I was literally just experiencing that very same issue and I agree with the comments and your theory about sucking air. I replaced the carb gaskets and made sure the alignment was lined up correctly and the surging went away.
*This mower....... changed my life **Bestfor.Garden** also recommend I never thought I would see the day when I would ever make the switch to electric yard tools. But this was one of my best decisions yet. My old 15+ year old gas mower snapped its pull string while trying to get it to fire up and instead of fixing it, I chose to upgrade instead.*
hey Bill check the Puls line from the fuel pump to the engine may have a hole in it! And Spray car cleaner around the Manaifold gaskets if it smooths otu it is leaking at the Manifold! Another thing to check if you have a gas tank you could put directly on to the fuel line to the carb and see if it runs better with it that way! I Caution though take the fuel line from the tank off at the fuel pump off there! If it runs better it is a problem with the fuel pump!
Hey can you please help me what is the name of that bottom part of the carburetor with the white circle my mower cranks up fine but after I ran it for a while when I turn it off and try to crank it back up, it will not start. I have to reach back there and unplug the plug and crank it. It will start think I just need to replace that part there, but I don’t know the name would really appreciate if you can help me. Thank you.
Split the fuel line at the filter and take compressed air and blow back toward the fuel tank to clear the line Then bypass the filter for second and see if it still surges could be dirty filter or the vent in the cap on the tank is not working
Bill clean up the coil packs check for contamination of the air gaps and then clean up the magnet check and clean any rust particules affecting the air gaps then regap also I think the inlet seals had been misaligned during original assembly and got worse over time cos remember the choke was always a little funny that's why you had to alter the direction of the spring I think its probably a intake leak but It could also be a faulty coil pack you will be better making sure it is not the inlet seals and then work back to the coils but it is worth cleaning them up first regards Alan.
i have the same setup same thing at 30 hours it started surging took carb off cleaned real good changed gaskets and o rings but same thing surging i bought a carb from ebay Chinese one and the thing runs perfect its something in the carb i took the welch plug out on top of carb to check idle circuit but was very clean there is no adjustment behind that welch plug at a later date im going to drill the idle circuit a little bit bigger and see if that works some people say that the epa makes the manufactures lean out these carbs to barely run good but as they break in they need more fuel thus the surging after break in!!
Very curious issue. I have seen small leaves and bugs in the gas tank, blocking the outlet, cause this kind of surge, but with that issue you would never get full throttle. I believe you can mow normally at full throttle? A fuel pump that is going bad could do that surge too. Try bypassing the tank and pump, by connecting a small gas tank to the carb directly, and hanging it above the engine, so the pump would not be needed. use a fuel filter inline with this test. Also, Try moving that small spring on the govner back to its original location.
At least you had a go, you didnt make it worse so thats fine. I would hang a container of petrol above it and direct feed that into the carb input, that would show if the pump has a problem.
It's the jets or emulsion tube. If you take it apart again take an old wire brush and pull off a few bristles and use one of them holding it with some needle nose and run it through the jets to clean them out and any of the holes including the emulsion tube. Gas can get gummy and cause varnishing
it's starving itself of fuel, that's why it evens out with partial choke on. The idle jet is plugged or dirty. it has to be taken apart and cleaned. Compressed air is not enough.
Bill ALERT ALERT when working on a carb you will have to take the jets out of the carb and completely disassemble, and it can be as small as a human hair will cause it to surge,, Also make sure he is not using E 10 fuel, thats whats causing the carb o rings to have a little crusty on it, If it was your coils you would have to let the engine run at full throttle for 30 mins Or it would not start ITS NOT A SPARK PROBLEM. Its not a fuel delivery problem I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT. I am a certified Kawasaki, Kohler, Onan, and Briggs mechanic only been working on small engines for 45 years I seen a thing or two I will never retire I prefer to die in the shop. Hope the info helps, I got to get back to work!
