Engine trouble

[millwright]

I tend to agree with sawguy, and that might explain the fouled plugs, this is normally a sign of too rich of a mixture.

[Gary_C]

You need new plugs, not cleaned ones.

I have gone thru this problem every fall with an older gas tractor loader. As soon at the gas stations change to their fall grade of gas, that tractor fouls the plugs. The first year it happened I went thru all the stuff you are doing and more. Put in a new set of plugs and it ran perfect.

Now every fall I make sure I have a new set of plugs on hand and as soon as it starts running rough and lacks power, I change the plugs. Then it runs like a new engine. And I have tried cleaning the old plugs too, and it does not help.

Just put in new plugs and see what happens. 

[Left Coast Chris]

Sounds like the fuel pump diaphragm.  Just in case though, you also mentioned that there was a sediment bowl in the line.   Be very sure to remove and dump the bowl.  Even a speck can cause fuel starvation.

[5quarter]

Guys...you don't know how much I appreciate your help. How critical is it that I get the OEM fuel pump for this motor? It doesn't regulate fuel flow, just pressurizes the fuel intake line, right? I've found several pumps that are supposed to replace the walbro 3028, ranging in price from $20- $51. Is the #520159 stens pump made in America? I'd prefer to buy USA over any import. I'm going to get something tomorrow one way or the other. Keep you fingers crossed.

   Hout worm...Not practical where I'm at....but at least I wouldn't have to worry about the fuel system!

  Gary...I just installed new plugs last wednesday. I try to change the plugs in all my stuff every winter. I was hoping that the trouble was that simple, but since this is me, the solution cannot be simple

   KnotBB..I just recently drained and cleaned my tank and float (about 3 weeks ago or so). I was thinking of replacing the float with a second in line paper filter. Good idea or would it just clog up too fast?

   Al...at the risk of sounding stupid in front of god and country, where on this motor is the coil and what exactly does it do??

Thanks again all!

Chet

[ladylake]

 Also if you leaking gas into the oil change your oil.    Steve

[5quarter]

Happy days! I'm up and running! Here is the story for any interested parties.

   I called Briggs this morning to get some guidance and a parts breakdown of this engine. it turns out that this motor originally had an integrated fuel pump, or what the parts manual calls a carburater pump. Years before I got this engine, the pump had failed and rather than rebuild it, the owner had bypassed the original pump entirely and installed an external vacuum pump. The briggs tech  said that pump failure was common on this particular motor, but that officially he could only recommend rebuilding the original. So I went out looking for a vacuum pump comparable to to the old one.  Turns out that lots of places can order one, but nobody, and I mean nobody, had one in stock. So I went to the boneyard.

   A friend of mines dad own a small engine place. His dad wouldn't let me go through the bulk of the yard, but said I could go through a pile of blown engines by the side of the building. in 5 minutes I had my pump. 5 dollars later, I was on my way back to the mill. got connected and ran it to see if that fixed the trouble. bingo!  It ran smooth under load and at idle, and so I finished cutting the walnut on the bunks and shut it down. restarted easy.  I still have to make a mount for the new pump and recut the new fuel lines, but after worrying for several days that it was something worse, the rest seems like nothing. With some luck, I might be able to finish all the sawing work before the snow flies.

   Many thanks to everyone for your excellent advice.

Back to work.

[TimGA]

Super ! Glad to hear you are up and running. Thanks for sharing your fix. Sorry to scare you with valve issue, most times turns out to be simpler like you found.  Tim

[Chuck White]

Glad to hear you have your problem taken care of Tim.

Sometimes it doesn't take much to cause a string of headaches.

[Magicman]

   And we all learned a bit from your experience.