clanking sound in carb...engine quits...

14 years ago

I have a Craftsman (model- 917.272264) with a Briggs & Stratton 25hp engine (model- 407777 type-0124 E1) The past couple days it has been starting right up fine, but after 20 to 30 seconds the engine starts to wind down a little bit and then eventually starts "missing" (I think) It revs way up and back down over and over until the engine shuts off.

I checked the fuel line and filter. Both are fine.

Meanwhile when I started it again I began to hear a little clanking sound somewhere in the engine. Took the carb bowl off and cleaned it, but there wasn't really anything in it to clean out anyway. Ran the engine while adding carb cleaner and it seemed to run pretty good as long as I was adding the cleaner. As soon as I stopped it would start revving and you could hear the clanking again. At some points it was VERY loud like it was backfiring.

Any ideas?? I'm new to tractors, but I'm a quick learner and understand things easily. I really don't want to pay someone hundreds of dollars to do something I could do myself.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

walt2002
14 years ago
Sounds to me like a fuel starvation problem. Plugged gas cap vent, fuel line, filter.

IF gravity feed from tank, disconnect fuel line and see if there is a good flow. Remove gas cap and try, place lips against fuel tank fill and blow (do not inhale!)

IF it has a solenoid on the bottom of the carb, see if it is working, clicks when power is applied, key turned on.

Walt Conner
barrymorrissey
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for your time.

It does have a solenoid and it does click when I turn the key. IT is definitely not the gas cap vent or the fuel filter. The line from the tank to the filter is ok, but I wasn't sure how to easily check the line going to the engine without completely taking it off and running gas through it.

There is also something else on the line I'm not sure of. IT is after the filter and it is a black plastic container about the size of shoe polish or chewing tobacco containers. One line comes in from the filter, one line goes out to the engine, and a third line goes down to what I think is the exhaust (??) I don't have the manual. I suppose a parts diagram would help. Perhaps this is the solenoid you speak of? Or at least part of the fuel pump process or whatever.

I should probably mention that prior to this problem it did occasionally cut out after say an hour of mowing. It would begin to rev up and down alot, and then cut out. I was told I had the throttle too high and since lowering it I haven't had the problem until now.

Also there is a problem with the alternator/regulator draining the battery. I find that if I keep it charged I can cut my whole lawn before it runs out so I wasn't worried about having it serviced anytime soon. I assumed these two problems were completely unrelated but figured you might know something I don't and this could be the clue that helps figure out whats going on

