2N Runs Only w/Choke

I let it cool down overnight but now (still) the engine starts and runs fine with the choke held out but dies when I let go.

Any ideas?

With the advice of this board, I tuned up the tractor and adjusted the main neddle and it ran fine. Five minutes of Bush Hogging and it was doing it again.

Looked closer at the carb and saw the main needle has a bent piece of metal against it to hold it in place. The dimple on the steel had worn away, allowing the needle to spin freely and back out with the vibrations of the motor.

A little re-bend on the bent metal and the needle has stayed for near a year.

By choking your engine, you enrichen your mixture an make more power which is what got you back to the barn. Carbs by them selves don't go bad intstantly but linkages can fall off.

Only things that can cause "instant" failure is clogged fuel filters, which I discount because you can keep it running with choke.

Centrifical advance weight springs in distributor, remove and inspect.

Governor springs and balls, try playing around with governor arms. Do they fight your changes?

Instant "carb leaning", could be intake manifold problem, check gaskets.

Failing all the above, do a dry and wet compression check, to check for possible stuck/broken/burned valve. Or even worse burned/melted piston and lost compression. These are not too likely because you claim to eazily restart as long as you keep the choke half pulled. Which could indicate some clogged carb jets.

Right now, I'm inclined towards a mechanical failure like distributor advance broken..... .Dell

I don't think it's a linkage issue, I played around with all of the arms & springs to make sure everything moved freely.

I'm questioning the intake manifold now that you mentioned it. The last time I mowed I started to hear more exhaust "tones" half way thru and now I notice some exhaust charring around the corners of where the manifold meets the heads. Could it be simply a blown gasket (or worse but not catastrophic a cracked manifold)???

Andy.

And if I can do it anyone can. Go ahead and pull that puppy off and take a look. And if it is the gasket causing your problems with fuel intake, better you find out now. Plus replacement gaskets are cheap.

By the way I handled the eroded block area with a bead of copper permatex. Runs so quiet now I can hear the mower spin. What a difference!

Check see if you have good fuel flow to carb. BE CAREFUL NO ONE around smoking, No open flames near..... .....Good Luck