Craftsman surging


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Old 08-21-19, 03:55 AM
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Craftsman surging

Model 917 288092 Engine 31p977 Starts and rund but willstart to surge. Even if I hold governer still it will surge. Sometimes it will quit but most time goes almost to idle. New carb about 4 months ago. Sounds to me like fuel starving for gas. Took filter so that is not problem.
Next JD SX85 will not shift from either forward or reverse if engine speed is anywhere above idle. It idle it will shift. Think a linkage problem bbut have adusted pedal and shifter till I am blue in face. Thanks in advance Don
 
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Old 08-21-19, 04:49 AM
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On the Craftsman, I'd be thinking air/fuel mixture so would check that the carburetor mounting bolts or nuts are tight, and if so would start it, spray some WD40 around the gasket, and see if it changes anything. Don't know much about the JD, but would be thinking that maybe the transmission isn't slowing down enough when you depress the clutch. Did you replace the belt recently? Is there maybe a worn or missing brake pad for that belt.
 
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Old 08-21-19, 05:32 AM
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On the surging, try a partial choke. If not, try blocking off part of the air intake to the carb. That does about the same thing..

If that smooths it out, it doesn't fix it, but you know it's lean fuel mixture. Most of the time that's what it comes down to.

Have you tried adjusting the idle mixture screw?
 
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Old 08-21-19, 05:41 AM
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surging is generally a lean condition. I haven't looked up that piece of equipment but do know from wrenching on old bikes that looking for an air leak between the motor and carb is first thing after making sure carb is getting fuel.
 
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Old 08-21-19, 11:45 AM
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Agreed, the surging is a fuel starvation issue.

The shifting is an issue with the belt turning the pulley on the transmission. Was the belt recently replaced? Does the mower have brakes anymore?
 
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Old 08-21-19, 03:20 PM
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JD still has a little brake belt not replaced but had to weld the drive pulley back together at motor. Pulled motor to get at pulley. Will try to find a ir leak aroung craftsman.
 
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Old 08-21-19, 10:11 PM
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If the belt is grabbing, it puts tension on the transmission pulley and that makes it had to shift. Lowering it to idle or shutting it off makes it shift normally. I'd look at things that could be keeping tension on the belt or maybe the cloth sheathing over the belt is worn off and letting it grab.
 
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Old 08-23-19, 04:18 AM
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Craftsman
Played wiyh choke and ran better. No air leaks around carb or manifold. Is there a spring or something I missed when putting carb. back on?
 
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Old 08-23-19, 05:06 AM
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Could be a few things within the carb. Does the carb in question have air and or fuel screw(s)? Some small carbs don't.
If you could post a picture of the carb, that would help.
 
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Old 08-23-19, 11:46 AM
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No adjustments scerws other than idle speed. Carb has undrilled passage there.
 
 

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