Briggs & Stranton 18 hp Help

[Moldman]

Purchased a 1999 Max II this past winter from a guy who hasn't changed gas for awhile and needed to run with choke out to get in trailer. I drained tank and cleaned, replaced old gas with non-ethanol and seafoam. Changed fuel filter and a couple gas lines that were leaking, new plugs, air filter and and oil change and filter. It ran great for a short time. Now it will only run with choke out then dies. Plugs are black. Going to change last gas line from tank to engine. Do I need to get carb cleaned or rebuilt? Any help is appreciated.

[john swenson]

moldman, after doing all that and still need choke out to run i would say you may have a plugged up jet in the carb. i have had the same thing on my 18 hp briggs and after taking off the top of the carb and removing the jet and blowing it out..it ran fine. not sure what jet it is but it's easy to get to. hope this helps and a better engine man on this site will steer you in the right direction. good luck, johnboy va.

[Toys4Me]

Do yourself a favor and just clean the entire carb. You could clean just the jet but then a piece of garbage will come off from somewhere else in the carb and give you the same issues. I've found taking the carb apart and using an ultrasonic gets the carbs looking like new inside and out.

[racerone3]

I would absolutly clean the entire system, but if you ever run into this issue on the trail, remove the air filter assembly (top and bottom) rev the engine as high as you can get it to go, and slam your hand over the air intake to the carb. the vacuum created will often clear a clogged jet. engine may die if you arent quick enough, but it should refire and run better