Kal Retuning

Ugh.... Setback.  Went to pull out Kal today for that drive.  Couldn't get it to fire.  Traced it down to the fuel pump on the carb.  OK, I have one more gasket set for a 3 screw.  On the way back to the tractor, the wind blew the tiny spring for the pump right out of my hand.  Could not find.  Ugh.  I don't see another spring in my stash.  I have a 4 screw that works, just not 100%.  Put it on and Vroom.  idled a little bit rough, but not too bad.  What I expected.  Jumped on put it in gear and ran about 2 feet and instantly died. Like flat on its face.  Started it back up, wouldn't rev more than 50%.  Release the clutch die.  Messed with the throttle manual bypassing the governor thinking it was the issue.  Would not rev even bypassing gov.  Then it just died.  No more restart.  Checked spark and it is very bright.  Starter spins it like it has no compression.  I fear a dropped valve.  I'll dig in tomorrow and see.  If not, the engine may be further gone than I think.  I could put Red's tired engine in for the mean time till another oppy falls into my lap.

You could convert the 3 screw to an external fuel pump if you wanted to. I never had problems with oppy fuel pumps or else I would have.

I've never had issue with them either.

Well, I messed with the engine and gave up on it.  Upper cylinder had oil coming out the intake valve, but it wasn't coming from the intake manifold. Guessing the valve guide. I didn't dig that deep. Yikes.

Got Red's old engine out and finally got to the end of the block and back with Kal. Then the old crusty belt gave up. LOL. Only thing I hadn't got yet.

Couldn’t the other valve just be reground? It sounds like it hasn’t dropped from the way you’re talking.

The valve seals and seats fine. All valves moved as they should. I just happened to notice when the input opened, oil came out of it. The cylinder chamber had a bit of oil in it too. The oil could have been pushed back out the intake. Hard to tell. A piston ring could have failed. No telling. At this point, the engine probably needs overhauled.

Happy to see this thing back on its feet, bummer the motor is giving you fits

I'm really thinking about going ahead with a rebuild. Right now, I am debating putting the $$ into it.
Couple things also holding me back. This engine has 1 stripped out head bolt, and at least one stripped out sump bolt. This engine has been dropped and most of the damage fixed that was obvious. (Tractor it was in was picked up about 6ft in the air and dropped. Also ran over) I've had it running flawlessly a few times in the past.

Ugh... got a piece of chinesium today.  I've bought this company before and it was a good experience.  This time not so much.  Aye, never thought every screw on this thing was loose when I installed and started up Kal.

Yep, you are seeing right.  It was pissin gas right out the side at the gasket.



Got that tightened up and the gas quit squirting.  Walked away for a bit to come back and the side plug was dripping.  AYE! Got a half turn out of that one.  Sheesh.  

Engine runs good on it, just with half choke.  

That’s goofy! I had one or two oppy carb gaskets that were some kind of hard rubber, or at least rubber coated. Those things lasted forever. The cheap gaskets expand as soon as they hit gas and stick to the carb so they’re one time use. They suck.

I hear ya, those old rubber gaskets do last forever. They seemed to be some kind of rubber coated cloth/mesh or something.

Paper gaskets seem to be reusable sometimes, but once gas gets to them they split and stick and they're junk. It's annoying.

They’re definitely a no go when soaked. I’ve had some that dried back out and came off fine. It’s pretty hit or miss though. Maybe you should wax the gasket when you put the carb together, lol.

Any 2 piece B&S knock off I've got was the same way with the hardware loose, I've actually gotten in the habit of tearing them down right away to make sure everything is nice and snug!

Too bad the engine is giving you a hard time but you're pretty resourceful and will figure something out I'm sure!

Idling it surges a little. When I put a load on it, it runs smooth. Who knows.

That sounds fairly normal you probably need to fatten up the idle/pilot circuit, works for me 9 times out of 10!

Love this page as a reference.
Disassembly, Cleaning and Repair of Briggs and Stratton Opposed Twin-Cylinder Carburetor - Part 1 (outdoorpowerinfo.com)

In the picture here circled in purple is the idle air bleed.  


Mine is not press into the carb like that.  Mine is out about 1/16th.  Wonder if that is my idle surge with no load.

I absolutely love that site for detailed carb reference and use it as often as possible!

According to the link, green is the actual idle jet so if you can swap it with the original that's great but if not then slowly open that up until it idles the way you want and you'll have nailed it! Lol

Yeah, I was going to hit that next. I did find an issue and created a new one.

But first.. here is what I was talking about.

New carb


Older carb


Realized this shouldn't really be an issue.


Now for the bigger issue.

See the float level issue?





Figured since everything was loose, I figured the seat was not all the way in.  Into the vice it went.  I turned it slow then "pop".   No it didn't break, it slid in too far.  Top one with the right level was good and clean inside.  I transferred the float, gasket, and needle to it.  Seat looked fine.

Helped a little didn't die off while idle without a load. Still a little surge.  Like @brianator mentioned.  I'll look into that jet next.

Surge is now gone.  At least today it is good!  Like @Brianator mentioned. I went ahead and swapped out the idle jet for this frankencarb now.  I did check and clean it first.  The old jet was as mentined much "fatter" than the new one.  I was able to get one size larger tip cleaner through the old jet.  Swapped and the surge is now gone.

Can always get one of these and go to a mikuni carb

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Can always get one of these and go to a mikuni carb  

LOL, I do have one of those and have thought about it in the past.

Dual carbs!!!

Rustbucket Garage wrote:

Dual carbs!!!

LOL, you funding this thing? HAHAHA...

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Can always get one of these and go to a mikuni carb  

Hmm... lookie what I found today...  No immediate plans, but I did find it.

The mikuni on a horizontal intake really wakes these engines up, definitely recommend it