Kawasaki FE250D-AS11-1

Not exactly a lawn tractor but definitely small engine related. I repowered a 5 wheel JD Gator. 625 I think. It came with a 8hp Kawasaki horizontal shaft engine (apart and in a box). Small engine warehouse sells a kit that uses a Kawasaki FE250D-AS11-1 and a install kit. They had 2 kits on back order but said they would not even make the kits until they had enough orders to justify. They never said how many that was. So I got the FE250D-AS11-1 and went for it. The kit included a 1” offset mount (I moved the plate in the gator). It also included some linkage adaptors (manly to connect the Gators cables). I only had to change the choke cable connection, throttle hooked right up. They did have an air cleaner extender (engine moves to the left about an inch) but the factory cleaner fits just fine.

So I get it all in, put in a new fuel pump, all new lines, new filter, and clean out the tank (had been sitting for a couple years) and put in new gas. Spin it up and it runs great. That is until you give it throttle. Flat out dies just like starving for gas. However, if you have the choke out about ½ way it runs like a top. I see one adjustment on the carb but it only turns ¾ of a turn (#1 in the pic). Does not make any difference where it is. The clear tube (#2 in the pic) was not connected when the engine arrived. Left hanging open and the choke on it runs fine. Plugged off and the choke on it runs fine. If I plug it on the bottom of the carb (#3 in the pic) it does not run right period.

Anyone have any insight into;
1) What is or where does the clear tube go.
2) Why a new engine would require choke to run.
3) What if anything does / should #3 in the pic have anything connected to it.
4) One might find setup / adjustment information.

I plan to contact SEW but until I can get a response I thought I see if anyone here might know. In the picture I moved the valve cover vent tube to get the pic, it is hooked up correctly.

Number one is the idle mixture adjustment. It will have NO effect on the engine power mixture. I can not tell what number two is. Number three would be a hose connected to the bowl drain if so equipped. I do not see a screw that would be the bowl drain some your carb is not equipped with this. I think if you will look closely at the hole in this location, it is a blind hole.

Kent

check air filter on the tube going in to the filter houseing look and see if the restrictor is missing if it is gone find a washer with about a
7/8 hole and tape it over the tube is the filter dry type or oiled ?

the clear tube is a carburetor vent it hooks to nothing
Also sounds to me ur float level in bowl isnt right although the float isnt adjustable but it could be defective

Sounds like you are using the original canister air cleaner. I bet your carburetor is not jetted properly for that air filter element.

I also know that for some Kawasaki engines, you buy one filter element for externally vented carburetors (yours, the little clear tube you asked about) and another filter if the carb is internally vented.(meaning the bowl vents inside the intake port of the carb.)

If this engine came with an air filter, of its' own, I would suggest you try it, if it will fit the space you have.

I don't know if Kawasaki will help on this or not, They have a legal agreement with Deere not to go around them on parts for Deere equipment.

I have this EXACT machine and motor. I have EXACTLY the same thing going on. I am not hte original owner. Right now, I have the choke cable adjusted so that when the lever is pushed all the way in, the choke is still about 1/2 closed. It runs like a scalded ape like this. If you fully open the choke, it bogs with any throttle.

OP, did you ever figure out what the deal was??