~1980 Briggs 10hp carb leak (mod 220707)

[amcjavelin74]

So I have a little John Deere model 68 RER. Nice little mower. Didn't run nice.

I rebuilt the carb, and it leaks. Needle clip 'points' toward air cleaner, and the seat had the groove facing the needle. When held upside down (float up) the float is parallel to the carb body. So I'm thinking that's set right.

I tore back into the carb, and in about 15 minutes the needle clip was still pointing toward the air cleaner, and the seat had the groove facing the carb body. Bolted everything back together, and...

It still leaks. While draining the fuel from the carb back into the fuel tank the main jet/bowl screw was nice enough to fall into the fuel tank. That's an adventure of it's own for tomorrow morning.

I know it's something with the needle and seat, as when I open the fuel shutoff the fuel runs out of the carb where the air cleaner mounts, and the spark plug is SOAKED with fuel. So...

Considering the possibility of a bad float, this still has the old school metal float. If it's bad fuel should be heard sloshing around in this, correct? Also, where is the bowl vent? Figured before I get too confident on the needle and seat I ought to consider other remotely possible factors.

Thanks,
Matt

the engine looks very similar to this (black... and no thumbscrews on the air cleaner)


Carb is like this... old school flo-jet
http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/briggs_large_one-piece_flo-jet_carb.asp

[bgsengine]

and the seat had the groove facing the needle.

Wrong way.

and the seat had the groove facing the carb body.

OK. Correctly installed

It still leaks.

Could have damaged the seat during installation or removal. very easy to put a tiny nick in the seat or deform the seat (or maybe even used the wrong one - there's 2 styles, one solid needle w/ viton seat, the other is a viton tipped needle that uses no seat) - you'd need an otoscope to take a close look at needle seat for any defects. Or, could be crack in the carb around the seat, cuold be seat is not fully seated..

Considering the possibility of a bad float, this still has the old school metal float. If it's bad fuel should be heard sloshing around in this, correct?

Drop it in a bowk of gas and see if it, well, floats.. Does not have to have gas sloshing around in it tobe bad.

Also, where is the bowl vent?

Internal vent - the hole just below the air cleaner gasket.

Thanks,
Matt

Sounds like you need to focus on your float and seat , make sure you are using the right type of float needle/seat of the 2 possibles - the viton tip needle is much more common style. and for these. clip position does not matter. (you're thinking Tecumseh - they tend to have a problem with the clip catching on the bowl sometimes when installed wrong way.)