Well I'd say it sounded like a needle valve too except that it was tight to
start with and when you open it gas pours out.. Does the gas come out some
sort of line or hole in the carburator or does it pour out the hole where
the screw is?

An easy way to find out what that screw does is simply to remove it.. If it
is a needle valve it should come all the way out and look kind of like a
needle and be pointed on the end.. If not you'll probably have gas running
allover the place.

If it is running correctly now I wouldn't touch it though. Too much
potential to make it not run. If anything I'd take the carb and have it
cleaned or rebuilt at the local mower shop if it doesn't appear to have any
other screws on it.

- Mike

"James Sweet" wrote in message
news:Isbug.4030$Ss2.706@trnddc01...
Fred McKenzie wrote:
In article 5uYtg.190$us.158@trnddc04, wrote:


That sounds like the banjo bolt that holds the float bowl on. If you
loosen it up go figure fuel will leak out.


James-

There is a hex-head bolt on the bottom that probably holds the bowl in
place. The subject screw is on the side near the bottom, screwing in
towards the center of the bowl. It has a small hole on the bottom of the
tube it screws into, that appears to be the drain.

I ran the engine with the fuel valve shut off and choke on, to run out as
much fuel as possible. I removed the screw and there was still a few
drops of gas that drained.

The screw has a relatively sharp point and has a spring to keep it from
vibrating loose. In other words, it looks just like needle-valve
adjustments on other carburetors.

Someone on the rec.radio.amateur.equipment newsgroup posted a link to
http://www.smokstack.com/ which has forums on small engine and generator
set repairs. If I have any additional problems, that looks like a good
place to find help.

Fred


Hmm that really does sound like the needle valve, be careful not to crank
it down too tight, you can squish the tip. It may be for the idle mixture
if the engine still runs fine.