When looking at the springs on the valves there is a little hole in the block, rotate the engine till you see the piston pass by, that will help.

Hi Everyone.

Thank you for the replies and knowledge. I wanted to give you a little update on progress. I got the points set using a test light method I learned from reading this forum. I also adjusted the valves and the exhaust valve was somewhere around .004 instead of the 18-20 it should be. I put everything back together and even managed to get the pto clutch removed while I was at it. What a bugger that was but mission accomplished.

I put everything together and tried to fire it up and the same thing as before, it fires like crazy but just won't take off on its own. I bought a new carburetor off of ebay a couple of years ago and a new sediment bowl recently. I decided to pull the carburetor off again and take it all apart and this is what I found. Also the sediment bowl doesn't shut off fully when it's valved off which is disappointing. I am so tired of cheap garbage parts.

The gasket for the carburetor bowl is disintegrating and the funny thing is I only run non oxygenated gas in all my small engines. I doubt I'll just be able to get a gasket for the carb bowl so can someone point me in the direction of a QUALITY carburetor and sediment bowl that actually totally shuts? I'm a buy once cry once type guy so I don't care if I have to spend more money.

https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...1&d=1698876644

Looks pretty normal from here.
Clean it well and put it back together.
Adjust as per the manual,
If that's an off shore carb, chances are younwill not be able to get a kit for it.

some engines start better at different throttle settings try playing with the throttle when starting

Well those little specs you see at the bottom of the tin and in the bowl are coming from the gasket and that will certainly plug up jets.

can of carb cleaner. if you have a gallon soak carb 10 to 15 minutes. thats if a Carter. if its a throw away do just that. carb kits at sponsers , napa , isave tractors.

This may not be the case but do you have the original carb? I would
put all my efforts into that if possible. It would be a Carter. The chiny
carbs are, well lets see, suspect I would say. It may be your only choice
though I realize.

Ken

Were there 2 gaskets under that bowl?

These work well. also 690612

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23506609658...Bk9SR7jA_oXyYg


https://www.ebay.com/itm/27611938016...UAAOSwuOtlGqSt

I found original carb and I'm not sure if it's oem or not but there are some numbers on it.

No, just one disintegrating one.