Does the generator carburetor fuel bowl have to seat a certain way?

Hi!

We have a put together a guide here to assist you in these situations. It will guide you through testing and repairing the Generator. : https://www.generatorguru.com/need-help/
Regards,The Generator Guru Team

the ethanol gas has a way of ruining the rubber tip on the needle valve (in carburetor). When the rubber tip on that valve or the rubber on the Seat go bad, gas can constantly want to fill the carburetor bowl. so much so that it runs into the engine cylinder and past the Rings to the crankcase.
You can replace the needle valve and seat in the carb which is best OR you can put an in-line shutoff on the fuel line and turn it off when you are not using the generator.
Ethanol gas.. very very bad for carburetors.

Sounds like a stuck float or debris between needle and seat. Try removing bowl on carburetor and fuel line, then gently blow compressed air in carb through fitting where gas enters the carb. Be careful not to have air set too high you could blow seat out of carb. You just want to blow out any debris that is causing needle to not seat. Reinstall bowl and fuel line and try again. If problem persists you will have to remove carb and do a thourough cleaning. Good luck and happy wrenching

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/layne_0fccff498c319c32

Thiis usually caused by a failure of either the float valve or the float itself.

Bad float needle valve: If some dirt or other particle gets stuck on the needle valve or seat, the valve will not be able to completely close and fuel will continue to flow into the bowl and eventually overflow. A new needle valve and seat are < $5.00 on-line.

Bad float: If the circular float gets a hole in it, fuel will get inside and the "float" will get heavy and no longer float on top of the fuel in the bowl. Because it doesn't float it will not rise high enough to push the needle up into the seat and keep extra fuel from entering the bowl. A new circular float is < $10 on-line.

Hello, some of the smaller generators might have primer rubber button. The larger generation uses gravity feed to the fuel bowl. The fuel bowl is located under the carburetor, it will have bolt or an electric solenoid that is screw in to whole the bowl on. Your B&S uses gravity feed fuel system. There is a shut off valve under the fuel tank. GB...stewbison

sounds like the float in the carburetor is stuck open. remove the float bowl and use a parts cleaner or carb cleaner and spray down the float and seat area, make sure that the float moves freely and the seat moves and seals properly.

c...

Hello Pete,

Is fuel actually leaking from the bottom of the bowl, or is leaking out the air filter and running down to the bowl?

If the former, then your bowl bolt's gasket has likely deteriorated. This would allow fuel to run down the bolt itself. Note that some carburetors will have a fuel shutoff solenoid (to the engine, not to the carburetor) that holds the bowl on, rather than a bolt. There will still be a gasket though. Turn fuel off before trying to service.

If fuel is running out from inside the carburetor (through air cleaner, etc), then you have a float / needle that is stuck. This is quite common after a small engine has been in storage and fuel was left in the carburetor. The residue causes the float to stick to the bottom. Turn the fuel off, undo the bolt that holds the bowl on, and carefully remove the carburetor bowl. Use a can of carburetor and choke cleaner to spray out the "gunk" in the bowl, spray off the float, and then reassemble. If it still leaks, then your needle seat will need to be replaced as well.

Your float is likely sticking open, or more likey has a pinhole leak and is now full of fuel. The float isn't able to rise to level of fuel in the bowl and allow the needle to sit into the seat. The seat could also be damaged / have debris on it. First thing to do is remove the carburetor to check for debris and such in the bowl. Then check float, needle, and seat. Since you have the carburetor off anyways, put a rebuild kit in it.

Hi and welcome to FixYa. I am Kelly.

Lets start with the obvious.
1. Check all the fuel lines for cracks at the fittings

If it is leaking from the Carb Float Bowl then there is probably some debris in the needle and seat area.

FUEL SELECTOR "OFF"
- Remove the mounting screws from the float bowl mating area and the bottom nut.
- Using something like a spray can lid hold it under the carb and turn "ON" the FUEL SELECTOR
- Gently raise and lower the FLOAT assy checking to see that fuel flows when lowered and stops when raised level.
- FUEL SELECTOR "OFF"
If it does not stop you will have to remove the Float pivot pin by removing the phillips screw locking the pivot pin in place. Then the Float and needle will drop out down off of the Carb.
- Check the POINTED needle assy rubber area for any signs of unusual wear. If it has any notches in it or is not a smoothe taper to the tip then the needle will have to be replaced. If the needle is damaged, the seat up inside the Carb will also have to be replaced.
- Re-install the needle and float assy making sure to lock the pivot pin with the phillips screw.
NOTE: IF you can to this without removing the whole carb assy it will save you lots of headaces getting linkages correct later.
- FUEL SELECTOR "ON"
- Check float for proper operation
- FUEL SELECTOR "OFF"
- Reinstall the Float bowl NUT (Loose) making sure the gasket is in the proper alignment.
- Install the mounting screws Tighten the Bowl nut
- FUEL SELECTORr "ON"
- Check for leaks of gasket, nut and in general.

This should solve your leak problem.

Thanks for using FixYa.

Kelly



After verifying the operation of the needle and seat assy