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

Well, I had the seed planted in my brain by Richie installing an adjustable carburator on his machine....It didn't take too long for it to take root and start me thinking.  I purchased an adjustable carburator on ebay (rebuilt) for $58.  This weekend I installed it and now have it tweeked to run well.  No problem installing it, only had to make some adjustment to the govenor and the high speed limit screw to get the rpm's below 3700.  I had a little problem getting the low speed mixture screw to do anything..  After futzing around I finally got it to do its thing and got it adjusted to perfection.  The tec engine generally does run smoother and appears to have some additional umph.  I got to use it twice today to continue "testing" it. (By the way I now have 11hrs of use since January).  All seems to be well.  Sometimes I get the occasional "pop" or hick-up when idling at full throttle but it does not seem to hinder the abilities of this engine.  All in All I am 95% sure that this was a good move to make.  My EPA carb did not display the problems with surging or power...just made the engine shake like hell!

So far the redesigned chain tensioner is working as it should with no problems...I will keep my fingers crossed

bbwb

AJace

You need to live on the edge like us.....nothing will ever happen to your machine that would require warranty work!!!  That is one reason that I bought a separate carburator so that if I ever did have a problem, 45 minutes of time and then I am back to stock. 

bbwb

bbwb wrote: I do the same with Catalytic Converters.

 BBWB,

 Just make sure you clean the carb you took off throughly with carb cleaner.

You do not want to Gum Up the works!

                                               IMHO   Fred   

Yep, all cleaned up and ready for bed

bbwb

Marshall  

I used to work in an autoparts store about 22yrs ago, and they used to sell "test pipes" that could be install in place of the converter to "test" if it was bad.  I don't know if they still make such a thing.

bbwb

bbwb,

I'm down here is Gods country where most farmers and outdoorsmen cut them off anyway. I went from using the original one to putting on Hi-performance cat's to just having them cut them off and put a piece of exhaust pipe in it's place, in other words no cat at all.

I lost a new Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton 4X4 Ext cab with a custom fiberglass camper shell to fire one time because of the catalytic converter starting a fire under the truck while it was parked, actually buried in mud/clay. The hot cat started the pasture on fire under the truck and I couldn't get the truck out, watched it burn.

I swore that day I would never run one again if I could by bypass it. I still keep them though just in case.

(we don't have state inspections)

Robert,

Since you have the new carburetor nicely tuned, it's a good idea to check the color of the plug once in a while.  I was able to tune my carburetor so the plug electrode has a nice tan color to it, which is just the way I like it.  It used to be much lighter in color than that with the other carb.   

I wish I had my old EHT gauge handy, I'd love to know how much hotter, if at all, it ran with that lean carb it had.  I recall the range was, 375-425 degrees.  The EPA jetting is something like a #167.  I'd have to check my book, but I always thought jetting with a number that high was for altitude, but I'd have to say it doesn't matter since you'd have to lean out anyway at altitude.  Anyway, the spark plug tells the whole story. 

Hi Richie:

Yeah, I will check the plug to check the color.  Nothing beats the tan color in my book as well.  I am trying to think when I looked at it last .  I also have to believe that a smooth running engine is more efficient.  We are to get some snow on Sunday, 4"plus, so another workout with the Ariens is in order. 

The more I think about it the more that I am impressed with the throwing potential of my modified blower.  I feel so much better knowing that the drive chain will not leave me standed (locked up) at the end of the driveway.  I only wish that the drive components from the factory did not have the appearance of being designed by accountants!

By the way...you claim that Marshall started all this....think that he will chip in on the $ for the mods?

Robert

bbwb wrote:
Yeah, that drive modification you made was real impressive.  If I ever have a problem with my brand snowblower, I'm coming to you for help   As for Marshall, I'm actually grateful to him for putting a certain bug in my ear.  If not for him, I never would have started doing all that research on the HP/torque rankings of engines, nor would I have started on my quest to replace my carburetor.  I won't be asking him to chip in for my carburetor  Make sure you let us know how everything works on Sunday.

I thought that BBWB had a Toro. 
Marshall, that was auful, and have heard about what can happen when parking my truck on grass if the hot parts get too close.  I think that state inspections are the best thing possible because you need to be safe.  Paying for them is another thing.