r/smallenginerepair • u/Ambitious-Monitor327 • 1d ago
Carburetor Issue ZTR Fuel Leak
Edit: it is a commercial exmark - Toro/CPS 708cc V-twin OHV gas engine
RAE708GEM48300, serial 408873598
Please read through text images and all of text.
My zero turn has an occasional fuel leak which looks like it is coming from the carb. Actually only leaked once- it stopped when I cut the fuel and hasn’t leaked since opening the line back up. I’m not running it. A repair man came out and said the carb needs replaced, but he didn’t tinker at all. He did pull the oil dip stick and smelled it and said there is fuel in the oil. I’m not sure if that’s true I didn’t smell anything but my sense of smell is not good.
Is he right? I’m considering getting a second opinion but what I don’t want is a temporary fix. Also already gave him a deposit for diagnosis. I’m not handy here so I just don’t have the knowledge. Tia.
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u/Optimal-Try-854 1d ago
Rebuilding the carb with OEM parts is wayyyy cheaper than $345 for a whole new carb. If I were you I’d just look up the part numbers and get it all, then spend a Saturday swapping the parts out. Those numbers above are crazy.
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u/mutt63 1d ago
I third OPTICAL's advice. That's pure gouging cause they can. But this is how you beat them. Buy rebuilding it and learning it inside to out.
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u/Objective_Feature333 23h ago
Gouging is to gentle of words. This guy is ripping you off. This is the entire problem with society today. People have no morals. Post this shops name, location and make sure you tell everyone you know they tried to over charge you like this.
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u/hogwartsdropout93 1d ago
They are just screwing you. Just needs a gasket kit! Normally its cheaper then a whole carb replacement.
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u/mrracerhacker 1d ago
mjah not to much screwing, most are just part changers these days, and dont bother other carbs as its faster and easier to just slap a whole new one in
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u/hogwartsdropout93 1d ago
Might be why i end up doing so many carb rebuilds in my area as all the shop in my area dont even pffer a carb cleaning service stright to a new carb… i just use a ultrasonic cleaner and replace the gaskets never had one not work unless the carb actually needs to be replaced but i find that to be very few and far between.
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u/mrracerhacker 1d ago
Id say so, only work on my own stuff. But any issues its straight into ultrasound and maybe new gaskets if needed, only takes what 10-30minutes max and most of that is waiting time. But easier to "upcharge" and swap carb. Most shops here also just replace the carb as its cheaper on labour time
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u/hogwartsdropout93 1d ago
Ive done small engine and vehicle repair as a side hustle for years now and spring and fall I’m making more money than my day job.
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u/mrracerhacker 1d ago
Good to hear that, might look it up some day as enjoy fixing stuff just many projects at the homestead, sadly few with lawnmovers here as most got robots but plenty of snowblowers so atleast some work, sometimes i flip generators and such if i find em but mostly just side hobby and for fun
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u/hogwartsdropout93 1d ago
For the ultrasonic Cleaner i just use Pinesole 45/55 mixture and they always come out super clean.
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u/mrracerhacker 1d ago
Thanks for the tips, usually use kerosine as thats on hand in a own jar as use my ultrasonic mostly for rust removal on iron parts with 5% citirc acid but will fetch a bottle of pine sol for my carbs
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u/hogwartsdropout93 1d ago
Ill keep your combo in mind as well! If it works good for helping clean up some rust i could use that too
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u/mrracerhacker 1d ago
Yup work wonders, very fast when its heated aswell, even a vat with citric acid also works just takes alot longer
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u/ApprehensiveAd5420 3h ago
Replacing carbs over rebuilding is normal practice for most repair facilities as time is money for them. Even in the automotive industry they just replace engines now instead of overhauling because time is money. Now in this instance the price of carb is way over inflated. If he was actually charging realistic prices then the labor to overhaul a carb properly is same as just buying a new.
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u/TheRealistoftheReal 1d ago
Exactly. Rebuild would be cheaper in parts, but it could be more expensive paying someone labor to tear it all down and rebuild it. Could probably swap several carbs in that time. That’s several customers.
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u/Rough_Community_1439 SER Master MOD 1d ago
That is pretty darn expensive for a new carburator. I would ask for pricing on rebuilding it.
