Ok, so lots of details here, so bear with me. This situation doesn't make much sense to me, but I sure one of the small engine masters on here will show me the way. I have a Husqvarna RZ5424 with the 24 HP Kohler Courage twin cylinder that I bought new in 2010. It currently has about 184 hours in it, and has been absolutely trouble free up to this point. I've maintained it myself, oil changes/spark plug/filters/lube yearly. I wanted to mow my yard today. I keep the mower in a shed at the back of the property, about 500 ft from the house. I started it up, and mowed a strip to the front of the property. All was well. I stopped at my other shed, and filled it up with gas. Immediately, the mower started running like chit. Stumbling, not enough power, etc. Oh yeah, my leaf blower had trouble with gas from that gas can the other day. Not sure why, I bought three cans of gas 2-3 weeks ago, and put Stabil in right away, like I always do. Ok, anyway, must have bad gas. Drained the "bad" gas out, went to the gas station and bought new gas. Added Stabil, filled up the tank, and fired it up. The mower stumbled a few times burning the old gas up, and then ran like a champ. I was out of time at that point, so I drove the mower back to the back shed and put it away. 6 hours later, I'm home again with time on my hands, so I head back out to the shed. Fired it up, and she stumbled a few times, but then was fine. I mowed for probably about 45 minutes in heavy grass without any problems, then the stumbling started again. I stopped, pulled, gapped, and cleaned the plugs. I also cleaned the air filter. No improvement. I put the mower back in the shed, and opened a beer. Help. Did the bad gas gum up the carb? I really really don't like taking carbs apart...does that explain how it ran fine for an hour, and then started to stumble and be short on power again? Thanks.
Forgot to add...it runs much worse when the mower deck is engaged. It will sit and run fine at full throttle for 5-10 minutes with no problem, but then stumbles as soon as I engage the deck. It also runs roughly at idle. That help?
Yeah, sounds like the carb bowl needs to come off. Likely you will find globs of gel like goop...the result of ethanol. When you engage the blades, the governor tries to maintain the set RPM, which requires more throttle (fuel) so that all makes sense. I'm not familiar with that motor specifically, but most are similar. Usually one screw that holds the bowl on, remove that, tap the bowl a bit with a screwdriver handle if it doesn't come off right away. Fuel will drain out when you loosen the bolt, you can catch that in a white spray paint can cap, then examine for water/gunk in the fuel. The bolt that holds the bowl on often times doubles as the main jet holder. Hose the bowl out with some carb cleaner and then use the straw on the can to blow down through the hole in the main jet. Use of gloves and safety glasses is a good idea here...don't ask me how I know this
Me personally, I have had the best luck with a product called Startron. It's an enzyme treatment, there is one for gasoline and one for diesel fuel. Seems to deal with almost all modern fuel problems. I can buy it at my local NAPA and a bike shop. I have started treating everything except my cars/trucks, even did my tank of fuel oil, because, well, it doesn't seem to be getting used much since wood heat happened here
Thanks for the advice. I'll dig in tonight and go from there. If I only have to pull the bowl off and clean it, I'll be a happy man.
Also don't overlook any wires going to the blade engagement clutch and or lever/ button. A simple loose connection on a safety switch caused me a few minutes of head scratching last week.
Update - I got home from work tonight and had a few minutes to spare before wifey had dinner ready, so I went to the shed to get the mower and bring it to the garage to work on it. Fired it up, and it ran absolutely perfect. Mowed for 30 minutes or so, and then went and ate dinner. Got back on the mower to finish the job...and it ran like chit again. Argh. At that point I had the choice of working on the mower, or jumping in the pool with the kids. You can guess which option I chose. I'll try again tomorrow after work.
Yeah, sounds like a classic case of crap in the bowl. Wait, that sounded bad, but you said it runs like chit when it acts up. So, flush the chit out!
Got home last night, poured some of the Startron into the tank, added some gas, fired it up, and it ran like a champ. Finished mowing what I didn't get done last week, mowed the front and side yard, and....it started running like chit again. Pulled it into the garage, let it cool down, and tore into it. After I took 15 minutes just to remove shields to get at the carb, I decided there were waaaay too many complicated linkages for me to be able to get the carb unhooked, and then put back on appropriately afterwards. I couldn't believe the number of tiny springs and linkages. I took pics with my cell phone, but decided it wasn't worth the bother. The carb on my old JD 212 was much simpler and easier to remove. So, I put it back together, and am calling a mower shop today to see how long it will take to get it in. 2.3 acres with a push mower is gonna suuuuuuuck. Just to add insult to the whole thing, I couldn't get the #*%&#*@ thing to start after I put it back together. NO IDEA why not. Obviously it some stupid safety thing, but I can't figure out what. I didn't really disconnect all that much stuff...ARGH. Oh well, it's the first trouble it's given me in 5 years of ownership. I'm ok with that.
You can't get the bowl off without removing the carb? That is what I usually do on mowers/small engines if possible. If there was already globs of ethanol goop in the bowl, startron might eventually dissolve it, but likely the best solution will be to physically remove that crap and clean things up real good. Then treat all small engine fuel with the maintenance dose of startron thereafter, good insurance. Some carb cleaner sprayed or poured down the fuel line can help dissolve gunk sometimes too. Maybe the mower shop will let you "test drive" a new ZTR?
Oopsie Found some wires I forgot to reconnect last night. Starts much better now. The carb is buried in the V between the cylinders. The bowl is held on with 4 small phillips screws. It's too cramped to get anything in there other than a small screwdriver, and I can't get enough upward pressure AND twist at the same time to get the screws loosened. The two back screws...fughetaboutit.
Ah, OK, yeah that sounds like a cast aluminum carb bowl which very likely means the main jet will be in the carb body instead of being part of the screw that holds the bowl on. Carb will probably need to come off then. You could still try the carb cleaner down the fuel line, let it sit for a while and then drain it out if there is a carb drain screw. If there is no drain then try to start it, may start/run crappy 'til the carb cleaner is cleared out. I'd say it's worth a try. I mean what's to lose, the carb has to come off now, so it's worth a shot.
Repair place picked it up yesterday. Thinking about trading in for a newer model...Hustler Raptor SD or Simplicity or JD potentially. Toro is available locally too, but I think they're overpriced.
iron pony, I have heard you say this how are they on slopes. just curious I can get one but only at TSC no local dealers
I've heard that, but I have the same problem Canadian VT has. TSC carries them, but no local dealers, and I'm really annoyed at the moment how hard it was to find someone to work on my Husq with no local dealers.
A piece of advice for you, I just bought a used Hustler Mini Z to replace my Toro because one of the hydros on my Toro crapped the bed, again. Here's the advice, whatever you buy, get one that has serviceable drive unit(s). That means drives that have a oil drain/fill hole and spin on filters. If it is not serviceable...it is homeowner grade throwaway crap...run Forest, run! Take it from somebody that learned this lesson the hard way. I believe the Hustler Raptor SD has serviceable hydros...the Hydro Gear 2800, that would be my minimum trans. A Hydro Gear 3100, even better, but you are straddling residential, heading toward commercial duty stuff there
