Snowblower carb help please!

[Juan Grande]

I have a Craftsman snowblower with a Tecumseh engine in it that won't start.  Bought a carb kit and replaced all the seals, the needle and the nozzle.  Put the carb back together and put it back on the snowblower.  When I put gas in the tank, it takes about a minute or so, but gas eventually starts leaking out of the carb.  It looks to be coming out of the bowl seal.  I've repositioned the bowl and tightened it down and the leak is still there.  I pulled the carb back off last night and tested to make sure the needle is seating correctly by blowing in fuel inlet with the float raised. Air won't get through so I think it's seated correctly.

 

The carb didn't leak before I worked on it. Not sure I'm doing wrong.  I'm a novice at small engine repair and I'm kind of learning as I go. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

John 

[witgey&water]

You are on the right path.  If it is leaking fuel it has to be coming from the needle and seat.  Maybe the float sticks? do the same test with it mount and see if you can get air pass the needle then.

[grundy]

before you put the bowl back on the carb make sure the float sets level. If it sets higher than level you are getting to much gas in the carb which will cause it to leak out someplace. You have to bend the tab where the needle hooks on to the bowl to make adjustments.

Edited January 25, 2017 by grundy

[Juan Grande]

Thanks guys.  Yeah, it looked like the float was level before I put it in.  It should be level if you hold it upside down, right?  It should hang down when it's right side up and the rising gas levels it out to close the needle?  

[leech~~]

You really have to see where it's coming from. If it's coming out of a gasket seal then you may not have both sides of the seal area cleaned like some old gasket still on it or you have the gasket pinched some where when putting it back together. If the leak is coming out of the throat of the carb then it would be the needle sticking open or the float not set right. I have found little pieces of sand or saw dust in the case of a chain saw stuck in the needle seat hole. I've found that a nice set of torch tip cleaning wires cleans that hole out nice. Just pic the right size wire and not to big to make the hole bigger.

 

Edited January 25, 2017 by leech~~

[grundy]

the float should be level like when its mounted on the snowblower. If the float sits higher it lets more gas in (keeps the needle away from the seat). If it is lower than level it doesn't let enough gas in. (whereas it won't fire or start. lack of gas).

[leech~~]

53 minutes ago, grundy said:

the float should be level like when its mounted on the snowblower. If the float sits higher it lets more gas in (keeps the needle away from the seat). If it is lower than level it doesn't let enough gas in. (whereas it won't fire or start. lack of gas).

 

You mite have that backwards. In the mounted position.  If the float is higher or up the needle will be closed. If it's lower it opens the needle and lets in more gas.

[Juan Grande]

Okay, I'll check how the float is sitting.  I want to say, when it's mounted, that the float tilts downward.  I didn't adjust that metal tab on the float and the carb never leaked gas before.  Is it correct that the gas should not rise up to the bowl seal if everything is working correctly? 

 

BTW, thanks so much for the help.  This has been driving me nuts!

[leech~~]

5 minutes ago, Juan Grande said:

Okay, I'll check how the float is sitting.  I want to say, when it's mounted, that the float tilts downward.  I didn't adjust that metal tab on the float and the carb never leaked gas before.  Is it correct that the gas should not rise up to the bowl seal if everything is working correctly?

 

BTW, thanks so much for the help.  This has been driving me nuts!

 

The float will tilt down when there is no gas in the carb. It will float up, with gas in it. The gas line should be right below the gasket seal but that really doesn't matter as in any motor used in a ATV, Snowmobile or anything else. once you start driving up and down the trails that gas is jumping around in the bowl like crazy, but the float still rises and falls as you use gas. Good Luck.

[C_Bass]

I just went through a similar scenario where I completely lost my patience and turned to the interwebs.  I bought a brand new carb with gaskets and primer on Amazon for $17, works like a champ!  Made me wonder why I screwed around with it for so long at that price.

[Juan Grande]

That was my first though C_Bass, but a friend of mine told me to go with the carb kit.  Kind of wishing I would have just bought a new carb.  

[SpecialK]

Another thing is the floats may have a hole in them and are not floating or raising when the gas level raises.  My friend had the same issue on one this year.  Dealer told him if they are the metal type to replace them with the plastic ones.

[Juan Grande]

Thanks SpecialK.  I'm at the point where I don't know if I should buy more parts or just buy a new carb.