max 2 16hp briggs help!

[AndyL]

so i actually got my engine to run great with the whole air filter assembly removed (including the housing and tube for the breather) and had the choke on half and never had any problems.
first, why does the choke have to stay on half in order for it to work? second, right when i assembled the filter housing on it ran bad again (and the filter itself wasn't even installed!) i want to sell the max soon but i want the problem fixed for the buyer whoever that will be.

[brushcutter]

could you tell us how many hours you have on this engine.what if anything you did to the carb ...

[AndyL]

no idea how many hours are on the engine, but it runs really strong with no problems with no intake assembly installed. the carb float was adjust and the needle and seat was replaced, but like i said it ran fine. i noticed one of the bolt holes on the top of the carb that holds the housing down does all the way through...i wonder if air needs to get into that maybe to fill up the bowl.
i guess i should clarify, it runs fine with the housing installed unless i go up a step slope or bounce around a lot...it's very weird

[brushcutter]

Are you sure that all your jets are clean?Are you going uphill with choke half open and no breather?How many adjustments do you have on your carb?On my 18hp briggs there are 2.When I first started to rebuild my Hustler I rebuilt the carb and as best I remember it ran fine.But over a year later when I got the Hustler going it just didn't perform to my expectations;no matter what setting I tried on the mix adjust screws.I knew the float was right so I began to look elsewhere-turns out that the low idle pick-up channel that runs from the top of the bowl to the bottom and supplies fuel to the low idle jet was plugged solid.After I opened it up and re-adjusted the carb it would idle smoothly at a much lower rpm.On my carb there IS a vent hole in the top but no bolt goes trhough it.When the filter assembly is on it creates more vacuum which will pull more fuel through the carb.If you will post the engine series,type and code I will try to find the proper adjustments for it.

[Mike]

I would tear into the carb and clean the ports real good. It's not getting fuel and that's why it runs fine with the choke out. This could be from one of several reasons: clogged fuel line or filter, faulty fuel pump, bad carb settings, clogged carb, etc. Start with those and eliminate as many as you can but I will put my money on trash in the carb.

[brushcutter]

That's what I'm thinking Mike,when going up hill the engine is under more of a load.Dirty ports mean lack of fuel (power) and performance will really drop under the extra load of climbing a hill.You wanna have some "fun" try making a 2 jet carb run at peak performance off the high speed jet only.Yes indeed yeah that will never make you go
MERRY CHRISTMAS!