I have seen similar issues in the archives...have gas leaking after turning off my mower. I bought a rebuild kit and replaced the float needle, still leaks. I saw a previous post by Cheese on a similar problem and recommendation was to polish the seat - haven't tried that yet. The manual references possible plugged bowl vent. I did not look for that the first time the carb was down - long shot, but could be possible contributor I suppose - thoughts?. Not sure how the "pressure" build up in the bowl could cause the float to be significantly less boyant. plus, isn't it likely this is the pathway the gas is taking to the throat of the carb when the bowl overflows? It is leaking pretty good. I have a gas line shut off that I use over the winter. I fired it up last night and then forgot to turn the fuel valve off. After a couple of hours there was a tea plate size leak stain on my garage floor.

So, is it possible to see the vent from inside the bowl area? Is the venthole easy to blow out with compressed air? How often does the polishing the seat work? I am trying to decide if its worth the effort of trying to take it apart one more time vs just buying a new carb. What about trying to 'reseat' with a 135 deg drill bit - way off the mark?

Just for the record, it can't be the antibackfire solenoid right? I do often get a single backfire on shutdown(even at low idle), but I'm fairly certain the last time I had it apart I checked and the solenoid was acting on 12V. I think there is a rubber stopper/gasket at the top of the solenoid - something that blocks the jet and I'm assuming it probably doesn't seal great so that even though the solenoid is operating I get some leak by...I don't have an issue with a single backfire at the end of a mow...but its annoying to have to try to remember to turn the fuel on an off after every start/stop or have a puddle of gas on the floor.

Thoughts?

 

Stay away with the drill bit,,if you put in a new needle already, polish the seat really good and it should seat. The vent hole should be a small bass port at the end of the carb near the choke plate, run a small wire through it and you should be goo to go. I normally bench test all my carburetors after cleaning and rebuilding then to make sure it will not leak after instalation,,saves doing it again. Good luck

 

I agree. There have been a few that I ran across that just would not quit leaking no matter what I did and required replacement of the carb. Usually I can stop them from leaking by replacing the needle and polishing the seat.

 

There is a kit from Kohler that has a replacement seat. I have used them a lot lately.

 

How does the kit with the replacement seat work? isn't it pressed in? wouldn't it have to be pressed out from the non sealing side?? are there instructions on line and/or do you hve a part number?

Thanks for the feedback...

also - it can't be the shut off solenoid right? That only comes into play when you have vaccum pulling fuel up through the jet right? no vaccum (engine shut down), no flow right?

 

The seat should just unscrew.
Sure there's not a shut off valve under the gas tank?

 

When you order the kit with the seat, it comes with a self tapping screw that you screw down into the seat and when you get down in so far you take a pair of plyers and pull it out, and then it comes with very good self explanatory instructions, you then press the seat in by using a drill press or what ever will work, the kit has a hard plastic block you use to press it in with and the float shaft is installed and you press it in till the block touches the shaft. Follow the instructions and you will do just fine.

 

Mowerdude, does this look like the part you have used before...

KIT, INLET SEAT (PRESSURE) Kohler Part # 1252104-S

 

Yes,,that's it._________________________