Tecumseh 6hp Tiller engine won't start

So I asked my father-in-law to borrow his yard machine tiller. He said if I can fix it, it's mine.

The last time it was used was over a year ago and the gas had been left in the tank. We were both confident that the carburetor needed to be cleaned or replaced, so that's where I began. After removing the carburetor I took it to a local shop where they cleaned it and replacement all the parts for it. They said with 100% confidence that it would work after replacing them...wish that were true.

After putting it back together, it still wouldn't start. It definitely sounds like it wants to turn over, but won't. I took the carburetor back off and noticed some black gunk in the bolt that holds it on (not sure of the correct term). I sprayed everything out again with carb cleaner, cleaned out the gas tank and fuel line with an air hose and tried again. I also replaced the spark plug. Still nothing.

When I removed the carb again I noticed the same blank gunk in the bolt. I'm a novice when it comes to working on engines and really don't know where to go from here. I'm guessing the gunk is the reason why it's not running, but I'm not sure where it's coming from. Any thoughts or other things to check?

The engine model number is 0hh60.

 

i don't know where it's coming from, but it may be the problem. Sounds like maybe the carb wasn't cleaned well or maybe a fuel line is turning to goo on the inside.

 

I think the black goo is the O ring on the nozzle, the shop probably soaked the carb in carb cleaner without removing the nozzle and the cleaner destroyed the O ring, remove the nozzle, replace the O rings, clean the bowl nut, don't miss the tiny hole at the top near the threads and it will probably be ok. Have a good one. Geo

 

Thanks, Geo. I've taken the carb apart a couple of times and cleaned each part individually, including replacing the O-Ring after the bowl was dry. The stuff that's in the bowl nut looks like dirt covered in oil. There's enough in it to fill the nut. After cleaning, reassembling and putting it back together I tried starting it again. Once it didn't work I took it apart again and noticed the sludge was back.

 

I think you might be right about the fuel line. I checked the bowl nut after work and could tell that whatever gunk was in it was now dry. Looks like rubber to me. Guess I'll replace the hose and see what happens.

 

Definitely found where the rubber was coming from. I was able to pop this piece out and out came this frayed rubber washer along with a lot of small pieces.



Is this the O-ring you were talking about, Geo?

 

Yes it is and there is another one stuck up in the carb from the top of the nozzle, I bend a tiny hook on a paper clip to get it out, it can be a pain to remove because it is usually falling apart. Put some lube on the top one when you reinstall or it will peel off the nozzle and don't forget to reclean the bowl nut. Have a good one. Geo

Also if you have a Harbor Freight close you can get a box of assorted for about $7 which will last a life time, small engine shop charge about $2 each.

 

Thanks, Geo. The one in the carburetor had disintegrated...probably where all the junk was coming from in the first place. I'm picking up the parts today and I'll give it another go.

 

Make sure all of the top O ring is removed, it can be hard to see up in there but if even a tiny piece remains it will block the new one from seating properly and you will have mystery problems. Have a good one. Geo

 

I got the old ones out and replaced them, still wouldn't start. I had my brother in law come over to see what he thought. He noticed that the primer ball didn't seem to be working correctly. We could get it to start up for about 2 seconds after pressing the ball over 10 times, but then it would die. I went and picked up a new one, installed it and now it runs fine. What a process.

 

On the old carb, you must have the outer airfilter adapter screw in place for it to prime as the screw goes into the primer circuit, if it is missing, it will not prime because the primer pressure goes through the screw hole and not to the bowl. Have a good one. Geo