Idling problem

[drslyr4]

This forum is great lots of good info. I have a 86 argo with a 18hp kohler. Recently it stopped running so i took it into a kohler dealer and had them rebuild the carb. Since that time it no longer idles. It will start right up and has good power but it won't idle unless i have the choke alomost all the way on. the dealer just turned the ilde speed up but it still dies. i thought maybe a vacuum leak or maybe the air fuel mixture screw isnt set right. any ideas would be appreciated.

[racerone3]

I'm having the same problem on a Kohler M18 engine. the reading I've done all over the net indicates that there is trash caught in the low speed circuit in the carb. This carb requires that you remove a couple welch plugs to gain access to all the passages. A lot of people skip this step on "rebuilds" and the problems persist. I have a kit ordered for mine and will be rebuilding it as soon as the kit comes in. I will post back here with results once I get it done

[drslyr4]

They told me it was completely stripped down and rebuilt. I think I'm going to mess with the air fuel screw to make sure it adjusted properly. I don't want to turn the idle up anymore because it would be hard to get into gear.

[racerone3]

I rebuilt mine and the Idle isn't much better. The base settings for both screws are 1 1/4 turns out from the seat. on mine, the low speed needle seems to do nothing. I can run it in till it seats or take the needle completly out of the carb and it idles just the same

[rustler]

I had similar problems with quads and it was always too much air from various causes. My most recent experience involved my Argo with the Briggs 18 horse, the long and short of it was a rim of a sort on top of the carb under the air filter. It seemed to be a gasket that must be impregnated into the metal and was worn in a couple of spots. Didn't look like much but after cutting out a gasket and fitting it to the carb, it runs like it was meant to.

[newargoowner]

I am having same problem. my buddy just diagnosed the problem. The intake manifold gaskets are leaking in air. I picked a new set up for $10.00. I'm going to replace them tomarrow morning. To check to see if they are letting in extra air, he had the engine running, then sprayed some carb cleaner around the manfold and the motor smoothed out. The carb cleaner got sucked in where the gaskets leaked.

[racerone3]

I did the same test on mine, and replaced gaskets... no improvement. at this point it will kind of Idle, but tries to die out then the governor catches is and revs the engine way up... repeat over and over again

[mike bar]

I don't know if this helps but I replaced the main jet and replaced flooat, spring, needle. make sure you unscrew the inlet and check it, that is where most of my problem was,plugged almost solid with rust. The guy I bought it from was taking it to a small motor mechanic but he wasn't taking it completely apart when cleaning it. putts away at idle now.

[newargoowner]

I replaced the intake gaskets last week. I smoothed out the motor, but didn't fix the no idling problem. I pulled the float bowl off the the carb and it was loaded with junk. I bought a rebuild kit and dropped it off at a local small engine repair shop. The owner said that he had to soak it then rebuild it. The walbro carb can not be completely taken apart. so u have to soak it then use air to get all of the junk out.

[newargoowner]

Got the motor idling smoothly. the carb needed cleaned and rebuilt. the idle circuit was completely clogged.

[lewis]

For the carbs that can not be completely broken down. Find a small engine repair shop that has a ultr-sonic cleaner. Had the same problem with a tiller carb. Not everyone has one of these but they really work well.

[G__]

Replacing the needles helps a lot.Blowing out ALL the channels is something not every shop does:the idle mixture channels are the little "holes" just in front of the throttle plate (looking from engines side).They are very fine and tend to clock up.I clean them by spraying them with carb cleaner (soaking them) and blowing compressed air in them with the throttle plate closed.This has to be several times sometimes,but it really helps.
And don´t be shy to install a full carb kit-every part that moves and that is available!it will pay off and safe you quite an amount of headache.