Help a Forum Member out: Briggs & Stratton Engine

[JohnyMac]

I have 6 cords of wood to split and my Briggs & Stratton engine (12H701-1717-b1) is no cooperating.

Last weekend I was splatting wood when I ran out of gas in my log splitter. So I filled the tank like I have done 100 times before and the engine wouldn't start.

Actually it would but only for 1-2 seconds then it would stall. Replaced the spark plug, changed out the gas for a newer purchase and swapped out the fuel line which was old. Pulled the starter cord and the engine would turn over and actually start but would die after about 2-3 seconds.

Well the engine on this log splitter is over 15 years old so I ordered a carburetor kit. Swapped out all of the old parts, cleaned the heck out of the carburetor head, reinstalled every thing and after pulling the start cord the engine would run for 2-3 seconds and then die. Mmmmmm 

Oil level is good so it ain't that.

Sent a email to B&S outlining the above but have not heard back from then as yet (Not surprising - Who wants to deal with customers).

Any suggestions ladies and gentlemen? 

[Reaver]

Hire a local to split it for you.

Be more costly but I sure someone would appreciate the work.
I'd do it for you if you didn't live a gagillion miles away.

[special-k]

Will it keep running if you squirt fuel (starting fluid/ether OR wd-40 in a pinch) directly into the air intake? 

Remove paper filter if using wd-40.
Give it another squirt every time it starts to die.
But don't run it off of ether for too long (20-30 seconds at most then let it cool.)

[JoJo]

Two questions
1 Did you use air pressure to blow out the carbs passage ways?
2 Did you replace the fuel line from inside the tank?

Some small engines have a fuel filter inside the tank. It is possible, when you ran out of gas the engine sucked up dirt and clogged the filter or the line if there isn't a filter. Try blowing air back into the tank with air from a compressor.

[Nemo]

I have to agree.  You got crud somewhere blocking fuel flow.  Clean everything from gas cap to exhaust valve seat.  Start with the carb because if it was fuel filter or something I suspect it would run longer on the fuel in the carb bowl.  Has to be something in the carb.

Nemo

[brat]

First.....Go thru this guide

http://www4.briggsandstratton.com/miscpdfs/RNT/Carburetion_Troubleshooting_Detail_Reference_Guide.pdf

Second..... At 15 yrs. old, before putting anymore money in it, just replace it with a Subaru or Honda GX for a couple of C notes and move on. You'll be good for another 15-20 years.

[JohnyMac]

Thank you gents for your offers and suggestions.

I re took apart the carburetor and did indeed use compressed gas to make sure the passage ways were open.

My neighbor came over to see what I was up to and asked similar questions that you all asked. One thing he noticed as the engine ran for it's 2-3 seconds, the hydraulic on/off lever of the splitter would jump into gear.

We tightened up on the lever fasteners, made sure the hydraulic lever/gear was in neutral. Got the engine to run 5-10 seconds. Gave it a shot of ether...pulled the starter cord and she started. Played with the throttle a bit and she kept going. YEAH 

Split a few logs before shutting her down.

Thanks again for your help.

PS: Great B&S starting flow chart brat. 

[Shadow]

Its hard to diagnose internal combustion engine problems when you are there and we are here.

It's like calling a doctor and saying - " I'm sick!, what is wrong with me?"

Until the doctor diagnoses the problem and finds a cure, the problem is still there.

I found a green weed eater a couple of weeks ago, laying in the trash in a city, it even had gasoline in the tank.

I brought it home, drained the gasoline, discovered that there was too much 2 cycle oil in the fuel and sediment in the tank.  I took out the spark plug and cleaned it and sprayed either in the combustion cylinder and managed to get it to run for a couple of seconds at a time...

I thinned out the gasoline and just let it sit for two weeks and it actually started

If I take it apart, it is going to need all new fuel lines and probably some work done to the carburetor and maybe even a new fuel tank.  Something is stuck inside of the carb and it is leaking when it sits.

If it was life or death, I would have taken it all apart and tried to get it to run properly.
But since anything I do past this point involves spending money, I will just work on it a little at a time until I get it to work.  The big thing is - it has been very humid outside and I don't work well in the heat.

The grass has turned brown and I really don't care if it grows or not.

The weeds are the least of my problems...