126 Running Rough
 

I don't know much about motors, so I'm sorry in advance if anything I say does not make sense.

My 126 runs kind of rough. Like small backfires. It is the worst coming down hill, but it does it at other times too. i don't believe it does at idle, at least not like at higher throttle.

Any suggestions what I could try to fix this, adjustments or tests?

Could be running lean..... Poor fuel flow, dirty carburetor, carburetor out of adjustment are some of what causes lean conditions. Does your tractor run better with the choke closed somewhat?

Yes, I meant to say I have to leave the choke closed about 1/4 of the way until it warms up, I haven't tried leaving it closed after its warm though.

I adjusted the carburetor and it seems to be running much better now. Should I still clean it anyway, or leave it alone since its running fine now?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.:beerchug:

a little Seafoam in the fuel goes a long ways to avoiding carb issues;)

Is that stuff really good? I've heard some bad things about it.

I've dumped it in quite a few gas tanks over the years and never had any issues. If your fuel system has MINOR issues, it does well at cleaning it out. If you have a gunked up mess, you have no choice but to properly dissasemble the carb an maybe even drain the fuel tank.

Given the fact you had backfire issues and were running with the choke on, I'd say adjustment was your real problem.

There is a discussion in the General Talk section about another product called "mechanic in a bottle".

Question #7 This information is from Kohler FAQ's page
https://power.kohler.com/na-en/engines/faqs
deals with fuel cleaners. sea foam is a cleaner.

Products like sea foam are destroying your carbs.

I tried sea foam several times. The engines were down on power that had sea foam in it.

It's your engine.......your choice to use this kind of junk.

If it's running well now without having to play with the choke, I'd leave it alone.

I'm wary of any engine fixes that come in a bottle/can.

OK, not arguing, just asking what happened to your stuff? Were you using it regularly or something? I've only used it as a 1 shot/tank treatment. Not trying to derail the thread, just like learning.:bigthink:

Thanks for the help. I'm just going to leave it alone for now, and if I have any more problems, I will take it apart and clean it properly.

Ive used seafoam in all small engines for years, couple oz in every 5 gal can of gas I bring home. Modern ethanol fuel has plenty of additives in it already and when it evaporates it leaves a white powder residue in the carb that can block small vents, jets and passages in the carb, fuel additives such as Seafoam or Stabil, etc, etc, help prevent such problems.

On the Seafoam debate, since my Original up until now, I've never had to use it in any of my IH Cub Cadets. NEVER. I've always kept what I could clean inside the carb, clean air filters, and especially a clean fuel tank. Every other year, I remove the head, true it up, clean the combustion chamber, and install a new head gasket.

So like wise, I would like to learn how you guy's carbs are getting so cruddy. It would seem to me, that if a carb is getting so dirty that you need this sea stuff, then you need to change your practices. I've always got good results when using Marvel Mystery Oil to the fuel supply.

Is Marvel not simply another fuel additive intended to maintain a clean fuel system.... same thing differant label afaic.

Take an engine apart every two years just to clean inside them.... thats not gonna happen here.

I drag home 30-40 non-running GTs/LTs every year and probably 60% need little more than a carb cleaning to get them running, which I suspect is mostly due to residue left behind from evaporated pump gas without any preventive additives such as Seafoam, Stabil...... or whatever your personal choice may be.

I mix the recommend amount in a 5 gallon fuel container. I went to a plow day and tried the mixture. Both tractors (IH Cub Cadet 149 and 100) act like they had no power. 100 would die. I drained the fuel and tried non sea foam gas.....both ran great.

I use plow days to test different things. Fuel is one thing I test.

Same here. I see too many on sites like this that are too lazy to practice good fuel habits like turning the fuel off at the tank and letting the carb run dry.

sea foam is a cleaner. Stabil is a fuel stabilizer.....big difference.

All gas has an additive package. Odds are the addition of ethanol is the only difference. A good fuel storage practice will eliminate problems like you are talking about.

I been using E-10 with no problems for 16 years.

Dale, Sea Foam is for cleaning. Biggest thing is decarboning. Yes, the engine will have reduced power on it. I'm not surprised they ran bad with Sea Foam in the tank.

I used to use it in the shop. Mostly on engines that had set, or I knew were in fact carboned up. If you read the can, it tells how to do an intake manifold flood with it. It does work. Make sure to heed the part about "a well ventilated area". Thats not a joke!!! Don't do it inside at all!

The newer engines with plastic manifold would carbon so bad they wouldn't run well. I've seen carbon build up in them bad enough they would run with the fuel lines unhooked from the fuel rail. Carbon soaked up the gas.

On small engines, I'd only use it if I had a sticky valve, or stuck rings. But I'd run it in the oil, and gas.... but only maybe a tank of gas. If it helps, great. If it doesnt, tear it down.

