carb trouble. please read.... near pittsburgh

[afk]

hey everyone. i have a max 2 6x6 i just had the engine rebuilt because it was shooting oil from the tail pipe and smoking. well. long story short i get a bill for $450. and it gets dropped off while im away on holiday. well i start it up and its still shooting oil and smoking? he did drop off a bad piston but said the carb has been adjusted wrong. and that the oil is prolly overfilled. i have no idea how to work on these machines. my 8x8 was recently stolen so now its gone. is there anyone whos willing to work on these machines. im worried that perhaps ive been had but in order to do anything i'd need to know first. so. is there anyone near pittsburgh pa willing to look at this machine for me by chance. i dont have much but i do have a few $ or other kinda trades. car stuff ect. just trying to figure out how to get this thing running right so i can enjoy the snow. machine is in the garage so no working outside. welp thanks for anyone who read's

[Mike]

First, simply check the oil and see if it is overfilled. If it is, that could very well be the problem. Just drain the oil to the proper level. Once you do that, it will take a few minutes of running to burn off the excess oil but it should stop smoking.

It could be something else, but start there.

[hydromike]

If you had the engine "rebuilt" by a reputable source, there's no reason for it to be smoking and throwing oil out of the muffler. Whomever rebuilt the engine should have refilled the engine to the proper level, and should have run the engine to verify that it's working correctly, which it doesn't seem to be.

Is the engine a Briggs Vanguard? I believe most small Vanny's take 1.5 quarts of oil, but double check that figure. If the problem is persisting, you should get your $450 back. What's to guarantee he ever took the engine apart? What was "bad" about the piston, or did he just say it was bad?

~m

[brushcutter]

If you had the engine "rebuilt" by a reputable source, there's no reason for it to be smoking and throwing oil out of the muffler. Whomever rebuilt the engine should have refilled the engine to the proper level, and should have run the engine to verify that it's working correctly, which it doesn't seem to be.

Is the engine a Briggs Vanguard? I believe most small Vanny's take 1.5 quarts of oil, but double check that figure. If the problem is persisting, you should get your $450 back. What's to guarantee he ever took the engine apart? What was "bad" about the piston, or did he just say it was bad?

~m

Sounds like an aerosol overhaul to me...
Look at the bolts on the cowling, crankcase carb and such. If the engine was in fact torn down, and piston/s replaced then you should be able to see telltale wrench marks on the various bolts. If you can't tell that they've been turned, then you likely have been had. As HMike said, any REPUTABLE repairman would know how to fill the oil to it's correct level, and make sure it's running right.

[afk]

thanks for the reply. the engine deffy has too much oil in it. he had another place hone the cylinder. it is a 14hp vanny. but that dont explain why it wont stay started now. however. i adjusted the carb myself before it was rebuilt im betting its flooding itself. i really have no experience with it. but as normal its work in progress. is it hard to rebuild the float/pin. or should i just buy a new carb. as i really have no idea lol

[hydromike]

Hey afk,

I'm glad to hear that it had too much oil in it. Good; let's strike that from our list of issues.

As far as taking the carburetor apart yourself, you say that you have no experience with this sort of thing. Carburetors can be delicately balanced units with lots of little internal parts that need to be delicately cleaned and put back together in the right fashion.

My advice?

Get a cup of coffee and WRIP IT APART!

It'll be helpful to find an exploded view of the carburetor, and set yourself up in a clean work area where you can take your time and take it apart to learn about it. The knowledge you'll gain by taking it apart is free, and a great way to familiarize yourself with your machine. Hopefully, you'll gain some confidence, and be able to diagnose issues as you learn more. They're really not nearly as intricate as I eluded to. Just a few simple parts. I've seen folks tear them apart on a muddy trail with a Leatherman and get up and going.

Your problem could be as simple as a piece of debris stuck up against a jet. Wouldn't that be nice?

Have confidence. Learning is fun.
~m

[Joe H]

Hey afk I am north of Pitt. in butler give me call if you still need help.
Joe
724.679.0349