Jd 50 no run

[youngin]

So I can't get this thing running. I have had it running. Autolite 388 plugs. After painting the needle wasn't seating filled the case up with gas. New needle and seat could get it to run but popped a lot and wouldn't run smooth. Tore the carb off cleaned under the soft plugs and blew out passages. Fired up quickly and sounded best it has but died after about 30 seconds. Waited a few minutes fired up and did same thing. Now it will not fire at all. Cranks and get one big fire pop with flame then cranks a few and bangs again. Checked my float level again. Is it ok if the main power jets outer sleeve stays in the carb? Seems to be awful rich.
Thanks

 

[h3llbilly]

I almost always completely disassemble the carburetors. It's really one of those, "might as well so it right the first time" deals. If you're sure ignition and timing are good...it's most likely a dirty passage or plugged nozzles.

The 50 carb also has a filter in it's housing but if you say it's running rich, it's probably a plugged passage of some sort mis-directing fuel where it shouldn't be or not getting enough to where it should be. Could be many things. How loose are the butterfly shafts?

If you completely disassemble, are sure to clean all available passages, and it still runs bad... It's possible that you need to remove the brass balls in the "nozzle stem" to physically run a wire through them. It will require some backyard mechanics.

You really should have a rebuild kit and go through the whole thing but if I had to guess...the nozzles and their related passages are dirty or plugged.

 

[Dan in Ohio]

Do the easy things first, check your air cleaner especially if it has been setting a while. Just went through similar problems with my 50 and found a mice infested air filter. Did not count the number of mouse tails floating in the oil bath but it was certainly more than one.