Yeah, I think so. I told the wife if this thing keeps acting up, Im gonna sell it or put a brand new motor in it. Either way, I lose. With a new motor, Id be into it for about 3400 bucks.

Had water heater issues tonight so I didn't get around to pulling the carb. Ill try and get to it tomorrow afternoon after my daughters dance recital. Im sure its something simple this time and the carb makes since, since I just had the entire engine apart. I also noticed a little dirt in the fuel filter that shouldn't be there since everything is new so Ill be replacing that as well. I havnt a clue where that came from. I thought I did a pretty good job of cleaning up the tank and the shut off valves but its possible I missed something.

On a positive note, while it was running, I mowed the lawn twice an got the 2165 back together. Having a spare tractor and grass that isn't a foot high makes this issue not near as stressful as the last one!

Thanks again for the suggestions. I hope to report back with good news!

Good news and bad. I took the carb apart and cleaned it up and it will run with the air filter on but now it will run great for a few minutes and then fall on its face. If I quickly throttle it down, it will return to idle and then I can throttle it back up again and it will repeat. There has to be something stuck in this carb that Im missing. I did notice that the o-rings on the low speed jet are in pretty rough shape and I cant see the o-ring for the main jet in the hole so its possible that it isnt even there. Im going to go ahead and get a rebuild kit on order so that everything in the carb is new. Im also gonna take Sams advice and clip the plunger on the solenoid to eliminate that as a possible problem.

This may be a stupid question but does the low speed jet have a hole the entire length of the tube? Meaning should I be able to look into one end and see light in the other?

I think you still have a blockage.

You should be able to blow compressed air in the jet hole and have it blow out the other end.

I wouldn't cut that pin off the solenoid just yet. You may regret it later. If the solenoid is working smooth and fast, it should be okay. If you're losing power to it, that's another issue. You can check that by attaching a test light to the solenoid wire and keep an eye on it when the engine tries to die. Just my opinion.

You may be on to something with the O rings not sealing. Don't know.

I can blow air through either end and it comes out the little holes in the sides but will not blow end to end. I may have to soak that jet in some solvent or something. Ive just been using brake cleaner and compressed air.

Take a small wire and run up through the bottom. That's one place they stop up. Matter of fact, run the wire through every hole in that jet. That is the high speed jet you're talking about? The ones with the O ring on each end?

I thought it was the low speed jet but yeah its the one with the small o ring on each end. Is there a jet Im missing? I thought there was a main jet and a low speed jet. Im going to have to pull up a diagram and have a look again.

Okay, pulled it apart again. There is no way that's a through hole. Its definitely blocked with a wall that's intentional.

I think I figured out the problem though. I just don't know the cause or how to correct it. Its blowing a ton of oil from the little tube that runs from the top of the crank case up into the breather. What would cause this?

I used to think the same thing until I was able to work a small wire up through the hole.

Your right on the slow jet. It is blocked off. If your o rings are bad that could be your problem.

I'm gonna rebuild the carb just because it's obvious that the o rings are bad. Any issues with the carb wouldn't cause it to blow oil would it? Even if rebuilding the carb makes it run right, I've got to stop the oil issue. I understand a little oil is normal but there is no way the amount I'm getting is normal.