I have the exact same Nikki carb, intake, Etc on my Troy-Bilt z-54 Mustang with a 22 hp b & s. Even though the unit is 2 years old it had a whopping 12 and a half hours when started surging on me I took the carb off to clean it and I treat it like I do a lot of my car repairs I go into it with my past knowledge of other vehicles applied to the same job even if it's a little different without watching the video only watch the videos after the fact when I'm scratching my head or run into a problem so when I put it back on the mower barely wanted to run and I had to have the lever all the way up for it to the choke to even try to idle and it was almost blowing like black smoke I'm assuming it's running way too rich question is isn't there a little bran jet that's inside that white plastic tube that is part of the float system cuz I heard that can fall out and I don't see one on mine and I'm wondering if because that's not there anymore its just dumping too much fuel and I just might as well just buy a whole new carb..?.?
Bill that surging problem has something to do with the governor. Used to work for sears back in the 90s and my job was to go work on riding mowers and push mowers. I came across this problem a lot on the riding mowers. Usually it was the internal parts of the governor. No one had figured it out and they would just put a new engine on the mower. I decided to play a hunch and just replaced the internal governor and it fixed it. Once I did that all mower techs were advised about the governor and we replaced fewer engines.
If it’s not the carb next is fuel pump cheap insurance to change, then I’d add a fuel stabilizer yea I know but if the fuel is contaminated from filling best to see star tron or sta bil. Add that to the tank. Or an octane booster or add mid or premium fuel to see if the octane isn’t the issue. Causing spark knock. Things to eliminate till it quits surging. Help to start it hold the choke open till it about dies let off. Run in medium throttle get some heat into her
bill all those valve covers leak. but not that high up. not much oil in them. the briggs and station, kolher and Kawasaki fix is high heat temp nice bead of rtv sealer maybe yours is just dirty and dust kick up onto it, on a horizontal shaft single cylinder like mine your muffler right under the valve cover so you know when its leaking cause now your 007 laying down a smoke screen lol
You might want to give stop stuff called dynaflex Ultra can a black tube and the color of the sealant is black says lifetime mold mildew and weatherproof that works from 40 to 400 degrees I use it when I need a liquid gasket stop leaks on a tin roof fix something that's plastic that's got a crack in it under the hood
I had this problem and ended up replacing the carb. Found one for less than $30. From what I've read, the rubber gaskets in the bowl will start to disintegrate and cause the fuel flow to fluctuate.
Ratchet wrenches the way to go I love mine but I get confused bc I got the first generation I guess you could call it...it doesn’t have the clicker system you just gotta turn it over to reverse I always get confused lol
I take dehydration over heat stroke any day. Beside, good excuse to drink more, electrolytic beverages. Seriously, no beer here but if there's ever a time...
Bill, surging is caused by lack of fuel, I noticed when you held the governor it smoothed out. You have a blockage somewhere in the fuel system. Fuel tank , pump, filter, or carb has a blockage. Eliminate one at a time till you find it.
Idle hunt like bill has is a vacuum leak all holding the governor does is increase's sleep of said engine .fuel blockage would stall out his engine and would be hard to start.
Are you getting excessive are for the metered fuel that is coming in and I could also be caused by those gaskets not sealing properly or they are warped at the three different points that they meet metal
From everything I'm reading online it says the screws could be out of adjustment for the carburetor. Yes I know you just clean the carburetor but just figured I'd mention
If your still having problems with it tack it back to the store where you got it and if they say they can’t do anything look at a toro zero turn with the toro engien mine has the toro engien and never had problems with it
Oh man, I dislike those Nikki carbs. All those plastic parts, baffles and O-rings. I had one on a single cylinder B&S in an Ariens and it gave nothing but trouble. I replaced it with another brand carb which was more conventional.
Thats the dumbest carb ever built. Easiest way to find a leak/ vacuum is use starter fluid or propane and just start spraying it around all spots where theres o rings or gaskets while the engine is running. if the rpm goes up you have found the source of the vacuum leak. Do it with a cold engine.
You actually replied to me I do appreciate this you are a legend in my book you are just terrific what you do you are a genius I'm trying to be really serious I love watching your videos even though one I watch him three or four times and I love the snow one
Carburetors like that are junk I hate them and parts for them are rediculus to that one gasket is $15. That one looks like a Nikki carburetor I have four of them and they all are junk.
