Carburetor will not run

Open the gas cap, remove the fuel line from the carburetor and use compressed air to blow the line clear. Having done what you have already if the line was clear, you would have gas to the carburetor.

Hi kennethpe172
Sounds like your float in the carburetor is stuck and it is allowing the fuel to run from your fuel tank thru the carburetor and on to the ground...
Sometimes you can lightly tap on the side and bottom of the carburetor and get the float to unstick...if that does not work then you will have to pull the carburetor and clean the carburetor to get it to function properly.
Please take time to rate me

There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. When you go to the parts counter you should have the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE off of the flywheel housing. These numbers are stamped into the metal.

There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. When you go to the parts counter you should have the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE off of the flywheel housing. These numbers are stamped into the metal.

There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. When you go to the parts counter you should have the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE off of the flywheel housing. These numbers are stamped into the metal. You can also go to partstree.com if you do not have a dealer close to where you live.

This is for the Briggs and Stratton Engine with the square air filter. There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. When you go to the parts counter you should have the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE off of the flywheel housing. These numbers are stamped into the metal.

There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. When you go to the parts counter you should have the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE off of the flywheel housing. These numbers are stamped into the metal.

This unit does not have a primer. It has a choke cable. If the unit does not want to start when you have the choke engaged you may need new fuel or need to clean the carburetor. There could be water in the carburetor. To check to see if you have water in the carburetor you need to loosen the nut on the bottom of the carburetor (it helps to pinch off the fuel line to keep fuel from coming through the carburetor while you do this) and take off the fuel bowl and see what is in the carburetor. Most of the contents of the fuel bowl will drain out but there should be enough left to see if there is water or dirt mixed in with the fuel. When you take off the carburetor fuel bowl check to see if there is any corrosion on the carburetor. This may have a white, chalky appearance or if it is varnish from old fuel it will look like the carburetor has a "gold" appearance. The correct color of the carburetor is a dull or flat grey. If you find water in the carburetor bowl then there is a good chance that there is also some water in the fuel tank. You will need to drain the contents of the fuel tank. If you want to see what the fuel looks like you can drain it into a paint mixing cup or a clear jar. Start with a clean jar or cup, to make sure that you are seeing what is in the fuel and not what was left in the cup. lol. When you have drained the fuel tank and made sure there is no water in it, I would suggest putting fresh fuel back in the unit. See if the unit will start and run ok. If the unit pops or sputters while the engine is running there may be some more water that will come out after the unit is run for a little while. If the unit continues to not run or is not running very well you may have to clean the carburetor. To do this you will need a can of carburetor cleaner (spray) and a very thin wire to probe in all of the holes of the carburetor. First, take the carburetor loose from where it mounts to the engine. Then take the wire and probe all of the holes in the carburetor, and also the holes in the fuel bowl nut (if any are present). Then shoot the carburetor cleaner through the holes to remove any loose particles of dirt or debris and to make sure the passages are clear. After you have done this, then you will need to blow through the holes to make absolutely sure that everything is removed that could be blocking either fuel or air from passing through the carburetor. Re-install the carburetor back onto the engine, and check to see if the unit is running ok. If at this point the carburetor is still not running correctly, you may have to replace the carburetor. You can get this part from www.mtdparts.com. Best of luck.

If you have a fuel/oil mixture running out of the air filter, it is most likely you will need to service the carburetor. Today's modern fuels will, over time, gum up the carburetors and small passage-ways within the carburetor making the carburetor ineffective. A carburetor rebuild kit can be a DIY project. Mantis has a very good customer service department that can locate your correct parts and send them inexpensively. The needle within the carburetor (behind the 4-screw plate on the carburetor) is likely not seating properly and the fuel is flowing through the carburetor and out the filter. Thanks!

This is a good time to remind everyone that you should not leave fuel in equipment that is not used on a very regular basis. More than likely your carburetor is gummed up from the old fuel. This can happen in less than 30 days much less 2 years.
To properly clean a carburetor you need to remove the carburetor and purchase the correct kit for the rebuild. Disassemble the
carburetor carefully making notes where each part goes. Once you have the carburetor disassembled clean it by soaking it in carburetor cleaner for a few hours. Use anned aerosol automotive carb spray cleaner to fill a small glass jar with enough cleaner to submerge the carburetor. Use a jar with a metal lid so you can gently agitate the solution occasionally to make the process more effective. You need to allow the carburetor to soak as long as it needs to remove all visible deposits. After the carburetor is cleaned allow it to dry and reassemble.