Re: sears 4hp only runs choke on(mccolloch)
<will only start with the choke on, open the choke and dies out,>
Virtually classic description of clogged carb passages or jets. Disassemble and soak for a couple of hours in good carb cleaner. <Buy a gallon bucket that has the SS basket---better than the spray-can stuff and will last for decades if you keep it sealed. @ $20.> Rinse THOROUGHLY with water and blow out all passages and jets w/hi pressure shop air. Don't be tempted to run a drill bit or wire thru the jets! If you feel more cleaning is needed pass a large thread or length of woven fishing line thru the jet, soak it with carb cleaner and clean with it in the old shoe-shining motion. Buy a carb kit if you feel compelled but I seldom find a need for one. Float needle and seat normally just need a good cleaning and---if original---are superior to the replacements. Gaskets are easy to make from bulk gasket material and old cork floats can usually be dried, cleaned and re-coated with anything resistant to gasoline AND alcohol. Clear model airplane dope, thin superglue or thinned epoxy have all worked for me and I've read that clear fingernail polish will work tho I haven't tried. It should as I think it's virtually identical to the clear model airplane dope.
<this motor sat maybe 20 years and we ran it on the lake for about 25 minutes didn't work this morning though. i went through the motor pretty well but...>
Sure hope you replaced the old---likely semi-fossilized----impeller! Think of it as the functional equivalent of your heart. If either quits---------
HTH, Tom