I hate that carb, worst carb design ever made and it's on all kinds of stuff, once it starts the idle surge it's very tough to resolve. Stupid Nikki carb... I've got the same carb on one of my mowers and I've never been able to get it to stop surging, lots of youtube vids on it too. I've seen some folks drill out the idle jet with micro drill bits to smooth it out.
![How To Properly Maintain A Zero Turn Mower! [Don't Skip These Items!]](/img/n.gif)
I was literally just experiencing that very same issue and I agree with the comments and your theory about sucking air. I replaced the carb gaskets and made sure the alignment was lined up correctly and the surging went away.
*This mower....... changed my life **Bestfor.Garden** also recommend I never thought I would see the day when I would ever make the switch to electric yard tools. But this was one of my best decisions yet. My old 15+ year old gas mower snapped its pull string while trying to get it to fire up and instead of fixing it, I chose to upgrade instead.*
hey Bill check the Puls line from the fuel pump to the engine may have a hole in it! And Spray car cleaner around the Manaifold gaskets if it smooths otu it is leaking at the Manifold! Another thing to check if you have a gas tank you could put directly on to the fuel line to the carb and see if it runs better with it that way! I Caution though take the fuel line from the tank off at the fuel pump off there! If it runs better it is a problem with the fuel pump!
I used to work at a mower shop check the plastic manifold for cracks and spray ether around the gaskets while running and see if it clears up
Hello just checking in on if this issue was ever resolved and if so what did the trick ?
Hey can you please help me what is the name of that bottom part of the carburetor with the white circle my mower cranks up fine but after I ran it for a while when I turn it off and try to crank it back up, it will not start. I have to reach back there and unplug the plug and crank it. It will start think I just need to replace that part there, but I don’t know the name would really appreciate if you can help me. Thank you.
Split the fuel line at the filter and take compressed air and blow back toward the fuel tank to clear the line Then bypass the filter for second and see if it still surges could be dirty filter or the vent in the cap on the tank is not working
This is interesting I have an older version of this mower my deck always falls off from the front support and yours is having engine issues
Bill have you thought about cleaning the flywheel cause look at the rust on it
It might be a fuel pump getting weak. I am a trained tech and without being there us hard to diagnose it
Bill clean up the coil packs check for contamination of the air gaps and then clean up the magnet check and clean any rust particules affecting the air gaps then regap also I think the inlet seals had been misaligned during original assembly and got worse over time cos remember the choke was always a little funny that's why you had to alter the direction of the spring I think its probably a intake leak but It could also be a faulty coil pack you will be better making sure it is not the inlet seals and then work back to the coils but it is worth cleaning them up first regards Alan.
Also if you have one of these plastic intake manifold if you hold it up and look at the flat parts all three probably slightly warped
i have the same setup same thing at 30 hours it started surging took carb off cleaned real good changed gaskets and o rings but same thing surging i bought a carb from ebay Chinese one and the thing runs perfect its something in the carb i took the welch plug out on top of carb to check idle circuit but was very clean there is no adjustment behind that welch plug at a later date im going to drill the idle circuit a little bit bigger and see if that works some people say that the epa makes the manufactures lean out these carbs to barely run good but as they break in they need more fuel thus the surging after break in!!
Very curious issue. I have seen small leaves and bugs in the gas tank, blocking the outlet, cause this kind of surge, but with that issue you would never get full throttle. I believe you can mow normally at full throttle? A fuel pump that is going bad could do that surge too. Try bypassing the tank and pump, by connecting a small gas tank to the carb directly, and hanging it above the engine, so the pump would not be needed. use a fuel filter inline with this test. Also, Try moving that small spring on the govner back to its original location.
I noticed on the right side linkage that runs to the governor missing the spring that runs on the outside of that rod
Nice vid
What was the problem?
Take the flywheel nut off see if key broke ?
Check for air leak with a propane torch, unlit, for air leak around the plastic manifold. Gasket, hairline crack?
Have you tried putting that spring back in the original position
it was yes after reassembly
At least you had a go, you didnt make it worse so thats fine.
I would hang a container of petrol above it and direct feed that into the carb input, that would show if the pump has a problem.
Bill i saw another video having same problem, he corrected his problem by using 89 octane fuel. He said it took a little but it solved his surging.
Did you ever find the problem? I am having the same problem?
