The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Adjusted Valves Now Won't Start

Tab,

Make sure the choke plate is fully open when you try starter fluid. Nothing sprayed into the carb will work if the plate is closed. I use spray carb cleaner which is safer than starter fluid and I never pour gas into a carb. This is a sure way to start a fire and actually floods the engine.

The stale gas theory is right on. Todays gas will last three months at best and if you use too much Stabil with it won't fire at all! I spent three days on my old JD tractor finding all this out the hard way.

The first time I tried it after draining the old gas and filling the tank with fresh gas it fired up so fast it scared me. I had cranked it 50 times before that with nothing happening.