Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

The bowl on this 6.5 hp Honda clone is leaking gas. This is one of the blue $90 Harbor Freight 6.5 OHV engines. It has never given me any trouble as a transplant on this HS-520 snowblower. Last spring I drained the bowl at the end of the season. I was surprised when I filled the tank with gas today and found it dripping out (pretty fast) around the bowl o-ring gasket/seal. At first I thought I might need a new o-ring, but shouldn't the float and needle be shutting of the flow of gas the bowl before it starts pouring out? Do these clones take normal honda carb parts? Any suggestions on where I should start? The engine still starts up and runs perfectly, it just leaks gas bad. I cannot find a part number for a replaceable seat. [img]http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii171/jmccollough/056-1.jpg[/img]

RIT333 wrote:
From my own personal experience, if the float bowl seal isn't correctly installed, fuel can and will leak past if even with a working float/float needle.   I learned that from a leaking carb on the 6 h.p. Mitsubishi engine on my pressure washer.   Engine was running roughly so I pulled the float bowl to inspect inside.  I found small bits of plastic in there.  Cleaned it out and put it back together.  Engine ran great but carb leaked around the float bowl seat.  Pulled the float bowl to find that the flat O-ring/seal was slightly twisted when I put it back together.  I installed it correctly and the leak stopped.  It was then that I knew I need to get a pair of reading glasses for the garage. 

I assume that if the float is adjusted/operating correctly and the carb is perfectly level, it won't leak with a bad seal provided the engine isn't running.  Fire up the engine and get some vibration happening and it will leak, level or not. 

Borat - good point about the leak being caused by vibration !  I hadn't factored that into my thought process.  I knew I could count on you.

Running great now. I got the carb bowl off and it was really bad. Filled with grit and pieces of corrosion. I cleaned it out and then ran a ball of sandpaper round and round through the bowl until it shined. With the float and needle removed I took a Q-tip and some polishing compound and polishes the metal seat where the rubber needle makes contact. The O-ring on the bowl did not look great but it was re-used and does not seem to be leaking. Rebuild parts kit is Primeline number 7-070024, whole replacement carburetor from them-Primeline part number 7-01224.

Fantastic !

Keep an eye on the bowl gasket for any leaks...just in case !

Nice!!!