I have a Simplicity 3312H manual lift garden tractor I'm trying to get running for spring.

I have a Simplicity 3312H manual lift garden tractor I'm trying to get running for spring. I'm pretty the issue is with the carburator as the engine runs fine on starter fluid, but it refuses to pull any gas from the tank. I checked some blow out diagrams that show there should be a gas shut off valve somewhere along the gas line but this is missing, i assume because the gas tank has been replaced at some point. Carb will be taken off this weekend to check how clogged it is. Far as i can tell from googling the engine should be a Briggs 300421.

Any advice? inb4 buy new carb

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >inb4 buy new carb
    At least you acknowledge knowing the correct answer.

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    when was the last time it ran properly?
    before taking off the carb i'd check if the fuel line isn't clogged somewhere.
    i helped a buddy of mine get his very old tractor running again, the issue was dirty/leaves in the tank

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Good post, good question.
      This anon is not dumb

      Im assuming its been awhile, op sez "trying to get it going for spring"

      Im guessing known ran good when parked, doesnt run now, given to op by family?

      Classic carb clean needed

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      A clogged gas line is definitely a possibility, but the most common problem with lawn equipment is people leave ethanol gas in them over winter and fricks the carbs.

      OP, I can almost guarantee if it's not drawing fuel into the carb then either the rubber needle is swollen and seized into the seat, or there's so much oxidation in the bowl that the float isn't moving. If you're hellbent on not replacing the carb, then soak the entire thing in store brand pine-sol. It works a treat and the carbs come out looking brand spanking new. Use guitar string for all the passages and jets. Just make sure it's not actual pine-sol. They changed the formula a few years back and removed the glycolic acid. The store brand shit still has it.

      If you boil it in a pot, it makes your house smell nice too.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        good luck OP. does it have a choke? anyways i'll bet its just some white crust built up on the main jet. if there was water in there at any point, the oxidized gunk may have made it up to the venturi and now blocks the delivery right in front of the butterfly valve.

        >Use guitar string for all the passages and jets
        checked. this is a good idea in a pinch too. i've always used whatever twisted copper wire i could spare. you strip the insulation off, say, an old lamp cord. then you have X amount of strands to separate into various tiny sizes. this is the only way i've found it possible to clean ALL the holes on some atomizers

        [...]

        do the pinesol treatment only if there are any questionable or rubber gaskets you'd like to revive, you can do this to them in a little tray indoors. the ex250 wiki introduced me to "the soak" and it just wasted time: soaking the whole thing in pinesol is counteproductive if you can solve the issue in 10-15 minutes sans a trip to the general store.

        >I'm pretty the issue is with the carburator as the engine runs fine on starter fluid,
        you assume a lot.

        it could be the filter on the pat wiener in the tank, or the pet wiener could be clogged.

        The float needle could be stuck closed.

        the carburetor jet could be clogged.

        hopefully it doesnt have a float, these are tricky to adjust and oftentimes the culprit but only if the carb has experienced some physical shock like the machine being flipped or parked on an incline/angle over a long period of time. this is what can cause it to be "stuck".

        OP would smell gas from the exhaust here but since im on my soapbox... float valves can have a rubber portion at the topside which just gets worn and floods the engine (too much supply); if it has a spring it ought to snap back to initial position with no hesitation (stuck spring = no supply). i have seen this all on old carbs.

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Check the transmission tank screen too. Had a tractor that wouldn't run because of it.

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Good god you people display your ignorance with every keystroke
    A new carb will only be needed if the needle valve wont seal, or the float has a hole and takes on fuel. Everything else here will be easily cleanable and simple. Its a small old tractor.

    OP, confirming fuel is getting to the carb here is step 1. Remove fuel line at the carb. There should be gas there if youve got fuel in the tank and have been cranking it over. If you want to avoid mess, gently pinch the fuel line with needle nose vise grips before removing to inch off flow just upstream.

    Also, just cuz starting fluid is a little harsh, i like to put gas in a spritz bottle and spray it directly in the carb for troubleshooting like this. You dont have to feel bad about keeping the engine going by coaxing it along, whereas with starting fluid its a little angrier.

    Be careful and prepared for backfires with both. But starting fluid is best for cold carbed engines that have weak batteries and just need to start, and seating tires. Engines run on gas. Carry on! Its either a carb clean or mechanical fuel pump.

