Purchased an aftermarket carb in fall. Ran fine for fall chipping and also for a day of cleaning up in Jan. Ran the engine dry before storing. Now-no fuel getting to the bowl. Have checked fuel line. No obstructions plent of fuel reaching the carb. Took carb off and gave it a thorough cleaning. It only had about 3 hours of run time on it. No visible junk, varnish, etc. All ports were clear (wire, air and carb cleaner). Put it back together and installed. Still no fuel to the bowl. Float etc are all new and set to level. Saw no problem in seat area at all. Any thoughts? I thought w/ a gravity carb that filling the bowl would not be an issue. Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum.

Are you sure that the float is moving freely? Are you using a filter?

 

Carb is brand new, nearly, and worked five for a few hours. The carb is gravity feed. Changed the in line fuel filter to clear one. As soon as I open the tank shutoff the filter fills. Also pulled hose off the carb inlet and fuel ran free from the hose so I know fuel is at least reaching the intake.I was able to blow through the inlet fitting when carb was removed. Also ran small wire into it and sprayed carb cleaner through it. Doesn't appear to be any restrictions at all. Baffled!

 

Is your bowl a stamped sheet metal part or is it part of the carb body casting? If it's sheet metal make sure you have the it oriented properly. Some bowls are not symmetrical and have a low and high part to the bottom. If installed incorrectly the bowl pushes the float up and it will not allow fuel to enter. If you do have the bowl on incorrectly remove the carb and check the float and it's adjustment as you may have damaged something if you tightened the bowl when turned wrong.

If that's not it remove the bowl and make sure the float moves freely up and down and does not stick when in the up position. The float and it's needle valve should come right down as you allow the float to drop.

 

When you reassembled the carb, did you align all the components according to their respective notches and raised pegs?

RR

 

I have triple checked the float as that was the only thing I could think of besides an actual obstructin in the fuel inlet. That is why I am so puzzled. As noted earlier, the carb worked fine when I first put it on in the fall. It also worked fine when I used it later in the year. Why this issue suddenly came up is beyond me! May have to take it to a small engine place but that has to be a last resort. Something as simple as fuel not getting to the bowl should be something I can figure out but I am stumped and may have to bite the bullet.

 

I must be missing something, sounds pretty simple to me, remove the fuel line from the carb if fuel runs out as a steady stream flow is not the problem, if it doesn't remove the fuel line from the tank if fuel runs out the line is the problem, if not the problem is the tank or you are out of gas. Have a good one. Geo

 

Is there a fuel shutoff valve? Make sure it's wide open.

Try removing the gas cap. If the vent is obstructed fuel won't flow.

With the fuel line connected, remove the main jet needle valve. Fuel should run out.

 

It is possible something is plugging the inlet again. Long ago I inherited a snow blower that had sat with gas in it. I'd clean the carb and get it running. Sometimes it was good for 5 seconds and sometimes an hour. I finally figured out that varnish was breaking off from the inside of the fuel line and tank and re-clogging the newly cleaned carb. Once I replaced the fuel line and thoroughly cleaned the tank it ran reliably.

Or, you may just have bad luck with a piece of dirt or rust clogging the inlet in a one time deal.

 

Thanks for all the ideas, etc. Just took the carb off and went through it all for the 4th time.Everything looked perfect, as a new carb should. Still took out the needles, etc, sprayed the hell out of it with carb cleaner and reassenmbled it. Put it back on and started the first pull! Don't ask me because I don't know. I have shut it off and restarted it four times. Last time let it rum for about a full minute. Purring like a kitten. Guess it will remain one of those mysteries! I did nothing that I hadnt already done numerous time. Go figure. Again, thanks for all the responses.