A bit of advice

fixerupper · May 3, 2022

I have seen this mentioned before on this forum so I am being a bit redundant here. This spring when you grab that can of carb cleaner to help get your lawn mower or old tractor going for the first time after the long winter nap, read the label on the can. Yesterday the carb cleaner wasn't making the mower engine fire. Finally I looked at the can and it was labeled non flammable. Duh. Went back to the shop and grabbed some electrical contact cleaner that was labeled highly flammable and it did the trick. The mower chugged and smoked like crazy till it had cleared it's throat of the non-flammable stuff but it did take off and run. I used a whiff of ether on this mower one time. It knocked like crazy so that was the last time it got ether.

Ellis Kinney · May 3, 2022

Brake cleaner always does the job for me. Ellis

OregonAaron · May 3, 2022

I have used acetone in a squirt bottle and it worked great

guido · May 3, 2022

fixer upper,

I posted this a couple of times.

Any spray bottle will do. I use a two
cycle mix.

A water bottle with a hole in the cap will
do too, safe and cheap....

Guido.

jimg.allentown · May 3, 2022

If everything is right, any engine should start quickly and on its recommended fuel. Starting procedures can vary.
I find that most 2-cycle engines are finicky about starting. I have one 7-hosepower engine that will only start if
you do it ''correctly'' so to speak. Give the cord a quick pull, and it will kick back and not start. Turn it
slowly up against compression, and give it a steady pull through TDC, and it starts nearly instantly every time.
Had to learn this the hard way.

But, I guess we won't have to worry about this much longer. Everything will be electric and will start every time
you turn the switch (LOL)!

in-too-deep · May 3, 2022

That's an old chloroseptic bottle. Brings comfort to many a sore throat.

fixerupper · May 3, 2022

This is a Kohler twin. That vacuum operated fuel pump just doesn't do the trick at cranking speeds. Leave it sit over winter , the carb dries out and it is a no start situation in the spring no matter how long the starter cranks it over. Whatever flammable liquid that works needs to be fed down the throat of the carb until the carb fills and the engine runs on it's own. I could pour gas down the carb too but an aerosol can is easier.

stevieb49829 · May 3, 2022

I have a large syringe that I fill with chainsaw mix. It has a long blunt needle that I can stick way down the carb to give it a drink. Sometimes it will take a shot or two to get it running off the fuel pump. The mix oil helps lubricate, instead of drying it out like ether or carb/brake cleaner. I'm toying with a very small hole in the rubber air cleaner boot so I don't have to remove the air cleaner to do this. I always disassemble the syringe when done, because the gas will swell the rubber and make it inoperable.

guido · May 3, 2022

in-too-deep,

OK I'll byte: How the heck did you now? It is a glass one

Guido.

miangus · May 3, 2022

The smoke from burning brake cleaner is highly poisonous. Do not breathe the exhaust from an engine that is combusting brake cleaner.

guido · May 3, 2022

fixerupper,

If a spray can is what you want to use,
try wd40. Is it is flammable. As a bonus
you will introduce some lubrication,

Guido.

miangus · May 3, 2022

https://www.brewracingframes.com/safety-alert-brake-cleaner--phosgene-gas.html

fixerupper · May 3, 2022

(quoted from post at 09:51:18 05/03/22) fixerupper,

If a spray can is what you want to use,
try wd40. Is it is flammable. As a bonus
you will introduce some lubrication,

Guido.
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto124686.jpg>

Will have to get a can of WD40 just to have around. I don't use it for anything else around here.

in-too-deep · May 3, 2022

I dunno... just caught my eye I guess. The triangular shape and the style of the sprayer nozzle. I'm too young for glass ones, though.

rustyfarmall · May 3, 2022

(reply to post at 07:42:37 05/03/22) [/q
uote]

I simply remove the air cleaner and pour a dribble of gasoline directly into the carburetor.

kencombs · May 3, 2022

Not true of all brake cleaners. Only true for those that are labeled as chlorinated. Most brands have both types available, the safe one is the cheaper of the two. The labels will spell out the presence of chlorine, the bad part.

The bad stuff works a little better, but I no longer buy it.

Fritz Maurer · May 3, 2022

You probably shouldnt breathe the exhaust of an engine combusting gasoline either.

fixerupper · May 3, 2022

Do any of you guys use this stuff? I got a couple dozen cans of it from the estate of a good friend a couple years ago but I haven't tried it out till this afternoon. The label claims it contains Hexane. I sprayed it on every moving part of an old hay rake I am freeing up. While it was soaking I used a cutoff wheel to cut of a farmerized bolt and whole rake went up in flames. Whooffff! A spark from the cutoff wheel touched it off. Went up like gasoline but the flame was more of an alcohol type flame with a red tinge to it. I always have a garden hose hooked up in the shop but in the 30 seconds it took to get the hose ready the flames had died down to a few flames licking up here and there. Even the product that dripped on the floor caught fire. It kind of gave me a raise in pulse, whooo. This stuff would have started that mower engine in a heartbeat. It foams up a little when it is sprayed, I suppose that is some kind of lubricant added to it. So here is another bit of advise, no sparks or flames when you use this stuff. It goes up like gasoline.

I suppose if you want to get a little more kick out of this penetrant on something that is all steel pull it outside, spray it down with this stuff and touch it off but stand back when you do it.

DMartin9N-2N · May 3, 2022

.Good afternoon: This is almost off topic, as it is something I do with my 212 Deere lawn/garden tractor with Kohler engine. If I run out of gas, then put gas in tank, the fuel pump has a hard time getting flow going again. Starting fluid is my cure. I can sit on a milk crate beside the tractor, spray fluid into carb with right hand, operate key switch with left hand.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.

smileykeith · May 3, 2022

WD 40 works and lubs cyl and is flamable

Brian G. NY · May 3, 2022

I use 2-stroke gas also.....I use a pump type oil can. I like a little lube in my starter fluid too.

(quoted from post at 16:18:52 05/03/22) fixer upper,

I posted this a couple of times.

Any spray bottle will do. I use a two
cycle mix.

A water bottle with a hole in the cap will
do too, safe and cheap....

Guido.
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto124674.jpg>

SDE · May 3, 2022

With my old JD 165, I would pour gas into the carb., and sometimes even back fill the fuel line. It made the first start of
the season quicker without running the battery down to almost dead.

RESLLS · May 3, 2022

Ford 3600 if started every other day fires
right off. Leave it sit for 3 days and no
go no matter how long you crank it. Drilled
a small hole in rubber intake tube. I use a
squirt bottle,, dog earwash bottle, filled
with 2 stroke mix. 1/2 oz or so, put a 16
penny nail in the hole and it fires right
off. One of these days I'll buy a Zenith,
and get rid of the Holley junk.

A bit of advice

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