Tecumseh Engines

Check to see if it has a fuel filter that might be clogged, or even debris in the bottom of the tank.

The extra pressure that is provided by a full tank, may be enough to push the fuel through to the carb; and when it hits a certain level, it becomes fuel starved.

I believe there is some sort of blockage between the tank and the carb.

Thank You for your response, the tank was removed and cleaned just in-case there was some kind of debris, but will check the fuel line next, as for a filter have not found one yet.

Most of this type lawn mower have in-line fuel filters between the tank and carburetor. If yours doesn't have one, install one or you are courting trouble. Also, Tecumseh carburetors seem to be extra sensitive in the float/needle valve area. (I've read it even matters which side of the float the wire keeper on the needle is inserted from.) If all else fails, I'd install a new needle and float.

Thanks for the response, and I'll see what happens, I'm not sure if the carb was rebulit or not, something to look at.

Hey Keith, how old is the gasoline? There may be some water in the bottom of the fuel tank....gas is lighter than water.Have you tried fresh gasoline or try purging the moisture in the gas? Also, the ethanol that they put into gas now days eats away at anything plastic, including seals and gaskets! Make sure you use the Marine-grade Stabil in your gas, not the cheaper grade Stabil!!!!

BTW, how's Schenectady been lately? I grew up in Burnt Hills. Missing Mike's hot dogs on Erie Blvd. in a huge way!!! I see a road trip coming up soon to visit the Electric City!!!

Hi, The tank was removed and cleaned, fresh gas has been used since, have not gone as far in tear down to see if any gasket have been de-graded, and the Schenectady area is very wet lots of rain in the past month, my yard is a hay field can't mow to wet.

Keith, I hear ya on the rain lately...I'm down in the mid-Hudson Valley now, and my lawn looks like Jungleland, even though I just cut it several days ago! LOL

You may have a degraded fuel line or partially clogged fuel line. Try replacing that first, as it's fairly cheaper than replacing the solenoid. Also, check the fuel filter if it hasn't been replaced in a few years. You can purchase fuel line replacement kits and fuel filters almost anywhere, including Home Depot and Lowes.

Glad to hear that Schenectady is still standing! hahahhahaaaaa

The Village of Fort Plain isn't so lucky.....

Thanks, and I'll give it a try. Happy 4th

Heck, after the drought we have had the previous two years in West Texas, the rains this year have been a blessing, and my lawn too is relatively looking like jungle land, especially when "Stripey" the cat is out stalking prey in it. I had a problem with my Briggs and Stratton, sort of similar problem, but mine cleared up after getting rid of older gasoline, and a good shot of Stabil in the tank, and some carb cleaner. I also have a really old Tecumseh engine on a Sears Edger (dinosaur kind), and I spent a lot of time last year on getting it to run, finally took a carb kit, and a lot of tweaking of the needles to find stable idle setting, etc. I have another 30+ year old Snapper lawnmower that I restored last year to near factory condition, but I made the mistake of painting the drive sheave, and unless I spray WD40 on it, the thing takes off across the grass all by itself.

Thanks Keith. Have a great Independence Day too!!!

I had this exact same problem with my wifes riding mower earlier this week. It has a B&S engine though but there is a small fuel pump built right into the side of the carburetor.

All it needed was a to have the carb and fuel pump taken apart and cleaned out. One of the little rubber flaps on the pump diaphragms was gunked up so it would not pump well enough and once the fuel level got below the carburetor the engine would not run right.

A 10 minute and one paper towel fix.

Thanks for your response, and that seem to be the direction I'm heading into. Happy 4th

Kram is right, pull the tank off, you\ll notice at the bottom of that pickup that extends into the tank has a small screen on it, keep it clean and the tank level

Thanks for the response and Happy 4th

One more. The tractor runs, when really full.

When the tank is half full, starts slow, hard, and likes to miss.

The gas filter is a thumb size see-thru.

Finally, I noticed, that when it is parked a week or more, gas is on the bottom 20%, the rest is vapor. My engine at least, do not run well on vapor.

I guess there is a pinhole in the hose somewhere.

Someday repair. Now, I fill it up.

A fuel tank on such devices, often has a small hole, usually in the cap, to allow ir in as fuel is used.

If this is blocked, it may prevent (enough) fuel reaching the carb due to a partial vacuum, to allow starting.

Though I personally feel the carb jets, carb fuel pump/filter are most likely to blame....

Had the same problem with a 1982 volvo.

The fuel iine inside the tank was the problem.

The line was deteriorated so the pump was sucking air, not fuel.

Might look in that direction.

Is the fuel tank about the same level as the carb. If it is there is a fuel pump somewhere. Usually it is on the carb. and is pulsed by vacuum from the inlet tract. Sometimes these have a small pipe from the inlet tract and this can perish and so you loose vacuum to the pump. If it does not have a pipe then it will have an internal passageway to the pump diaphragm. This can get blocked or the diaphragm can perish and split. If you are using unleaded fuel this is a big possibility.

Paul

I'm amazed the amount of bad info for Tecumseh small engines out there on the web. I assume OHV means Overhead valve, but the first couple of parts breakdowns that I found searching on your model number were for flathead blocks.

Given the size of the engine, 15HP, it would be reasonable to find a fuel pump.

The diagram below came from a site claiming it was for a OHV15 HP model 204027C model engine, but it was the 3rd site I hit before I found something other than flat head blocks claiming that their parts lists were also for that model.

The gas tank isn't shown, probably because it is a separate item, mounted remotely

296 is the fuel filter, it is usually between the fuel tank and the fuel pump. Assuming that's the case, then

290 is the tank outlet fuel line that runs to the inlet/suction side of the fuel pump

293 is the fuel pump

291A is the pressure side of the fuel pump

303 is the fitting on the carburetor

Even places like Walmart sell small engine fuel filters. A Fram G1 fuel filter is about 4x the filter capacity of the small engine filters, and its hose barbs fit the ID of the fuel hose tubing used on small engines.

It isn't clear what drives the fuel pump. Vacuum pulses from the crankcase? mechanical drive off a cam? I don't know, so I can't help you troubleshoot the fuel pump.

But for fuel delivery problems, start with a new fuel filter.

Hi IRIS, Thank You for the information.