It's the jets or emulsion tube. If you take it apart again take an old wire brush and pull off a few bristles and use one of them holding it with some needle nose and run it through the jets to clean them out and any of the holes including the emulsion tube. Gas can get gummy and cause varnishing
Did your buddy ever figure out what was wrong. I have same problem after 600 hours.
it's starving itself of fuel, that's why it evens out with partial choke on. The idle jet is plugged or dirty. it has to be taken apart and cleaned. Compressed air is not enough.
there is a screw under the small plug on top of the carb dig the pug out and adjust the screw out about a1/4 turn
Dirty fuel filter ?
Bill ALERT ALERT when working on a carb you will have to take the jets out of the carb and completely disassemble, and it can be as small as a human hair will cause it to surge,, Also make sure he is not using E 10 fuel, thats whats causing the carb o rings to have a little crusty on it, If it was your coils you would have to let the engine run at full throttle for 30 mins Or it would not start ITS NOT A SPARK PROBLEM. Its not a fuel delivery problem I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT. I am a certified Kawasaki, Kohler, Onan, and Briggs mechanic only been working on small engines for 45 years I seen a thing or two I will never retire I prefer to die in the shop. Hope the info helps, I got to get back to work!
I have the exact same Nikki carb, intake, Etc on my Troy-Bilt z-54 Mustang with a 22 hp b & s. Even though the unit is 2 years old it had a whopping 12 and a half hours when started surging on me I took the carb off to clean it and I treat it like I do a lot of my car repairs I go into it with my past knowledge of other vehicles applied to the same job even if it's a little different without watching the video only watch the videos after the fact when I'm scratching my head or run into a problem so when I put it back on the mower barely wanted to run and I had to have the lever all the way up for it to the choke to even try to idle and it was almost blowing like black smoke I'm assuming it's running way too rich question is isn't there a little bran jet that's inside that white plastic tube that is part of the float system cuz I heard that can fall out and I don't see one on mine and I'm wondering if because that's not there anymore its just dumping too much fuel and I just might as well just buy a whole new carb..?.?
I hope you reply and if you do this is thanks in advance
Did you see my comment on your last video about the manifold?
Bill that surging problem has something to do with the governor. Used to work for sears back in the 90s and my job was to go work on riding mowers and push mowers. I came across this problem a lot on the riding mowers. Usually it was the internal parts of the governor. No one had figured it out and they would just put a new engine on the mower. I decided to play a hunch and just replaced the internal governor and it fixed it. Once I did that all mower techs were advised about the governor and we replaced fewer engines.
If it’s not the carb next is fuel pump cheap insurance to change, then I’d add a fuel stabilizer yea I know but if the fuel is contaminated from filling best to see star tron or sta bil. Add that to the tank. Or an octane booster or add mid or premium fuel to see if the octane isn’t the issue. Causing spark knock. Things to eliminate till it quits surging. Help to start it hold the choke open till it about dies let off. Run in medium throttle get some heat into her
Sand your coils mine did same thing they rusted up over winter I sanded them runs like new know
bill all those valve covers leak. but not that high up. not much oil in them. the briggs and station, kolher and Kawasaki fix is high heat temp nice bead of rtv sealer maybe yours is just dirty and dust kick up onto it, on a horizontal shaft single cylinder like mine your muffler right under the valve cover so you know when its leaking cause now your 007 laying down a smoke screen lol
You might want to give stop stuff called dynaflex Ultra can a black tube and the color of the sealant is black says lifetime mold mildew and weatherproof that works from 40 to 400 degrees I use it when I need a liquid gasket stop leaks on a tin roof fix something that's plastic that's got a crack in it under the hood
I had this problem and ended up replacing the carb. Found one for less than $30. From what I've read, the rubber gaskets in the bowl will start to disintegrate and cause the fuel flow to fluctuate.
You just got that what last year?you should still have warrenty from JD right?if you do just let the pros fix it at the dealership
think its like 3 years now
He got it in June of 2018. It had a two year warranty so it's just out of warranty. Figures eh?
@@deathk26 my kubota dealer gives 5 year on zds and 6 for the f series
@@billstmaxx turn fuel filter round it the wrong way round
I had the same problem. John Deere service said it was bad gas. Put fresh file in and it cleared up.
