The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop no power

Brother has a 55 with 235, engine starts and runs good at low rpm but bogs down at about 30 mph. Have rebuilt carb, replaced filter and vac. advance appears to be working. Anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks Cheesehead

Another member just went through this and it turned out that the spring was missing from the points.
Some points sets have a brass strap to carry the current and a removable spring strap. The spring strap sometimes gets lost.

Good suggestion, also might check float level. It may a little low. Also try it woith the gas cap off to see if it runs any better.

Should have mentioned that it ran fine earlier in the summer and nothing was done to change anything, just parked in garage.
Cheesehead

Might check flow rate of fuel at the carb. If it sat lonog enough for the fuel to dry out in the carb then you may have to clean and rebuild the carb.

If the fuel flow from the pump to the carb is low then may have a bad pump.

You say you rebuilt the carb, need to check the float level. If it's too low it won't allow enough fuel for much over idle.

In that case I would check the main jet.
Evaporating gas can leave varnish that can plug the main jet.

Rebuilt carb when problem first surfaced, checked float level with gauge in kit, looked okay. turned engine over while fuel line off, seemed to pump gas at a good rate from fuel pump.
No change in power after carb rebuild kit installed. If gas were too old would it start up and idle as well as it does.

It might. If your getting plenty of fuel, then you have to look at the ignition. What are the points set at? What does it act like when you try to go over 30mph? Does it simply stall out? Backfire?

Pull a spark plug and watch the spark to see if it is pretty blue and strong.

Could something have built a nest in the exhaust system and have it stopped up? Is there a heat riser on the exhaust manifold that could be stuck shut?

I doubt fuel is much of a problem if it hasn't been parked long. You say it was running when it was parked earlier in the summer, so fuel ought to be okay.

maybe the air filter is plugged, but you probably checked that. maybe try and get a remote gas tank and run a hose from it to the fuel pump. never know what gets inside these old tank and can plug supply. you'll get enough fuel for it to run but not enough volume to allow the motor to perform.

There was also a recent post with similar problem where mice had plugged the muffler.

After taking 3-5 lbs. of dog food out of muffler, she runs great again! Thanks to all for your help.

why would you store dog food there

It might be a good idea to make some kind of cover for the exhaust pipe to keep the critters out. Thats what I'm going to do when I park Jaunita for winter....I'm glad for this forum,I would have never thought of a clogged exhaust.

an ounce of prevention....
Thanks for the info guys.