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Eric Haber
New member
Username: Piper733
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 24.231.129.216
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 08:53 pm: | 
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I'm new to the 6-wheeler community and recently purchased a '99 Max IV w/what appears to be a set of tracks that's never been on the machine. The engine is an 18 hp Vanguard. I've drained and replaced the gas and changed all of the fluids and filters, plugs and lubed all of the drive chains. Engine starts fine but the RPMs seem to pulse up and down after the choke is pushed in. I can smooth it out a bit by pulling the choke out slightly after warm-up, however the RPMs then go up. Any suggestions as to what may be the problem and how to correct ? A carb. issue perhaps ? I'm a little hesitant to get it too far off the trailer until that problems is addressed. |
Mike Maroni
Intermediate Member
Username: Micmac
Post Number: 79
Registered: 07-2005
Posted From: 162.84.111.49
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 09:24 pm: |
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Eric,
First I want to say I'm by no means a mechanic but I may be able to help, I had the same problem with my 16HP vangaurd.
You may be dealing with 2 issues is it the rpm's or the mixture.
I would guess you need to richen the mixture a bit. With the engine warmed up and at Idle
You should see a thunbscrew knob on the right side of the engine at the bottom of the carb. Turn this a small amount counter clockwise slowly to see if you get any better performance at Idle. You can adjust based on what you like. These engines are prone to stumble as you give throttle so I think most people keep theirs slightly rich for better off idle performance.
If this doesn't help you can adjust your idle RPMslightly with the adjustment screw mounted to the carb on the aft (rear) side of the engine. Good luck I hope that helps
Mike |
Mike Maroni
Intermediate Member
Username: Micmac
Post Number: 80
Registered: 07-2005
Posted From: 162.84.111.49
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 09:26 pm: |
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Eric,
First I want to say I'm by no means a mechanic but I may be able to help, I had the same problem with my 16HP vangaurd.
You may be dealing with 2 issues is it the rpm's or the mixture.
I would guess you need to richen the mixture a bit. With the engine warmed up and at Idle
You should see a thunbscrew knob on the right side of the engine at the bottom of the carb. Turn this a small amount counter clockwise slowly to see if you get any better performance at Idle. You can adjust based on what you like. These engines are prone to stumble as you give throttle so I think most people keep theirs slightly rich for better off idle performance.
If this doesn't help you can adjust your idle RPM slightly with the adjustment screw mounted to the carb on the aft (rear) side of the engine. Good luck I hope that helps
Mike |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 393
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 63.98.110.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 10:40 pm: |
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Mike gave some good advice if that doesn't help consider pulling the top off the carb and then a plug in the side of the float bowl then use a screwdriver and pull the main jet and clean it. |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 394
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.218.206
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 09:18 pm: |
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Hey I was trying to mve a new Max II in the garage with 2 tenths of an hour on it. It would not run unless te choke was out all the way. It appeared to be starving for fuel. I checked everything outside of the carb and then tried making adjustments. Nothing worked. So I gave in and pulled the top off the carb. It had a considerable amount of small black pieces, either rubber or plastic. I blew out and clean the main jet. I then went ack and pulled all the hoses and blew them out and checked them to see it the got cut on the inside.
Maybe it was from the plastic pulse pump during the manufacturing process.
Junk in the float bowl and main jet is the most common problem I see with the b&S Vanguard engines. |
Eric Haber
New member
Username: Piper733
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 68.188.198.237
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 10:52 am: |
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Thanks for the information guys. Although admittedly a "mechanically challenged" individual, I did try some "trouble-shooting" and found that while spraying cleaner into the carb, (after the engine has warmed up and at idle and pulsing), it immediately smooths out. Stop spraying the cleaner and the pulsing starts back up. Any idea if this behavior is in line w/a carb. adjustment or is it an indicator of something else (i.e. float bowl/main jet problems). Again, thanks.
Eric |
Chuck McGhee
Intermediate Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 97
Registered: 01-2006
Posted From: 12.170.193.98
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 11:10 am: |
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Jerry,
I read some where that some one had junk in their fuel tank from it being drilled out at the factory. That sounds like it might be your case. |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 398
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 70.106.195.27
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 12:15 pm: |
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Chuck,
What I had was a hard black material and I believe it came from the plastic pump. The tank is an opaque material and the filter would have trapped this material I found. When I filled it I just bought a new plastic fuel can from WalMart and even used a filter when filling the tank on the max from the fuel can. I did this because I hate seeing debris in the tanks. And didn't want that on a new machine. It is not a problem with Recreatives just the engine component that came on it.
Eric,
I'd still pull the top of the carb and clean it in the float bowls and clean the main jet. If you don't want to try that use some of the really strong cleaner that Fred recommends and run it this way for a while.
I'd do as suggested check the idle speed and watch the governor mechanism. But by pulling the choke out a little or spraying in the carb I'd guess it is running lean. This would indicate a clogged main jet or an idle mixture out of adjustment. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 209
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 03:50 pm: |
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Eric,
I'm not one to do adjusting unless you have a tachometer and experience. I don't think things just come out of adjustment.
My guess is bad fuel (gunk), but it could be cork or other stuff during the manufacture process. The product I recommend that Jerry mentioned is 4 Power made by Conklin Products. You can do a search. 4 Power is the only product I have found that cleans gunk out (others will prevent it, but not remove it). If it is cork or plastic, the only way to remove it is to tear it down.
I'd say use 4 Power or take it to a Briggs service center unless you have the tools and feel confident to tear it apart. Carbs can be tricky and proper adjustment is important for engine life as well as performance.
Bad fuel from sitting around and water vapor is the primary cause of carb problems and spark plug problems. |
Eric Haber
New member
Username: Piper733
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 68.188.198.237
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 - 01:34 pm: |
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Good afternoon,
Once again, thanks for your suggestions. I have a can of 4-Power ordered and it should be here in a couple of days. I'll try that first and see where it takes me. I'll also see if I can't get into the carb and try to get that inspected and cleaned. I'll be sure to let you know how things come out.
Eric |
liflod
Advanced Member
Username: Liflod
Post Number: 121
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 151.201.211.103
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 - 01:43 pm: |
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Taking the top off the carb is not that difficult. Make sure you have a can of carb cleaner to spray out the gunk and keep a towel under the drain port to catch the stuff. It only takes about 10 minutes. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 210
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 11:41 am: |
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Eric, On the 4 Power, mix up a quart using 2 ounces of 4 Power to 1 quart of gasoline and put that in your empty gas tank. Run the quart through. I fill the lines and fuel filter with straight 4 power. It might take 2 quarts. |
Eric Haber
New member
Username: Piper733
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 24.231.129.216
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 07:10 am: |
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Thanks. Still waiting for the 4-Power to arrive. Temps and the w/chill up here in Mich's U.P. have been in the single digits and -0 this past week. Today in the 40's. Hopefully I'll be able to get out and do some work on it.
Eric |
Shop Talk: Tech Tips and Q&A section