I'm sure there will always be detractors but once again I have used SeaFoam and Starting Fluid to get a mower running . One of my sisters friends asked me if I could look at her push mower . It sat up all winter with gas in it and she couldn't get it started . I brought it home , dumped the old fuel and refilled with fresh stuff . Put a healthy dose of SF in the tank and gave it a shot of Starting Fluid . It cranked and ran for about 60 seconds . That was a good sign . After that it would crank without the Starting Fluid and run for a little while longer each time . I let it sit for a few hours and started the process again . Now it cranks on the second pull and runs until I shut it off . I really did not want to take the carb apart and I'm glad it wasn't gunked up that bad .
SeaFoam to the rescue
- Thread starter nomas
- Start date
Like you I have had a few good experiences using Seafoam in seldom used pieces of OPE. I don't use it regularly in anything, but I don't hesitate to use it on a "bad actor."
Last summer my John Deere Z535M was surging when the blades were not engaged. I ran Seafoam in several tanks of fuel, and the surging is now gone.
Good post. If you don’t want to take the carb apart but are willing just to drop the bowl, on some carbs you can reach the nut beneath the bowl and lower it. Cleaning the gunk from the bowl sometimes speeds things up. Just be careful not to mess up the gasket. 
FYI,
Home Depot has 1 gallon seafoam on sale for $19.97. I got a couple of them as I use them regularly as well. It's not listed on their website, but its available in the section near lawnmower oils and parts.
Plus the Honda 10W 30 for small engine oil is also on sale for $6.97 /Quart which regularly retails for $15+.
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couple years ago there was a big snow storm on the way and I hadn't started my 26" Cub Cadet snow thrower in 6 years. Figured the carb was shot but hey, the gas that was in it was treated with seafoam so who knows. Drained the gas, pulled the bowl, reamed the main jet with high test nylon fishing line and then gave the main carb jet 5 good sprays of Seaform Spray through the straw. Put fresh gas in it and fired it up on full choke. It started however as soon as I moved the choke lever it would rev real high like a car redlining. I put it back to full choke and let it surge for about 5 seconds 3 more times. Turned it off and figured, I got more gas through the carb, maybe after a couple hours it will run normally. Sure as day, 3 hours later it ran smooth as silk with the choke in the run position.
Definitely works,kind of like a band aid approach for those that don't believe in fresh gas.I like the tip about the bowl gasket getting messed up.Dont ask how I know
I met a man at a flea market that had a whole trailer full of weed eaters and OPE. I asked how he came to have so many. He told me that he picked them up on trash day and fixed them. I asked him what he usually did to fix them. He told me that he puts a 1/4 cup of seafoam in the tank first and pumps it in with the primer and them put 2 stroke mix in and most come back to life. I have used his method and it works for me too.
Seafoam does work if the equipment has old fuel in it, and will help clean slightly varnished carbs. I rarely use it though, by the time equipment makes it to me the carburetors usually need a full rebuild and the equipment won't start at all.
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- May 28, 2014
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I use Berrymans and Schaeffers Neutra
