Cub Cadet 123 hard starting

[ihsteve]

would a sticky valve do this? if i choke it with the choke it does the same thing. if i cover it with my hand it turns over great an fires right up.i just poured marvel mystry oil in the spark plug hole an im gonna let it sit over night. an tomorrows another day. thanks for all the help so far guys

[sawdustdad]

If you cover the air intake with your hand, effectively sealing the intake, the engine SHOULD turn over more easily because you are creating a partial vacuum on the intake stroke and the compression stroke has less air to compress, thereby doing less work. Less work per stroke, same electrical power input (almost, making some assumptions), more strokes per unit of time.

OK, so what are the possible causes? Creating that additional suction at the carb will draw more fuel from the bowl through the jets. The additional fuel, plus the faster starting speed permits starting.

I think you have a poor positive or ground connection to the starter. Clean the ground wire at both ends, then clean the ground at the battery. clean the positive leads at the starter relay and at the starter itself. That may give you enough voltage to turn over the engine faster, creating lower pressure through the carb's venturi, thus drawing more fuel.

If the carb jets are dirty, or the fuel bowl isn't filling, you may still have a lean situation at start, but I'd go back and redo the electrical connections to the starter and try again.

[austin8214]

Sounds like the spring is off the ACR or possibly broken.

[ihsteve]

all wires have good connections. im gonna atempt to adjust the valves an see if that helps

[sawdustdad]

I bet it's not the valves. It's at least a low probability. If a valve was sticking, it would turn over easily. They CAN'T stick closed, only open.

If an engine doesn't work properly, check these items, in this order of decreasing probability. That is, the first items are higher probability of being the cause. As you go down the list, the items become less and less probable--but still possible.

1. fuel. Most starting/running problems are fuel related. tank screen plugged, fuel float/float valve plugged, or stuck, plugged carb jets, bad fuel.

2. spark. points corroded/stuck/no spark, timing off, condenser bad, poor connections somewhere, plug fouled. Plug wire, coil bad.

3. Air. air filter dirty, choke not working,

4. Everything else--compression, valves, etc.

The point is this--make sure you rule out 1, 2 and 3 before you go to 4.

The fact that the engine turns over slowly means a poor electrical connection or weak battery. Jump the tractor directly: Using a known good battery or jump pack, clamp the negative lead on the starter bracket bolt, and touch the positive lead to the large wire terminal on the starter. It should turn over briskly. If it does, run a second positive lead (smaller, from the same jump pack) to the positive terminal of the coil, and then touch the positive clamp momentarily to the positive terminal on the starter. The tractor should start and run.

I know you've said you've checked the wires, but I think you've missed something. Have you checked both ends of both ground cables (the one at the battery and one at the starter itself) plus the positive leads at the starter relay and the starter itself?

[ihsteve]

ok guys points are done valves were good. but i noticed their is a 52 carb on it instead of a 26 will this matter?

[cjrolke]

i believe that they are the "same" just a later model of the 26

[J-Mech]

So.... does it run better? Did you check timing?

[ihsteve]

it starts up an runs pretty good now. thanks for all the help so far guys.

[Cubcrazy]

Originally Posted by ihsteve

it starts up an runs pretty good now. thanks for all the help so far guys.

Good to hear Steve!