    Ignore the anon referring you to your transmission as well

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Cleaning the transmission screen worked. I'm no mechanic, just throwing out something that worked once.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >Replacing the entire carb because of a bad float
      wat

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >engine should be a Briggs 300421
    look for the model number stamped on the flywheel cover. also if it is that engine the carb can be easily rebuilt.

    another google it for me thread.
    https://www.ereplacementparts.com/briggs-and-stratton-300421012799-engine-parts-c-16758_17347_228048_228088.html

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      You're in the old tractor world you snide keyboard warrior.
      You are assuming whats on the tractor is what your documentation shows. Thats old enough, it may be, it may not.
      Op hasnt asked you to google shit for him.
      At any point in the last 50 year someone behind a parts counter who knew their shit and didnt operate off drop down menus, or dumb rednecks could have been in here.
      Probably not, but youre carrying the wrong attitude for being in a troubleshooting thread
      Op asked for advice.
      99% sure cleetus hasnt got his hands on it yet by the ops pi, but assuming the carb and engine is what it was sold with is your assumption that is not yet backed up by reality.
      Get gud
      Dont assume

      Save the old shit

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        2 of the things you say are what the op said. The carb. You seem unclear on that, making this post weird.
        And runs on starting fluid, good gas in the tank, %100 percent the next move is look to the carb.

        Your post is weird

        >assuming

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >Op asked for advice.
        oh well then he should go to an actual forum and not this horse shit place. were asses like you reside.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          If it were 5 years ago, id say your jimmies sound a but rustled, my friendo.
          Sorry you dont like the style.

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >I'm pretty the issue is with the carburator as the engine runs fine on starter fluid,
    you assume a lot.

    it could be the filter on the pat wiener in the tank, or the pet wiener could be clogged.

    The float needle could be stuck closed.

    the carburetor jet could be clogged.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      2 of the things you say are what the op said. The carb. You seem unclear on that, making this post weird.
      And runs on starting fluid, good gas in the tank, %100 percent the next move is look to the carb.

      Your post is weird

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    As others have said blow out all the fuel lines and replace any rubber fuel hoses. Make sure the tank is good and clean. Then disassemble the carburetor and clean it up. Blow through any little orifices with some carb cleaner to ensure that they are unclogged.

    Put it all back together and it should run.

    Is pic related your actual garden tractor? Is the fuel gravity flow from the tank to the carb, or is there a fuel pump of some sorts on it?

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Put some gas in a water bottle and run the fuel line from it to the carb. If the engine runs the it's the fuel line or the fuel tank, not sure if that thing has a pump or not but it could be that as well.

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Check thr fuel shut off on the bottom of the carb. There's a vac hose leading to it. I've had 3 bull and shitt motors have the fuel shut offs corrode and jam. Just needs to be cleaned up.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Only hose going into it is the fuel line and the one for the air filter, and i didn't see any extra inlets where a valve would sit, but i will look again after work

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Im the pissy old fart from before

        Ignore the mtd generation with the petwiener bs.

        Its 99.99 percent what you said in ur op.
        Carb. Fuel isnt going thru it.
        Engine runs
        Dont overthink this.

        Coupla screws. Pull that carbie.

        Im on the retro grouch side that ur toy hasnt sat long enough to get real gummed up and literally just opening it up, cleany cleany spray spray, twistie with paper stripped thru main jet to make sure clear, machine purrs.
        Tomorrow ill find my buddys simplicity 7117 he just got running.
        Same story

        Tell us about your machines running history.
        When it run last

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    [...]

    Carb carb carb carb no need for pine sol just reg spray intake carb cleaner at hardware store.

    If an intake gasket rips upon removal it can be re cut out of cardboard, non hardening gasket material can seal up a float bowl gasket if it rips.

    2 years is not that long.
    It wont be gnarly. Itll be a simple learning cleaning experience

    Clean that carbie
    Enjoi da tractur

    Fuk u anon. My assumptions were logical, questions, and correct. Learn

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    youtube tarylfixesall

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I was able to get her choochin, and she runs surprisingly well for how long she was sitting in the snow. Dirty carb and stuck throttle were the culprits, because the gas line was off some mud daubers had gotten into the carb and made a nest. Need to replace the gasket on the upper carb body but she's running! Thanks again everyone

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Frick yea dude.

      90 percent of the time the thing you just learned will revive anything that "used to run" till it was parked too long.

      So many things on the side of the road and in garages. I hope u save lots of things. Never be scared of age... 70s and 80s motorcycles? Go buy one that doesnt run. You know the trick.

      Good job op.
      Frick u to the "another let me google that 4 u" hater anon

      Yay PrepHole

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Run her for at least 20 minutes once per month during off season, helps keep all the works from getting gummed up

    Come summertime and she'll start up instantly, gotta love it

  14. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    https://www.tractorforum.com/forums/simplicity.138/

    There are more and they can help you hunt parts and tech data.

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