I have a Ariens walk behind edger with a SP-170, 6 hp Robbins engine. Went to use it the other day and the pull cord was jammed. Pulled the spark plug (which I then changed) checked the oil and found it was low despite checking it just some time ago. Replaced the plug, added oil and it still pulls a little but is basically stuck and will not start. Is the crank bent? Have no idea what to do next.
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Ariens edger question
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You say it was "low" on oil. How low? Does that engine have a dipstick or just a plug in a hole to look in? If a dipstick, was it below the add line, if a hole, did you have to look way down to see oil?
Originally Posted by user52165
Gas in the combustion chamber will do this. Suck or drain it out. May need to drain oil too.
+1
It might be hydro locked. Remove the plug and see if will pull over with the plug out. DO NOT get your face or any other part of your body over the spark plug hole when you do this.
Gas in the combustion chamber will do this. Suck or drain it out. May need to drain oil too.
+1
It might be hydro locked. Remove the plug and see if will pull over with the plug out. DO NOT get your face or any other part of your body over the spark plug hole when you do this.
Last edited:
007
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It was low on oil. Filled up still jammed. Fine when I put it away after last use. How does one deal with a combustion chamber issue? What get drained??
007
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Did that. All moved OK. That's when I changed the plug and added oil with no luck! Sorry I left that part out.
007
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Took out the plug and the engine pull started fine. Put the new plug in with oil and NO luck, still stiff!
Originally Posted by 007
Took out the plug and the engine pull started fine. Put the new plug in with oil and NO luck, still stiff!
Your engine is definitely hydro locked, which means that the combustion chamber is full of gas. Remove the plug, ground the plug wire, and pull the starter fast several times until all of the raw gas is ejected out through the spark plug hole. Before you reinstall the plug make sure that it is dry. When you put the plug back in and try to start it, DO NOT engage the choke.
As for why there is gas in the combustion chamber, you have a carburetor problem. Either the float is bad (less likely) or the inlet needle/seat is leaking (more likely). If the float is bad it will be obvious, it will have gas inside it. If the inlet needle/seat is leaking it could have some debris stuck in it holding it slightly open, or the viton rubber tip on the needle valve has deteriorated, or the seat itself is corroded.
Took out the plug and the engine pull started fine. Put the new plug in with oil and NO luck, still stiff!
Your engine is definitely hydro locked, which means that the combustion chamber is full of gas. Remove the plug, ground the plug wire, and pull the starter fast several times until all of the raw gas is ejected out through the spark plug hole. Before you reinstall the plug make sure that it is dry. When you put the plug back in and try to start it, DO NOT engage the choke.
As for why there is gas in the combustion chamber, you have a carburetor problem. Either the float is bad (less likely) or the inlet needle/seat is leaking (more likely). If the float is bad it will be obvious, it will have gas inside it. If the inlet needle/seat is leaking it could have some debris stuck in it holding it slightly open, or the viton rubber tip on the needle valve has deteriorated, or the seat itself is corroded.
The combustion chamber may be, or may have been full of oil and not gas.
If it has a compression release, it may be stuck.
The recoil (pull starter) may also be jammed.
If it has a compression release, it may be stuck.
The recoil (pull starter) may also be jammed.
007
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Thanks for the information. Will play with it again tomorrow. Very frustrating as I have never heard of or had the problem before.
Originally Posted by 007
Thanks for the information. Will play with it again tomorrow. Very frustrating as I have never heard of or had the problem before.
All of the small engines that use this same carburetor design can have this problem. I have seen it hundreds of times. Hondas are famous for this, it almost always ends-up being a corroded inlet seat. It has never been entirely clear to me as to why this happens, my guess is that it has something to do with alcohol (or MBTE years ago) being in the fuel. In rare cases I have found bits of rubber stuck in the inlet needle that came from the inside of the fuel line, very likely caused by deterioration from the alcohol.
Also you need to change the oil. All of that raw gas that gets into the combustion chamber will eventually end up in the crankcase contaminating the oil.
BTW, Chinese replacement carburetors for your Robbin can be purchased for CHEAP on ebay... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carburetor...P-Engine-AY-Foam-NEW-Carb-/163377428490?, replace the fuel line while you are at it.
Thanks for the information. Will play with it again tomorrow. Very frustrating as I have never heard of or had the problem before.
All of the small engines that use this same carburetor design can have this problem. I have seen it hundreds of times. Hondas are famous for this, it almost always ends-up being a corroded inlet seat. It has never been entirely clear to me as to why this happens, my guess is that it has something to do with alcohol (or MBTE years ago) being in the fuel. In rare cases I have found bits of rubber stuck in the inlet needle that came from the inside of the fuel line, very likely caused by deterioration from the alcohol.
Also you need to change the oil. All of that raw gas that gets into the combustion chamber will eventually end up in the crankcase contaminating the oil.
BTW, Chinese replacement carburetors for your Robbin can be purchased for CHEAP on ebay... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carburetor...P-Engine-AY-Foam-NEW-Carb-/163377428490?, replace the fuel line while you are at it.
Last edited:
007
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Been awhile but today I pulled the plug, cycled the engine (even blew out the cylinder hole with air) a few times with the choke off and everything moved freely. Put the clean plug back in, pulled the cord and its still jammed! Any ideas?
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