Is a shut off on the gas line the only solution

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infinitymike

Minister of Fire
Aug 23, 2011
1,835
Long Island, NY
I have a Toro 16hp riding lawnmower.
I am getting gasoline in the oil.
I pulled the carb and cleaned it out thinking the float wasn't seating right.
But that didn't fix it.
I put an inline shut off valve.
But since I suffer from CRS, when I went to cut the lawn this weekend I found I didn't shut it off.<>
I checked the oil and yep it was full of gas.
When I drained it, it filled a 2 liter soda bottle.!!!
What else can I do?
 
Perhaps the needle and seat should be replaced in the carb - float might be fine, but needle/seat might be damaged. Cheers!
 
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Perhaps the needle and seat should be replaced in the carb - float might be fine, but needle/seat might be damaged. Cheers!

At the risk of sounding stupid. Whoops to late!
Does the needle just unscrew? Or is it part of the casting?
 
The needle is free and balanced by the (float) level of fuel in the carb bowls. It opens and closes on to the seat to allow fuel to fill or shut it off.
 
Advance to about 5:45 on this vid and watch the rest (it's part of a two part vid on rebuilding a similar carb as your Toro - might be worth watching the whole 2 part series). Cheers!

 
Common issue. You've got crap or a flaw in the interface between needle and seat. The needle often has a rubber sealing surface.

A fuel shutoff works though.
 
Thanks for the insight.

I'll report back
 
New needle, new seat, same problem.:confused:

Maybe the casting the seat sits against is warped or deformed?
Its a 2002 is it time for a new carb??
 
What kind of float does it have?

If a new needle doesn't do it and the seat looks OK you could have a bad float or it could be not adjusted correctly. A new carb would be last resort.

K
 
I am assuming this is a Briggs 16HP single cylinder on the Toro?

Shake the float, can you feel/hear fuel sloshing around inside?

Make sure the fuel line isn't rotting away inside and dropping debris into the carb. Generally if I'm rebuilding/replacing a carb, it gets a new line and filter as well.
 
My cub is doing this. I have a carb rebuild kit on the way.
 
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