Engine performing poorly - Help pls

[BaldEagle5556]

Hi, I just bought a AC 716H and was cutting grass with it today. It ran perfectly great for about an hour and then the engine would hesitate and begin to sputter ...sometimes when I stopped and backed off the throttle and then increased it, it would rev right up again....other times it would stall...but it would start again. I let it sit for about an hour while I had lunch and it seemed to be running fine again.....then I blew the belt on the lawnmower deck so the cutting is done for the day....and it is Canada Day so no parts. Any thoughts on what might be going on? I am thinking something in the carburator...maybe the mix or some kind of vapour lock that happens when it gets too hot....would the belt have had anything to do with it or is this just a random thing... BTW....anyone happen to know what kind of belt this takes..it is an AC 42 inch deck...I have the manual for the simplicity 7016 and have the part number for that 42 inch deck 1657044. Anyone have any idea where I can get cheap belts? Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Tom

[D-17_Dave]

There are several possibilities. But before I throw out some guesses lets look at some things to try to narrow the list. If you can determine whether it's a fuel issue or not would be a big help. When this occurs does pulling out the choke help it? If so your looking at a fuel starvation issue. Could be as simple as a mixture adjustment or a clogged fuel flow. If it doesn't help then you should look towards an over heating issue such as blocked cooling fins or something else from heat build up like valve lash adjustment or the magneto shorting out from moister. If you have points then a common thing is the condenser gets wet from condensation and once it heats up the water vapor shorts the condenser internally and stops the ignition circuit from working properly. This is the same problem in the magneto but not nearly as common. Could be as simple as a bad plug. Now that I've said all this check out the fuel flow. It should be a solid stream as large in diamiter as the fuel line. If not, trace it out till you find the truble. Look for a bloked fuel filter, or trash in the tank blocking the outlet. If there is no fuel filter then you may have debris in the needle. Pulling out the needle on the bottom of the carb should show the same flow of gas for 5 to 10 secounds. You'll have to allow time for the bowl of gas in the carb to drain to actually show the true fuel flow right at the jet.

[DMedal]

cheap belt would be a mistake. After you get the engine strong, get a real belt and check the pulleys for alignment and free turning. That's a highly stressed belt and one of the ones where you need a premium belt, preferrably OEM. You'll wind up getting one eventually, just a matter of how many cheap belts you go through first. This one twists too much to be using something else. Good luck and keep us posted! -Don

[Brent_Baumer]

quote:

---

Originally posted by DMedal
cheap belt would be a mistake. After you get the engine strong, get a real belt and check the pulleys for alignment and free turning. That's a highly stressed belt and one of the ones where you need a premium belt, preferrably OEM. You'll wind up getting one eventually, just a matter of how many cheap belts you go through first. This one twists too much to be using something else. Good luck and keep us posted! -Don

---

Don is 100% correct here. Been there before. Just bite the bullet and pay the $36 or whatever the RIGHT belt costs near you.

[Willy]

I have used Gates Green belts for year with good luck. I have used them on my mower decks if I burn one up it's because of a bad spindle or something other then the belt. I don't even remember the last time I had to buy a drive belt.