Help needed- Briggs & Stratton engine issue

[SixD9R]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the problem I'm having with my Briggs hydraulic log splitter engine? I was splitting wood for a couple of hours today and it was running just fine. I was thinking this thing has to be close to running out of gas plus I was nearly out of daylight so was planning to quit soon anyway. I was on the last log of the day a good 20" dia. or more log when all of a sudden it died so I assumed it was out of gas. I filled it up and hit the primer bulb a couple of times, on the 1st or 2nd pull it was running and all seemed normal. Once I resumed splitting, as soon as the wedge got into the log it bogged down and stalled. I fired it back up and again it seemed to be running fine but same deal, as soon as it had to work, it bogged down like it had no power at all. I nursed it through the log I was working on but it took a while. I packed it in for the night but I'm really concerned that I now have a problem. Now, I'm wondering if it really did run out of gas or died due to this problem.

The gas I used was the same that I initially filled it with so I don't think that's the issue. I bought this thing used a few years ago and it always ran very well since then. Could it be an issue with the governor not doing it's thing when the engine has to really work? Like I said, it seems to idle and run fine until I put a load on it.

Thanks!

 

[Racey]

Hows the plug look?

Main circuit in carb may have a clog? Upstream fuel system may have a clog or restriction....

 

[SixD9R]

Hows the plug look?

Main circuit in carb may have a clog? Upstream fuel system may have a clog or restriction....

Thanks for the suggestions!
The plug looked fine the last time I checked it but that was a while ago, will take another look one night this week. I can buy into the carb circuit or fuel system issue since it seems to run fine until I put it under load.

 

[Mikes56]

How old is the fuel?
When’s the last time it ran?
Any preservative in the fuel?

Sounds like the carb is bunged up. It runs fine until you put a load on it?

 

[SixD9R]

How old is the fuel?
When’s the last time it ran?
Any preservative in the fuel?

Sounds like the carb is bunged up. It runs fine until you put a load on it?

The fuel is maybe 3 weeks old, Costco premium without anything added. It was probably 4-5 weeks since it was last used.

Like I said, I ran a full tank or nearly a full tank through it until I started having problems. I might think differently if I just started it and was having problems right away.

 

[Mikes56]

I’m thinking carb or fuel system too.

 

[JDKRXW]

Pop the muffler off and see what happens.
If it still bogs and stalls with the muffler off, my bet is it's the coil.

 

[DRYHEAT]

If you really ran it out of fuel, maybe you sucked some garbage off the bottom of the tank and plugged the circuit like Racy said.

 

[CCXHAL]

Gas cap vent

 

[Your ad here]

More than likely you sucked up dirt into the main jet when it ran out of fuel. Clean the carb. Take pictures of the governor, springs, and rod before you disassemble.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Did it sound like the governor was trying at all to keep the throttle up? With log splitters, and some lawn stuff out here, I've seen bits of wood and crap get hung up on the little spring linkages, and not allow the throttle plate to move freely. Check the oil. I've also had the low oil switches get goofy when warm, and act like an intermittent coil.

 

[SixD9R]

Did it sound like the governor was trying at all to keep the throttle up? With log splitters, and some lawn stuff out here, I've seen bits of wood and crap get hung up on the little spring linkages, and not allow the throttle plate to move freely. Check the oil. I've also had the low oil switches get goofy when warm, and act like an intermittent coil.

Good point, I don’t think it seemed like the governor was doing anything at all. I’ll have to pull the air filter assembly off and take a look at it.

I did check the oil before I started working and it was good.

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of these little engines the fuel is gravity drain into the carb?

 

[monkeyswrench]

Good point, I don’t think it seemed like the governor was doing anything at all. I’ll have to pull the air filter assembly off and take a look at it.

I did check the oil before I started working and it was good.

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of these little engines the fuel is gravity drain into the carb?

That one looks to be gravity. Some of the others, with the remote tank, have the pulse pumps on them. When they take a dump they usually don't like to restart.

 

[TPC]

From my experiences for what you describe:

The now defunct Buggs and Strap on has several different carburetors.
Some of the smaller, at least what I have now, the jet sucks up from the float bowl.

You easily remove the float bowl (mind the O ring seal), and the jet pops out - pull down, and you can clean it with this $5.50 kit from Amazon:

Use the brass handle needle to gently clean the jet itself, and the smallest brush to poke up where the plastic jet assembly plugs in.
Then rinse it all, blast out all the tiny orifices with carb cleaner.
Search YOUTUBE for a DIY.

The jet is in the center of the float.

 

[mash on it]

While something in the carb could be plugged, check the air filter condition, I've had them cut off the airflow significantly causing a rich connection and stall under load.

Dan'l

 

[Havasu blue label]

Check the filter in the tank