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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - New project (NMC)

Ive got a new project. Sadly its not another midget!

Ive been given this 4hp lawn mower to get running again. It worked last year until the owner put deisel in it! It was then taken to a repair shop who guaranteed 1 start for 20. They got it started, once.

It turns over on the pull start but shows no signs of starting.

I have no experiance with this sort of engine. Where do i start?

Having had deisel in it i presume a flush of the fuel system would be advised, but what do you use to flush it? Where do i go from there?



Rob McGeown

is it 4-stroke or 2-stroke?
David Smith

its a 4 stroke:
http://www.tecumsehuk.co.uk/prodsdetails.php?ListOrder=0014
Rob McGeown

My bests are on the coil or the condenser.
Rich Amos (1 Sprite 1 Midget!)

Rob,

Pull the plug and check spark as that's easy but I expect it's not running because it's still got some diesel fuel in the carb. My Tecumseh has a drain plunger in the bottom of the float chamber so you can look for one although engine and carb look different. Hopefully the tank has been drained and filled with petrol so you need to get that run through the system. If it's got spark then after that I might just resort to putting a few teaspoons of petrol in the carb as that should get it firing and running for a short while and may then help get petrol through the system. If that fails pull the carb and clean it out, they're normally very simple.
David Billington

what David says!

drain out the carb
pump out the fuel lines
fill the tank with petrol
clean or replace the spark plug

Diesel can coat the inside of the centre electrode and is better eliminated first, but you can eventually burn it away

dribble a little petrol [[carefully]] into the carb throat as you try starting it...
YOU control the petrol dribble while the VAA* attempts the start

when it starts (it will!) keep it going with dribbbled petrol until it is happy to run, just because, it wonttake long

*Very_Attractive_A... well you know to what we allude!
Bill sdgpm

Rob,

It says on the tech link that it has a primer on the carb, probably a little button ot often a soft plastic bubble thing - give it a few pumps - use full choke - it may have a throttle interlink to set the carb on start i.e start postion.

Is there an instruction book on line ?

Oh and clean out as everybody has already said.

Richard.
richard boobier

Hey rob,

Look for a decal that has all the boring epa info, it will be vary small writing, you will need a magnify glass, but look for the type of catagory engine...if its below a B class then look words that mean life expetancy this can be as little as 20 hours to as high as 80 hours....if the tag does not say cat A, or B, or gives a life expectancy....throw it away, it is dead


Most likely the diesle finished it off

This is becoming vary common, and something people need to know concerning lawn power eqquipment....Been there own the Tee-shirt, and was really ticked to find my $250 leaf blower was only good for 60 hours before throwing in the trash

Its only meant to be used for a season and thrown away with out repair,

I hope this is not the case but I fear it is, after all aluminum piston rings can only last for so long.

Prop

Prop***The End in 2012

This thread was discussed on 15/02/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.