The good news is that I received my K5 carburetor for the 5E mil tractor. The not positive news is that the engine will only run for about 30 secs and die. I am going to check everything again timing points,run the valves etc.. It sounds like it is lean. This is at 1/2 throttle. Am I in the right direction? On the carb?

Thanks, Herb

I made new cork gaskets for the gas caps, the starting tank seemed too small. That maybe just enough to to pull a vacuum and stop the flow. Also have to get the main fuel line in to the pump that would help overcome a light flow.

Always something,
Thanks, Herb

Herb, those carbs hold a lot of gas, I know with my 22 it takes a good minute or 2 for the engine to stop after I turn the fuel off at the tank, so your new cork gaskets might be creating a vacuum, but it will take longer than 30 seconds at idle for that issue to occur, in my humble opinion, if the tractor was running flat out pulling a plow, maybe.

I agree with Neil that it sounds like a fuel flow issue, use some compressed air to blow your lines backwards starting at the float valve, even consider dismantling the lines so you can run some wire through them, old speedo cable in a cordless drill works great, over the years a lot of very fine, rusty sandy crud develops in the fuel tanks, and can easily move into the lines.

On the 22, I find that small fuel tank is good for about 30 minutes work time before I need to look at switching over to the main tank, the 22 engine is a real gas guzzler, they will burn through a big tank of fuel in less than 10 hours.
Good luck
Mike

Hi Herb,
along with what others have said above and referring to your comments above about a vacuum in the system and seeing that you now have nice new gas tank cap gaskets, maybe ensure that the gas cap breather hole is clear as I could envisage if running on the small starting tank, that when full, will pull a vacuum fairly much before the carby bowl fills with gas.
The main gas tank cap has at least 2 filter mediums in it and these can and do clog with dust over time--from memory the bolt/stud that holds a plate that retains the filter mediums has a drilling to communicate with the outside air via the filter mediums, I have found these clogged before today also.

I guess you have checked the filter gauze screen that should be in the banjo fitting that connects the fuel line to the carby bowl--ensure the brass screen mesh pores are not clogged by green verdigris and or fine dust that has dried hard in them caused from water/dust laden gas in its past life.

If you are using a fuel pump, that may have been standard fitment to your 5E R2, as is shown in my 4J1 to 4J1185 R2 parts book, then is it working?

Of Note is that the grey OMI says to replace the diaphragm in the fuel pump every year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Thank you all for the replies. The caps have been gutted , media blasted and new corks.The fuel pump has been sent out and professionally overhauled. All gas lines are new 3/8 copper. The K5 was also sent out to be redone. I have been using the carburetor people for over 30 yrs.Their carbs come back and I usually can use them without adjustment. They are run tested at their shop. I am also thinking that the fuel pump is admitting air because there is no line connected to the main tank. That will get done today.

Always an adventure,
Herb

Herb, a lot of folks ran their 22 tractors quite happily without a fuel pump, just relying on gravity feeding the carb, one of my 22's had the old fuel pump diaphragm and valves removed and the body filled with solder.
Regards
Mike

Run problem fixed! After going thru making sure timing and valves were right the tractor would not idle. Seems the good looking carb base gasket was leaking. New gasket solved the issue. Now runs and idles fine.