Here is a noggin scratcher...

[Burntime]

My kt-17 started running ruff in my sovereign, it would sputter and backfire. I pulled the tank and flushed it and refilled...still when it warms up it starts sputtering, get this...only when I turn left? I do not see any wires chaffing and this is a gravity feed tank. Any guesses? I seated the needle valve on the carb and turned it out 1.5 to 2.5 (could not remember intital setting) and same thing? Any guesses? If it almost dies I can pull the choke and perk it up...not imediate but relatively quick. Also the gas cap is operating correctly, no lock-up. I am a back yard mechanic and this has me stumped!!!:Osm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00sm00

[DMedal]

you can get this to repeat, yes? I mean if you take it out right now it will run ok until you turn left and then for sure fail? Sometimes we get an erroneous cause and effect and it messes up the troubleshooting. Like someone who thinks the light turns green faster when wearing a lucky hat. Otherwise, yeah, you got a problem there, buddy. <grin>

[Burntime]

It happened 3 days in a row. I drained the tank and checked the fuel line tonight, reasembled it and as soon as it warms up the same thing...

[firefoxz1]

Change the oil, or atleast check it for fuel contamination and being over full?

[D-17_Dave]

Did you check for debris in the inlet of the carb? Sometimes trash can get caught inside the fitting above the needle and cause a low fuel condition inside the bowl.

[xenon172]

I would suspect a fuel problem as well. Drop the bowl and check for any residue and clean the carb as thoroughly as you can.

[Robert_Rainwater]

Don't turn left(jk)

[ZippoVarga]

Sounds like a severe case of leftitis de carburillicin to me. Perhaps a little "heet" in the tank after the carb clean out to help dissipate any residual condensation that might be putting gremlins in there. I've noticed in high humidity use that my tank sweats or leeches moisture. I also make sure I shut the fuel off to the carb and let that run out until the engine stalls helps minimize the mess when taking a carb off for a thorough cleaning. Keep us posted on your progress. Don't these engines have mechanical fuel pumps? Could that be the culprit?

[Burntime]

I forgot to add, before I dumped the tank I cut the grass at 7/8 throttle so it would run and added a quarter can of sea-foam cleaner. I am just stumped why it does it when it warms up? I did both head gaskets and lapped the valves last year so I know everything is tight!!!

[MikeES]

I wonder if you are not getting a little vapor lock...gas boiliing in the carb or fuel line. Is the fuel pump in line or are gavity feed straight to carb? This would be more prone without the pump. Do you have the winter snorkel on the air cleaner? Is the carb drawing air from a cooler area. Are all exhaust shields in place? Heat blow back towards carb.

[tillerman]

I had a similar thing happen with my KT-17. It all at once started missing intermittantly. I noticed one of the screws had come loose from the plate that holds the breather assembly. Took it to a shop and they removed the screw and it ran fine after that. This was before I felt comfortable tearing into one and I really dont know what he did to get to the screw. Good luck .....Richard

[Burntime]

All the shields are in place and the gas line has not changed its oriantation since 1993, I am going to tear into it one of these nights...

[MrSteele]

I have an 11 HP on my Dixon that did basically the same thing, only it was a right turn, and it had to be a fast turn. A lot of cussing later, I started watching the fuel inside the filter as I turned in both directions. The right turn did not allow as much fuel to flow in the filter as a left turn, or even a slow right turn. Replaced that, and I can spin freely in either direction.

[tillerman]

Michael, I left out one important item in my last post. The screw had fallen into the troat of the carburetor. Im sorry about that. hope that helps. ...Richard

[Burntime]

That makes more sense. I was wondering why richening up the mixture would have not fixed the issue.