Agree John ! 40+ years of running these never had a fuel problem or a carboned up head, little bit of Marvel Mystery Oil in my gas can and good refueling habits ! In the winter months when I'm not buying much gas to plow snow I add stabilizer to my 5 gallon can, sometimes I have the same gas I purchased for the last mowing of fall use it all winter and start mowing come spring with no issues. I also shut the fuel valve and run the carb dry if I know it's going to be sitting awhile before the next use. :beerchug:

"Stabilize Fuels" is printed right on a can of Seafoam, as is "Cleans Carb Jets and Injectors", "De-Ice" is also listed on there..... probably all the same things are printed on a bottle of Stabil or the Mystery oil you guys are talking about... dont know, Ive never seen it, Ive used Seafoam in everything for several decades now and never had an issue. The OP had an issue where I think it could help.... not real sure why anyone else should get so up tight about it but whatever.... Im not looking for ne1s approval.

Just my 2 cents...

If it changed when you went up/down hill, it is likely a carb adjustment issue as you seem to know and resolved. Did it sit for a while with fuel in the carb? I agree with the "if it ain't broke, don't 'fix' it" comments, with the exception of a few things. It may not hurt to properly clean that carb and put a new kit on it if you know that it has sat up with fuel in it for a prolonged period. A kit is readily available for about $12 (if I remember correctly). It's not like your taking a head off or machining anything. Cleaning a carb is a maintenance item, not a repair, so technically you aren't fixing something that isn't broke, you are just doing maintenance. It's also pretty simple on these engines. These carbs are about as simple as any you'll work on. Anyway, just my thoughts.

We have one poster says sea foam is for cleaning.....one says it's a fuel stabilizer and cleaner.

Need to look at Kohler's FAQs question #7...
https://power.kohler.com/na-en/engines/faqs
It deals with fuel cleaners.
sea foam is a cleaner.
Products like sea foam are destroying your carbs.


There several posters on this site and sites like this one who claim to use sea foam all the time. Had one poster a few years ago who had a 129 that didn't use oil before sea foam and started to use oil 6 months after using sea foam.

It's your engine.......your choice to use this kind of junk.

I don’t know but this is sounding like it might be better than the Hy-Tran debate. :bigthink:

Yes Alvy. I seldom need mmo because of what I do to keep my carbs and engine clean. X’s 3 on letting the carb run dry by shutting off the fuel valve. On my 1450 that valve is almost impossible for me to reach. But I’m going to fix that. I trust what the manual says best for my equipment and I did not even know the manual said that. Better than a 180 on the truth and or some know it all preaching all this and that.

I can't remember the last time we had bad fuel in anything of ours that wasn't a "new" acquisition and the bad fuel came with it. I rarely dump fuel in anything, we just have too much equipment to worry with such. I just cranked up a tractor Saturday that has not been used since September. I did crank it in January to let it run for about 15 minutes. No stabilizer in the fuel, no battery tender, fired right up--6 volt at that. Come to think of it the Farmall Cub behaved the same way, but it only sat from October to late April (cranked in January just to see if it would). The only thing we shut fuel off on are the twin cylinder Cadets (KT's, Magnum, and Onans)--I just don't trust them suckers not to leak into the crankcase.

I've never tried Seafoam in the crankcase, just add it to the fuel if I think it will help before conceding to cleaning a carb. A can probably lasts us a couple years.

Don't know if it matters, I buy real gas, not ethanol, 2-250 gallons at the time. Doesn't seem to bother it sitting for a few months over the winter either. And yes, the ethanol comment was just to piss of the corn farmers, chemical engineers and the guys that buy ten 5 gallon jugs of gas a year so they can preach storage habits. Y'all do what works for you, I'll do what works for me.

I dump it in my work snowthrower each spring and I haven't blown it up yet. I give it a :High5:

We should talk about what oil to run in the engine next.:beerchug:

Or maybe China made carbs.:bash2:

Or TSC Paint.

Now stop you guys you know the best debate is which ones best....gear drive or hydro? :biggrin2:

I am however amazed how passionate people get about ethanol gas and additives/cleaners pros and cons among other topics on here. I guess everyone has their own hot button opinions.

Mine lately that has me scratching my head and being passionate is how much I’m bothered with younger guys driving around town with jacked up trucks playing slowed down rap music. Double you tee effe? Guess I need to take my own advice and realize it’s not worth getting worked up about.

Sorry OP your thread definately needs to get back on topic for sure

Don't even get me started. As if the rap isn't bad enough, the modern country sounds about like it. Talking about thugs, one of my good buddies went missing over the weekend. He was found in an alley in Birmingham face down full of bullet holes. He had been robbed and shot up somewhere and then they dumped his body next to a dumpster like he was a piece of trash. These thugs need to take their rap lifestyle to hell where it belongs.

And yes, sorry OP. I hope you get the 126 squared up soon.

I think it's ok now. I'm going to cut grass with it tonight and see how it runs, as long as it doesn't rain.