Engine noise at Idle

[skip3131]

I have a 1998 Argo with 16HP vanguard engine in it and I noticed that I am getting a knock in my engine when idling, I had this a while ago when I was having carb issues and it seemed to go away once I cleaned the carb and set the idle. Just recently I had to go back a clean the carb again after getting hesitation when you start to throttle up. Another thing I am seeing is that after cleaning the carb this time once I get the engine at half throttle there is gas sitting back up through the carb. I thought I might have it too rich but I was only about 3/4 to 1 turn out if I go less than that it does not want to idle. The last thing I am noticing is that when driving it around when I pull back on one of the brake levers you can here the engine die out then pick back up again. The axles and chains move free when turning by hand and nothing binds. Any help or ideas on this would be great, the engine does seem to perform well accept for these couple items.

[Mike]

Could the knock be something rattling like the air cleaner cover? As for losing power when you turn, that is how the Argo transmission functions. It uses brakes on the output of the transmission so it will rob some power as you turn and the engine will bog down a little.

[number1cas]

The die down and pickup part is normal if it is not excessive, that is the governor working. If it is excesssive it is adjustable, I am not familiar with that linkage so you would need a manual or advice from another member to adjust it.

[skip3131]

Engine nosie

Mike and number1cas:
Thanks for replying, the issue I am seeing is the engine actually cuts out like it is going to shut off then it starts back up about a second or 2 after hitting the brake it sounds weird but the engine will sound like it is stalled for that second or two. I have checked everything under the hood as far as anything being loose and could not find anything. With the knock in the engine if you put your hand on the motor you can feel it vibrate through the motor. This only happens at idle and does not effect the motors performance, I did not know if these engines may have a timing chain and that it may be out of time or the chain might have been worn and it is skipping on the gears.
I was starting to consider on pulling the engine and take the side cover off to make sure noting is bad, I just don't want to go through the hassle of pulling the motor then not find anything. I have owned this unit for 3 years and bought it used and have been fixing some of the problems it had when I bought it and was hoping the motor was not starting to go bad. If it is going bad do anyone know what it would cost to maybe overhaul one of these motors?
Thanks again for the reply's.

[wfo]

Take the drive clutch off and see if knock goes away..just to isolate

[hydromike]

There's no timing chaing on the Vanguards; the cam is gear driven off of the crankshaft. You can't really skip a gear on them, either (without there being other big problems). Your governor may be damaged on the inside of your engine, but it's likely you won't be able to tell for sure unless you pull the side cover off of your engine. Right now, it almost seems like you're having an issue with the governor if it's acting odd at low idle, under load (when you pull back on a brake lever) and picks back up immediately.

No guarantees on this end, as it's really hard to diagnose something without seeing it/hearing it in person.
Let us know how you make out with whatever you try....

~m

[mike bar]

Still sounds like carb issues to me. What else would make it surge up and down?

[mark m.]

I'm going to go with wfo on this one. I have seen them knock at idle but when revved up it goes away. Nothing to lose by taking the clutch off.

[Model Citizen]

You said that you cleaned the carb for the hesitation. Did you change the fuel filter, since you had to clean the carb a second time?

Bridget

[skip3131]

The first time I did the carb cleaning was about 3 years ago when I first got it. I keep the fuel filter changed every time it gets dirty looking since the ones I get you can see into so it is easy to see if it is dirty. I was just doing maintenance on it by changing oil and trans fluid, lubing the bearings and chains so I thought I would clean it as well since I was getting the hesitation back a little bit so I cleaned it while I had everything apart.
Does the clutch come off in one piece, I have never had it off before.