Thanks again
Related Discussions
lawnboy 10323 questions rattle sound
Q
Comments (5)
Respectfully disagree with you Sax on this one. The sound he is hearing is piston slap. It is common among 2-cycle engines in general but even more so with the Duraforce. I suspect the Duraforce has slightly more piston to cylinder clearance to begin with than older models. Anyway, as the crankshaft is partially either up or down it the rod puts a lateral force on the piston and causes it to "slap" against the cylinder wall and make a clanking sound. The sound is more prominent when the engine is slowing down or speeding up. Water cooled 2 cycle engines dampened the noise quite a bit because of the water jacketed cylinder as opposed to the noise amplifying fins on air cooled engines. Suzuki and some others went so far as to put rubber cushions between the cylinder fins to dampen the clanking sound. The sound he is hearing could be worse than normal if the engine has ever had a partial piston seizure. Now.....that being said, It is slighly possible that a crack in the rod on the big end with excessive play in the needle bearings would make a clanking sound but it would not be long for this world if you know what I mean. Piston slap is the noise that gave 2 cycle Japanese motorcycles their characteristic sewing "machine" sound. One of the worst offenders in the piston slap noise arena was the Kawasaki 750cc triple. It was an air cooled wildly ported 3 cylinder big bore 2 stroke that would throw you off in a heart beat. It had a ton of piston slap because they has to make it relatively loose to prevent seizures. The Suzuki 3 cylinder 2 cycle 750 was water cooled and much quieter. As far as curing the noise in the Duraforce. If it is bothering you too much about all you could do is replace the piston and hope you have a tight enough piston to cylinder clearance to not make the noise. A completely different engine of a new shortblock would solve the problem too.
...See More
Vacuum fuel pumps:
Q
Comments (16)
Well, i had made up a breather box with another tube inserted into it, and ran a hose to the pump--didn't work. So, i put the original back on. Then i drilled the dipstick tube, and inserted a nipple. Ran hose to pump--nothing. Tried various configurations of hook ups--nothing! Ran gasoline all over the floor--nothing, not even a fire on floor. So, i rigged up an auxiliary tank on top of the fly cover, plumbed it in to the carb, and gravity did the rest. The engine started and ran until i shut it off. But then, the tractor didn't move. Upon inspection, i found the main drive belt hadn't made it onto the top pulley, so i had to put that on, and then my wife called me for dinner, and i quit for the day! A fellow tractor fixer is going to check the pump for me tomorrow, so i might get it right yet! Thanks for all the helpful info! Rustyj
...See More
Harman Advance Problems HELP!!
Q
Comments (13)
Hi John, I thank you so much for your comments. I live in Ma, so I'm not that far away. Since your first response I have done the following. I tightened up the chain to remove all of the slack. The noises the thing were making have drastically subsided!!! Every now and then you get a little clank or pop when it catches a pellet, but that's about it. I pulled out the outside air intake flex-hose and it really seems to burn much better. My father-in-law was like, no no no, the outside air will be much better. I told him to read the manual and it says the only benefit to outside air is for small tight homes or mobil homes..... Needless to say the outside air is gone!!! The burn pot is much cleaner, I do scrape it daily and the last two days the carbon build up is down. The only thing I noticed is the glass doors are a little more dirty on the sides, but if the thing will run like it's been, I can live with that!!! How often do you scrape carbon from yours???? and do you find the glass doors become dirty on the sides??? Frig Harman and their dealers, it seems the actual owners are much more knowledgeable.... Please respond when you have a chance. Many Many Thanks!!!!
...See More
Need low vibration FL washer third floor old house
Q
Comments (17)
Update: the Home Depot delivery guys said it was an "extremely dangerous" delivery to take it up to our third floor (note I already have full size GE stackable up there. They said it was probably brought up via magic-really!). They made a big stink and said they may drop it and put a big hole in my wall and they went on and on about possible injury to themselves. However, they put it on us to decide whether we wanted it delivered and said we would have to waive any damage. I sent it back. (More drama with other washer they were delivering to the basement I will spare you.). Home Depot was great but I had to call them and have them call delivery company to get workers to leave other washer. It was very complicated and stressful. Two hours of back and forth about it! So I'm back to square one with the third floor washer. I'm thinking I will shop at local appliance store so they can advise on the delivery and won't subcontract. (They are the ones who suggested Electrolux for third floor but I went with Home Depot because of better price). What are your thoughts on a "compact" washer/dryer. Bosh has 24in. Electrolux has one too. It will be easier to get it up the stairs but I know nothing about "condensing" dryers. Note we have new large capacity washer in the basement so I don't need to do super large loads upstairs. Thoughts? Thanks!
...See More
barrymorrissey
Original Author
14 years ago
Well I say the fuel filter is ok. I unhooked the line AFTER the filter so I had gas running from the tank and through the filter and it flowed right out freely. The filter itself is dark in color. No gunk, just kinda old looking. Maybe I should just go ahead and replace it anyway?

Also, not including back when I had the throttle too high, this all started when I put a new tank of gas in it. It ran good for about fifteen minutes then this started and it has been happening ever since. Maybe there is just a ton of water in the gas or something? Any thought on this?
walt2002
14 years ago
"this all started when I put a new tank of gas in it. It ran good for about fifteen minutes then this started and it has been happening ever since."

I would drain the tank, line and carb and refill with fresh gas from somewhere else.

Walt Conner
barrymorrissey
Original Author
14 years ago
Well not exactly the same problem. Before it would start up fine, then die after 30 seconds. Now it STARTS fine, but as soon as I push the choke back in it dies. I tried about ten times hoping that maybe I just needed to get some gas in the system. Having people over tomorrow, so I guess I'll have to pay someone to cut my grass...
walt2002
14 years ago
"Now it STARTS fine, but as soon as I push the choke back in it dies."

Still fuel starvation. Your battery going down may not be keeping the carb solenoid open all time or fully causing the problem you mentioned after you mowed an hour or so.

Walt Conner

clanking sound in carb...engine quits...

Comments (6)

walt2002

barrymorrissey
Original Author

Related Discussions

barrymorrissey
Original Author

walt2002

barrymorrissey
Original Author

walt2002

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

clanking sound in carb...engine quits...

Comments (6)

walt2002

barrymorrisseyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

barrymorrisseyOriginal Author

walt2002

barrymorrisseyOriginal Author

walt2002

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

barrymorrissey
Original Author

barrymorrissey
Original Author

barrymorrissey
Original Author