermarket carbs listed as a replacement for oem carb,depending on carb/eng hp you can start picking up a new carb at about $20/up,I've bought/used four of these carbs & they work same/better than oem carb,in addition I've had better luck adding seafoam gas conditioner to my gas rather than stabile as same is a carb cleaner,dry gas & extender.
tecumseh

Thanks for the help, guys. Its just frustrating cause I spent several bucks getting this thing up to snuff last fall. Then got to use it a couple of times before the season ended.
Appreciate all the input.

BAnNC, I always add staybil when I know things are going to sit over the winter.

I solved my Tech carb issue. Replaced engine with a Briggs that starts very easy and has very few carb problems.
George