I'm having same issue now and I was thinking bad gas cuz the fuel can was outside all winter
Ratchet wrenches the way to go I love mine but I get confused bc I got the first generation I guess you could call it...it doesn’t have the clicker system you just gotta turn it over to reverse I always get confused lol
did you ever find the problem??
Spark,filters, gas pump, carb cleaning should be it. If not and you have surge issues adjustment in linkage for air fuel ratio
Check the fuel tank cap or the filter, them plastic filters suck, imo, or maybe a line but def sounds like a fuel issue,
I take dehydration over heat stroke any day. Beside, good excuse to drink more, electrolytic beverages. Seriously, no beer here but if there's ever a time...
Try checking the fuel pump... it's possible
Plastic manifold is much easier to bend using injection molding, then bending metal to do the same thing.
Agree, the equivalent in say aluminium would need to be cast.
Bill, surging is caused by lack of fuel, I noticed when you held the governor it smoothed out. You have a blockage somewhere in the fuel system. Fuel tank , pump, filter, or carb has a blockage. Eliminate one at a time till you find it.
Idle hunt like bill has is a vacuum leak all holding the governor does is increase's sleep of said engine .fuel blockage would stall out his engine and would be hard to start.
Are you getting excessive are for the metered fuel that is coming in and I could also be caused by those gaskets not sealing properly or they are warped at the three different points that they meet metal
From everything I'm reading online it says the screws could be out of adjustment for the carburetor. Yes I know you just clean the carburetor but just figured I'd mention
fixed jet carb on that one
I would spray carb cleaner around where the manifold bolts to the heads while running.see if it runs different.
"Nothing (almost) Runs Like A Deere". . . . . . .
Try spraying some carb cleaner around the gaskets and see if that help while the motor is running
I'd replace the fuel pump.
The coil want make a engine surge if it was a coil it would be not firing on one side.
Air to fuel mix is off needs adjusting
Check your fuel lines theres something blocking it off its starving for fuel.
vacuum leak will cause it idle hunt
Bill Try seafoam let it run for a half hour
If your still having problems with it tack it back to the store where you got it and if they say they can’t do anything look at a toro zero turn with the toro engien mine has the toro engien and never had problems with it
home depot. they dont service their sales
Oh man, I dislike those Nikki carbs. All those plastic parts, baffles and O-rings. I had one on a single cylinder B&S in an Ariens and it gave nothing but trouble. I replaced it with another brand carb which was more conventional.
Did you do a walbro
@@hyperwebbing No, I went with a Ruixing that I got from Pro Parts Direct. It showed as a replacement for the Nikki.
@@eosjoe565 10-4
GOVERNOR. LINKAGE ?
valve adjustment
no no. it only has 130 hours
Hunting for a surge on a small engine is the worst.
You haf to adjust the guvernør arm.
that shouldn’t have come unadjusted unless something broke
Turn fuel filter around its facing the wrong way
no that’s the right way.
INTAKE MANIFOLD
Thats the dumbest carb ever built. Easiest way to find a leak/ vacuum is use starter fluid or propane and just start spraying it around all spots where theres o rings or gaskets while the engine is running. if the rpm goes up you have found the source of the vacuum leak. Do it with a cold engine.
I like the old style better.
It's the fuel filter need to change it it will work after that
already changed that
You actually replied to me I do appreciate this you are a legend in my book you are just terrific what you do you are a genius I'm trying to be really serious I love watching your videos even though one I watch him three or four times and I love the snow one
Carburetors like that are junk I hate them and parts for them are rediculus to that one gasket is $15. That one looks like a Nikki carburetor I have four of them and they all are junk.
I hate that carb, worst carb design ever made and it's on all kinds of stuff, once it starts the idle surge it's very tough to resolve. Stupid Nikki carb... I've got the same carb on one of my mowers and I've never been able to get it to stop surging, lots of youtube vids on it too. I've seen some folks drill out the idle jet with micro drill bits to smooth it out.
maybe it’s starving
@@billstmaxx yea surging typically means it's running lean. Either there is an intake leak or the carb isn't supplying enough fuel.
Please take this video down I wasted my time for nothing!!!