I350U: Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation

I was clearing driveway snow with my 350 Utility in February when the engine died – very unusual for this tractor.

It “walked and quacked” like fuel starvation. Okay, let’s see…Out of gas? No. Stuck needle? A couple of taps on the side of the carb with a plastic hammer, then gently with a steel one – no change. Just for fun, see if the coil’s hot…No. The sediment bowl has its usual 1/16” of crud in the bottom. Okay, clean the sediment bowl and reinstall, turn the valve back on, and…what’s this? Drip, drip, drip into the bowl…nowhere near the expected “pencil-thick” stream. Looks like there must be crud at the gas tank outlet.

So, what’s the fix? Stand outside in the freezing wind to remove the valve assembly and clean the tank? No, thanks. Hey, maybe if I just blow into the gas tank…

So, a quick check to make sure the fuel level is low enough that I won’t get any on (or in) me, then press my mug against the gas filler neck, and blow.

She started right up and has run like a champ ever since. I know there’s a gas tank R&R and lining in my near future, but at least I won’t have to do it in a snowstorm!

The bonus came when I looked in the mirror that night and saw the little black extra smile between my chin and lower lip.

Mark W. in MI

You can cheat and take some metal screen and make a prefilter for your sediment bowl. Just roll it up and shove it inside the part that screws in the tank. This will stick up above the crap and not let as much in.

I know how you feel. I've had to quickly shock my tractor with a defibrillator a few times before I replaced the battery. I had no other choice, electrical current just wasn't reaching any of the synapes in the coil, distributor or plugs. I tried connecting a pace maker up for a few hours at a time but I'd come back the next day and it would be dead again.
It was so stressful afterwards I had to administer the Heineken Manuever to myself.

I love it!

Mark W. in MI