Bolens push mower carb. problems

[gonzo]

own a Bolens push mower with 5hp. Briggs. The carb. sets on top of gas tank.I have to clean carb. about 4 times a year.Is this a common problem with this model mower?

 

[mechjames]

Ethanol Blended Gas will cause problems, gas goes stale after about a month unless gasoline stabilizer is added to the gas WHEN YOU BUY IT. When it goes stale it will varnish the carburetor. Try using premium gasoline with fuel stabilizer, and you shouldn't have a problem.

Ethanol blended gas is causing problems left right and centre with everybody around here. Luckily Chevron and Shell is not adding it to their premium gasoline, just the regular and midgrade, and that is what we tell our customers to use.

 

[robshelton]

If its the engine I'm thinking of, you should be able to remove the bolt that holds the fuel bowl on and clean it. It has a little passage that gets stopped up. I've cleaned a bunch of 'em like this!

 

[mechjames]

The carburetor sits on top of the gas tank according to the original poster, therefore its a briggs Diaphragm Carburetor. The fuel bowl type carburetors are gravity fed from a tank above it.

 

[yeehaw1960]

Diaphrams wear out rather quickly too. You might be seating the diaphram correctly each time you take it apart, then it slips away and starts sucking air. A replacement is a couple bucks at your local O'Reilly's or 5 or 6 bucks at your local mower repair shop. Also, try storing it indoors. If you do store it indoors, dump out your gas can and start over with fresh, unleaded, non-alcohol gas.

And, remember...you know what it looks like under the carb. The bit of gas in the small reservoir is isolated from the main body of the fuel and will go bad or become compromised more quickly.

Is this a trim mower that doesn't use a tank of gas with every use? Running stabil in ALL the gas that goes through it is a good idea.

 

[gonzo]

Originally Posted By: yeehaw1960
Diaphrams wear out rather quickly too. You might be seating the diaphram correctly each time you take it apart, then it slips away and starts sucking air. A replacement is a couple bucks at your local O'Reilly's or 5 or 6 bucks at your local mower repair shop. Also, try storing it indoors. If you do store it indoors, dump out your gas can and start over with fresh, unleaded, non-alcohol gas.

And, remember...you know what it looks like under the carb. The bit of gas in the small reservoir is isolated from the main body of the fuel and will go bad or become compromised more quickly.

Is this a trim mower that doesn't use a tank of gas with every use? Running stabil in ALL the gas that goes through it is a good idea.
It uses about half a tank a week.Lots of debris in the little reservoir.Mower runs well after cleaning and a new gasket.