Gas flowing through carb out the air intake

Patrickross

New User
With the fuel shutoff from the gas tank ON, the fuel is now flowing through the carb and out with the tractor turned off. Had it running once this year and this is how it was when I shut it off. I'm thinking that this was happening once I started it up but the gas was being used up as I ran it. The throttle lever doesn't seem to have any effect on this at all. HELP!!??
 
The carburetor inlet valve "needle and seat" is supposed to stop the flow of gas once the float bowl is full, and yours isn't.

Dirt or debris in the "needle and seat" can cause this, as well as a stuck float, or a "heavy" float that has developed a leak and is full of gasoline.

You could try rapping on the carb near the gasoline inlet with the plastic handle of a screwdriver, as this may jar something loose. (DON'T get TOO carried away with that!)

If that doesn't help, the carburetor will have to come off and be opened up to see what is going on.

This is an example of why it is always good practice to shut off the gasoline at the tank when the tractor is not in use.
 
Thanks for the tip, hope it works. Also heard that if you blow air into the gas inlet on the carb that could free a stuck needle.
 
(quoted from post at 10:05:04 06/03/19) Thanks for the tip, hope it works. Also heard that if you blow air into the gas inlet on the carb that could free a stuck needle.

Yes, that is true, but yours is stuck open. Blowing air into the fuel inlet will not help.
 
If you blow air into inlet, it will flatten the float like a pancake. Have seen more than one of
them. You either have crud in needle and seat, float sticking or float full of gasoline.
 
i have shut off the gas and cranked engine. after a few cranks, maybe it will start. then oopen the gas and let her run.
 
Blowing air into it will help you spend $$ on a new float. One can some times pull the carb drain plug and let the gas flow into a jar which can/will wash the dirt/rust out
 
if your gonna take the time to take the carburetor off and see whats wrong , you might as well get a master rebuild kit and a new float . do the job once and be done with it for a few years
 
Try the following (as was mentioned above). Turn the fuel off at the tank, so that there is no fuel running to the carb. Try to start the tractor. If it starts, then open the fuel valve at the tank. If it continues to run, drive the tractor for a while and then see what happens when you turn off the engine. If there is no fuel leaking then the problem was just some debris on the needle or a stuck float and may or may not happen again.
 
(quoted from post at 14:11:07 06/03/19) Try the following (as was mentioned above). Turn the fuel off at the tank, so that there is no fuel running to the carb. Try to start the tractor. If it starts, then open the fuel valve at the tank. If it continues to run, drive the tractor for a while and then see what happens when you turn off the engine. If there is no fuel leaking then the problem was just some debris on the needle or a stuck float and may or may not happen again.
This one I really like, makes sense and beats pulling the carb off and rebuilding.i even thought if I need to I can open the valve just a little to keep running for a while to help flush it.
 

Don't get your hopes up too high, but there's a chance you could get lucky. As far as restricting the fuel flow with the shut-off, that likely won't work and if it does work, you'll find you have no power when the tractor is under load.

I've had a few experiences, usually in cold weather, where the carburetor floods and fuel runs out the overflow and breather tube after which I was able to re-start the tractor only after turning off the gas. Then once the tractor warmed up, no more problems.

My advice would be get it started, drive it around or do some work with it and let it get good and warmed up. Then when you turn the engine off leave the fuel on and see what happens. If it still leaks, you'll likely need to pull the carb and check the needle/seat, clean the bowl and adjust the floats. If it doesn't leak you can go back to enjoying the tractor.

I would not invest in a rebuild kit until you've looked inside and cleaned and adjusted float and bowl. Probably won't need the kit. If you do get the kit, also get the can of carburetor dip and soak the carb overnight. If you end up doing the full overhaul then you'll need to clean and blow out all the passages. It's not very hard - just read and follow the instructions.
 

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