[SMCARA] Field Day Follies

[A.J. Farmer]

By the way, thanks for getting the genny back up to snuff before the big
event Tom!

On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, Tom <w4okw at md.metrocast.net> wrote:

> Well, Lads and Lassies, today was almost exciting!  I drove to the base
> and picked up the generator and brought it home for a test run.
>
> After dusting off the cobwebs and critter deposits, I topped up the oil
> and filled the tank with fresh petrol. It had been drained after the last
> use which was 2-3 years ago. Sta-bil works great 1 Right?
>
> A few quick pulls...and then some more.....and more.  DARN! (or words to
> that effect!). OK, we have gas, so lets see if we have spark.  A quick shot
> of ether (starting fluid) into the carb and she lit right off- for about 3
> seconds! Spark is OK.
>
> OK, lets trace it out; fuel in the tank-ok, fuel in the fuel line-ok, fuel
> in the carburetor bowl-ok. AHA! no fuel in the throat of the carb! Let's
> pull the carb and put it on the bench.
>
> Long story, longer, after field stripping the carb and I discovered the
> main jet was clogged with gooey brown stuff! Now I know you folks who are
> clever with small engines are guffawing right now! 2-3 year old gas, not
> completely out of the carb = varnish clogged jets, what did you expect
> there W4OKW??
>
> Put it all back together and it fired up with ONE pull of the starter!
>
> Lessons Learned:
> 1.  Use STA-BIL, but don't expect it to work on really old gas.
> 2.  Before you put it up for the winter, drain the gas and run it until it
> dies of fuel starvation. That should get the gooey stuff out of the jets.
> 3.  Rebuilding/cleaning a card is dirty, stinky work.
>
> Have a great time at FD2016!
>
> 73 Tom/W4OKW
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