Hi all, I've got a Briggs 3.5hp, model 91202, made July 1992 with a Pulsa Jet Carb. I'm chasing a running rich issue and wondering if anyone can think of something I might be missing. I did a full carby clean including idle circuit, new gaskets, diaphragm and spring. It is running rich on both idle and higher speeds. It only has the one mix screw for the idle circuit, no high speed mix screw. Idle mix screw is set at 1 1/2 turns out from bottomed out. It runs fine, but puffs some black smoke on idle and higher revs. Less on higher revs. I'm sure I got all the airways clean and it's not the air filter, that's new and removing it makes no difference. Only thing I can think is maybe the new diaphragm has a pinhole in it and is letting fuel in to the carb throat. I did originally see a little fuel around the outside of the diaphragm cover after replacing the old one, so took it off and reseated it and it appears to have stopped I think but hard to see in the failing light I was in.. I've got a new diaphragm in the mail to try but failing that, any advice/ideas on how else the mix could be rich at all speeds in relation to the carby? Anything I could look for that I haven't thought of? I believe there could be other causes related to timing or possibly a valve but am trying to rule the carb out before I go further down that path. Thanks for any advice. Cheers
No, its a common issue with the pulsajet - stemming from a age warped mating surface (run a straight edge over the carby mounting surface and you will see issue)
They released a repair kit (with a pin and a tiny teflon washer) to seal the gap - not especially easy to come by unless you want 10 sets.
My home made solution has worked 2x now - cut a thin piece of line trimmer fuel pump diaphragm (one of the clear mylar or blue teflon ones not thick rubber) and install (holding in place with some grease
Works perfectly then
Will post a link when I find it on here
Edit; 91202 is horizontal shaft isn't it - different carby. I was thinking it was a vertical shaft. Only thing I can think of is there were 2 slightly different gasket and diaphragm designs - maybe the wrong ones?
Ahhh, you know I was thinking about this, although I was wondering if it was the diaphragm cover that had maybe warped, I put an edge across it and it looked to be ok. I hadn't thought of the body, thanks for the tip. Just saw your edit, yes horizontal shaft, will still have a look at it because I think there is some sort of mating issue / hole at the diaphragm allowing fuel to get behind it, if the body is warped it might be getting sucked in a bit by the vacuum and letting fuel past..maybe. There's only the one diaphragm for this model, but they are all after market so could be a tolerance issue maybe. Thanks all the same, appreciate the input.
Here is another possible idea, cut the top out of a vertical shaft motor fuel tank and JB Weld/pop rivet that onto the top of the horizontal shaft tank. Tell me if this is a dumb idea but I have buckets of the vertical shaft tanks that I just can't bring myself to throw in the scrap
Hi Norm, pretty sure the tank to carb seal is good, otherwise it wouldn't be sucking up fuel? This one has the seperate diaphragm on the side of the carb with it's own little metal screw on cover. This is not my particular one, just a stock pic to show the model I have
Was doing the same before carby service ? what did the old diaphragm look like ? new gasket, diaphragm, spring and spring cap installed correctly ? choke butterfly fully open when throttle in run position ?
Hi wce, it is an older Rover cylinder mower that had sat for years, so it wasn't doing anything, including starting before I serviced it. Everything is installed correctly, choke is fully open and stays that way, seperate lever. Runs good, just puffs some black smoke and soots up the plug. Will put an edge over the diaphragm body mating surface when I get the new diaphragm and failing that might swap it out with a new replacement carb just to see if it solves the problem.
I have admitted defeat and ordered a replacement carby. I think it's the air bleed that feeds around the emulsion tube in the middle of the carby, but I can't get to it without pulling the elbow welch plug and it will cost me almost as much as the new carby to replace it. I started it up today to have another go at the idle mix, and unknown to me it was almost out of fuel, and as it leaned out it ran like a new engine, no black smoke, no vibration, so pretty sure the issue is carb related and not timing or a valve. We'll see I guess.
