Betsy's sputtering

[larryfoster]

Wow!

I just realized that it has been a long time since I've been here.


I apologize and hope you may be willing to help me with a dilemma.

I guess it's been because Betsy has been a good girl and behaving.

Until now.

Starting last fall, she started sputtering and losing power while plowing and stalled under loads she had easily handled previously.
I guessed it was moisture in the gas and would drain the bottom of the carb, and add a little dry gas.

That seemed to help for a little bit but in a very short bit, the symptoms returned.
I kept having to do this every few minutes.

Finally, I put her away for the winter.

With spring finally getting here, I drained the carb and the tank as best as I could.
It was a little bit of a slope so I couldn't get it dry even though I got most of the gas

Drained the can as well and got fresh gas.
Put a little dry gas in the can and in the tank as well as some sea foam.

Same problem.
I'm thinking I don't want too much dry gas.

Thinking of getting new plugs and wires.
(I did check and the wires seemed to be on ok)

The plugs and wires were new 5 years ago and, just as a wild guess, have 250 hours on them.

Am I heading in the right direction?

I still want to think it's gas related because she works good for a couple minutes after draining.

Thanks, as always for your generous, patient help.

[tmays]

Sounds like fuel flow restriction to me. Check fuel flow. No need to start replacing parts unless you know they're bad.

[larryfoster]

Thanks for the fast reply, Thomas.
Where would you start looking for this?

I avoid taking the line off the carb like the plague because it's harder than the dickens getting it back on but wondering if that's where to start.
If I take the plug from the bottom of the carb, I guess I can turn the flow on and see what I get

[Rick Spivey]

Yes, look for a solid stream of fuel out the bottom even after the bowl drains. One quick thing is to remove and clean the main jet (brass on side of carb at bowl bottom), using air and a soft copper wire.

[larryfoster]

Thanks Rick.

Maybe a little carb cleaner?

Can I do this from the bottom plug?

[tmays]

Assuming IH carb. It's on side of carb as Rick said. One on bottom is just a plug. You can check fuel flow there if you want, but you can check flow and clean jet by pulling the jet on side of carb. Zenith carb is different

[larryfoster]

It is an IH carb.
Thank you.
I may be able to check it tomorrow evening. Weather permitting.

[Glen]

Hi,
Here is a page from a Cub owner's manual telling about cleaning the spark plugs. It says clean them every 200 - 300 hours. If you have gone 250 hours, they probably need cleaning.
I have found that if they get black between the electrodes it can make them misfire, or just steadily miss.
The main jet on the carburetor looks like a 6 sided bolt head, low on the side of the carb. Click on the pic makes it bigger.

http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub%20 ... age-27.jpg

[larryfoster]

Thanks for this, Glen.
The 250 hours is a real guesstimate but it sure won't hurt to check this stuff out

[larryfoster]

Update.

At first blush, I may have gotten Betsy running good with minimal fuss.

Here's what I did.
I took the thing out of the side and drained about a pint out..
The holes looked pretty clear.

Then I took the sediment bulb off and there was lots of gunk on the bottom of it.
Cleaned that, put everything back together and gave her a try.

It's pretty wet but I pulled a couple furrows and no hesitation or bogging down.



Cautiously optimistic.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[Charles (49) Mo]

Glad to hear the fix was simple.

[larryfoster]

Tentatively and seemingly.

Give her a little harder shove tomorrow

Thank you

[Glen]

Hi,
Glad the Cub is running better. Just wondered, you needed to be sure the hole in the end of the main jet is open and clean.
The fuel strainer is supposed to have a fine screen in the top, they get plugged or rot away after years, they need replacing with a new one if they are bad. You didn't say if you looked at it. Usually they need a new gasket for the glass bowl if the gasket is old, they don't seal good if you take off the bowl, and then use the old gasket again.

[larryfoster]

I replaced the strainer new 5 or 6 years ago.
I did not check the screen but it sounds like something I should
The gasket didn't leak before I took it off or after I put it back together.
The jet seemed to be clear.

Thanks for the reminder about those things.
I probably wouldn't have known about them

[Glen]

Hi,
I didn't know the fuel strainer was that new. It's probably still in good condition. It would be good to check the screen since you said it had dirt in the glass bowl. Glad the Cub is working better.