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Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:28 pm
by Marion(57 Loboy)
We got some snow overnight and was gonna use the 57 loboy to clear 4 driveways.
Went out at 8:30am this morning and I think I flooded it.
I have the charger on it out there still, but it will NOT fire enough to run.
In high teen/low 20 degree temps, how long will this thing take to "dry out" and run do you think?
I smell gas when it's turning over, and yes, it's shut off right now.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:51 pm
by challenger
It would help if you could apply some heat to the engine. If you have an electric heater, heat lamp or a halogen work light, direct it on the intake manifold/carb area for an hour or so. It will not only warm the manifold area slightly, but it should help evaporate some of the excess gas. Be careful and monitor the progress by periodically touching the metal parts to check for temperature rise.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:17 pm
by beaconlight
Last time I had something like that it was ice in the carb bowl. Pull the jet and see if you get a good steady fuel flow after you check the tank for enough fuel. Clean the jet while you are at it too. Some times I think it is something new and exotic but it the same ole same ole. Have to keep reminding my self KISS Keep it simple stupid.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:48 pm
by Marion(57 Loboy)
I ended up just using the toro snowblower to do the drives this morning. It worked out nicely, as we got enough sun to actually melt and dry the driveways. We're ready for the next snow!
I tried starting the loboy off and on all day between doing other things and all it will do is fire here and there, then the battery runs down.
It's getting plenty of gas. I let the battery charge up and let it sit just now, too dark out to mess with it today. I'm gonna stop after work tomorrow and get a can of starting fluid and try that, plus it's supposed to warm up to the 40's.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:07 pm
by Eikel
It seems like all my tractors are cold natured so when it is or has been cold for awhile (concrete shed floor keeps the shed cold) I use a short shot of starting ether. I stay very conservative with the application but it seems give themthat little something extra to get up and running.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:22 pm
by Marion(57 Loboy)
It warmed up to 40degrees today, so I went out to the cub right after work.
Took the air cleaner hose off the carb and gas ran out.
Left the gas off and the hose disconnected and cranked it over for a bit with the choke full open.
Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Then I went back out and gave it a shot of starting fluid and cranked it over and it fired a few times and tried to run.
I did this until the only time it would fire is when I shot some starting fluid in it, then I opened the gas just a bit.
Gave it a nice dose of starting fluid and it sputtered and missed and sputtered and missed but it was finally running.
Took about 2 minutes for the miss to completely stop, but now it runs like its supposed to.
I dunno how I flooded it so bad....ugh!

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:28 pm
by Bigdog
Marion - clean or replace the sparkplugs and it will start!

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:09 am
by DickB
I've been going through the same challenging (one would want to say "disappointing" but that is out of character with the Cub) attempts at seriously cold weather starting for years. Slowly going through the (growing) checklist, year after year, a cool analytic head helps. Sparkplugs, for sure are either soaked or old--would there be "cold weather" plugs instead of summer plugs? Ice in the fuel and blocking the carb?--possible, so some dry-gas in the fresh fuel. Rebuild carb over the summer? Cranking power low? -- so charge up the battery and plug in a magnetic heater unit to bottom of oil pan.

Engine block ice cold? -- sure, but...and this is where I am now...what to do? I've tried pouring hot water over carb/intake manifold and it worked a bit. But a suggestion on the Cub forum has focused me on my next item on that checklist. I'll get a spare intake water pipe and insert a heater element in it--as one helpful Cub guy said, it'll start as if it is August because the heater will warm the water which will then circulate throughout the engine block.

Last item is one that I think all Cub owners have: Patience. Can you stand next to the Cub and fidget with the choke/throttle while cranking engine for 10-15 minutes at a time and still be happy and optimistic, then recharge and go inside only to come out in a few hours ready to do it all over again?

Good luck, and happy checklist-ing!

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:47 am
by Boss Hog
I have started my cubs when it was in the teens and wind blowing with the cub out in the weather. Everything needs to be in good condition , if it is not in tune it will give you fits in the winter time.. One of the main things is the gas. Old gas will not run in a cub as it should. Keep the gas fresh,the battery charged and only choke it while it is turning over. You should learn your cub after using it for a while. They all seem to be a bit different as to how much choke they take.

Re: Failed to start...ugh

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:54 am
by Buzzard Wing
If it's been flooded I turn the fuel off and let it sit for a little while (10 minutes or so). If a Cub cranks it should start.

As Bigdog says, clean/replace the plugs. I had a bit of a problem a while back and there was moisture in the distributor cap, dried it out, replaced the rotor (old one worn) and put dielectric grease on the cap/dist mating surfaces in hopes to keep moisture out.

My Lo Boy has a Zenith and that's the one I use in the winter, so I cannot offer any cold weather IH carb tips. I was pretty surprised when it started the other week.... chipped the ice off the choke and governor/carb linkage and it fired and RAN on the first try... :shock: Possibly the dielectric grease kept the 50MPH snow out of the distributor??
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