J.D. 3010 Carbeurator Problems

There's a round spool lying sideways like a lathe that has 2 cables attached: one directly from the accelerator; the other...I dunno.

But this spool, with a maybe 1/8 inch gauge wire spring on it, sticks. If it sticks when the accelerator is at 80 MPH (or 3700? 4500? rpm...ooooeeee). I first noticed trouble 3 days ago when starting out in the morning...the car just kept accelerating: 25, 30,35...and the motor then was under power WITHOUT my foot on the pedal. Ouch. If I put it in neutral, the RPMs went way up...maybe 2000. But TODAY, it was sticking -- at a LOW speed going up a hill. My "tap" on the accelerator did nothing...in fact it felt frozen, but when I hit that pedal hard, it got stuck UP in the HIGH rpm range.

Having taken it apart, this 1 inch diameter thing the side of a spool of thread (2 pieces of plastic that seat inside one another and over a spindle in the carbeurator. What is sticking? The spindle? I think so.

Is this salvageable, do I need a whole new carbeurator or????

At cooler temperatures (under 70 or higher) the engine wants the carburetor heat block set for heat, that's in the owner's manual. I'm thinking that's at a higher temperature.

I asked the gas engine expert at the local JD dealer about the 4020 running rich. He said he had tricks but wouldn't talk to me further until I had replaced the float needle and seat (which I had in a sack in my hand when I asked).

With copper wires and some good AC plugs of the right heat range and the right ignition timing (though a badly worn distributor to stick advanced and to time other cylinders randomly is a distinct possibility yet) my 4020 runs with a clear exhaust, requires choking to start even in the Iowa summer time. It still smokes black when goosed after idling a few minutes. I presume the accelerator pump is worn causing it to supply extra fuel. By needing choking for starting, I figure I'm close to optimum and just use it.

The JD owner's manual has a good section on carburetor adjustments and ignition timing.

Gerald J.