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Harry K Harry K is offline
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Default Troy-Bilt chipper w/ 8 HP B&S motor problem

On Jun 3, 10:56 am, Meat Plow wrote:
On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:17:53 +0000, timO' wrote:
On Jun 3, 11:09 am, Meat Plow wrote:
On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 07:29:08 -0700, Harry K wrote:
On Jun 3, 6:28 am, timO' wrote:
I borrowed a Try Bilt chipper from a friend who said it hadn't been
used for a few years so no guarantees it would start.
It has a battery starter, but the battery is dead so I put in a little
fresh gas and gave it a try
After a few tugs gas came out the exhaust. I took off the air filter
and gas was down in the neck.
I'm thinking this unit was stored outside, and the carb froze and
cracked.
TIA.


Unlikely froze or cracked (gas doesn't freeze at normal temps). Most
likely is that it was stored with gas in it that has gummed up the
carb. The excess gas will almost certainly be due to the needle valve
being stuck open.


Warning: Do not fix the carb and then start that motor. Do a total
oil change first as the crankcase is probably also full of gas.


Harry K


This happened on my 3800 watt generator before I started using Sta-Bil in
everything year round. Doesn't take much to gum up a float and needle and
yes the crank case needs drained and refilled.


So you use an additive to the gas so it doesn't gum up, and the water
which might be in the fuel or which condenses in the system won't
freeze? I'm not a ace mechanic but if I disassemble the carb, I can
examine the needle valve, and clean it out thoroughly. It looks like
there is an in-line fuel filter which is obviously not blocked.
thanks for the additional info.


Never had a problem with water. If it's going to collect somewhere it will
be in the crank case not the fuel system. Once the engine is hot any
condensation will evaporate. And it's not likely to collect condensation
sitting idle over the winter. And yes do use a fuel stabilizer like
Sta-Bil. It does a great job and may even help prevent condensation. All
my small motor tools stay out in the shed over winter and since I've been
using Sta-Bil they always start easy the next spring.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


I have had water in the gas problems. Usually pull a float bowl and
you can find a drop or two in there. Not enough to worry about it
freezing and breaking anything though.

Last winter I got a wake up. About 10 below and I picked up the can
to fill the snowblower. Heard a 'rattle' in the can. Yep, a thin
sheet of ice was in the bottom. I decanted all the gas into a clean
coffee can then into another can to be sure I didn't have any water
in it, then shook out the chunks of ice before refilling the can.
That can had been in use for probably over 10 years without ever being
totally dumped.

Harry K