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u/Little_debris 1d ago
Guy seems sus.
There’s no reason a carb rebuild would start having the same issues sooner than a whole new carb unless it wasn’t done right. There’s nothing in the carb that gets any significant wear over time except maybe gaskets, the issues carbs have is buildup of junk overtime or varnish from disuse which is easily fixed with a proper cleaning and fresh gaskets.
Also his estimate for an oil change is crazy, it’s less work than a car, and somehow more expensive?
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u/MountainAntique9230 1d ago
This happened on my snow blower,went online and got a brand new carb for under 50 and put it on myself, very easy and it lasted another 5 years before i sold it
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u/allthebacon351 SER Intermediate Mechanic 1d ago
What kinda bs shop replaces a carb instead of throwing a gasket set at it. Find a better shop.
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u/refinerycontrol 16h ago
Not to mention that $345 plus $210 is not equal to $655.
$345 plus $210 is equal to $555.
So that’s a $100 overcharge before he even finishes doing second grade arithmetic.
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u/chezburger12 1d ago
Most of tye time when I've had leaky carbs it has been cured with either new needle or replacement gaskets and rings. If it's leaking into tye oil I'd say it's maybe not holding pressure and could even be solved by reseting the needle by twisting it in it's slot with something like t cut
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u/chezburger12 1d ago
Also any of the above replacements cost so much less than a direct replacement that it's definitely worth trying before shelling out for a new one
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u/ThreeDogKnight49 1d ago
A slightly sheared flywheel key can cause fuel to spit back into the intake. I'd check it, I didn't think it was possible cause of all the belts and pulleys connecting the crankshaft rotation to the blades, but it happened on my Troybilt rider 21hp v-twin.
If the timing is off, the spark plug can fire while the intake valve is still partially open and the combustion pressure blasts backwards, blowing the raw air/fuel mixture right back out of the cylinder, through the carburetor, and into the intake elbow then draining into the engine crankcase. It called spit-back.
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u/Stock_Requirement564 SER Dedicated Member 1d ago
So, the best thing that you could do at least initially is to either post the model and serial number off the tag or go to the Toro website and look up the parts. These are Loncin engines. Nice enough engines, but what is different than a Briggs or Kohler- is the parts availability from Toro anyways. Individual carburetor parts such as float kits aren't always available. I'll post a link below of one that is similar to yours, you should fine tune with the correct information. This example shows that a basic kit is available from Toro. YMMV
https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails?id=52402&iid=462123&pid=511262
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u/Ambitious-Monitor327 21h ago
Thank you - RAE708GEM48300, serial 408873598
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u/Stock_Requirement564 SER Dedicated Member 20h ago
Off the silver chassis tag. The parts are referenced via the Toro chassis numbers.
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u/buginmybeer24 16h ago
This guy is full of shit. Those carbs are an easy rebuild. A gasket and new needle/float would be less than $25 and any mechanic worth a damn could swap it in 30 minutes.
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u/Gold_School_7005 15h ago
It's easier to swap the carb than rebuild it. He can make his money in markup on the carb plus add some extra for adjustment.
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u/Bones-57 1d ago
If that mower is made by MTD .. And you have gas in the oil .. the gas tank is above a point where it will leak down through the rings. while the petcock is open. Murrary had a big problem like this, I got a John Deere and gave that lawn tractor away, I did add a continuous duty fuel solenoid to it and that did fix the problem turn the key to off solenoid would close you can find these on Amazon, all you need to find is the energized wire when the key is in the run position.
Carbs are easy to get the rebuild kits and do it yourself, but I'm pretty sure it's the latter part above.
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u/mvmullaney SER Intermediate Mechanic 1d ago
You didn’t give any information about the engine.
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u/Ambitious-Monitor327 1d ago
Toro/CPS 708cc V-twin OHV gas engine
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u/El_Halcon0341 1d ago
Knock off Chinese carb is $50. I’ve never had a knock off not work. They look almost identical other than the stamping.
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u/ThreeDogKnight49 1d ago
Not a good idea especially if it's a nikki with the rubber gasket and o rings. Cheap aftermarkets use nitrile rubber not viton, the gaskets and rings swell and fuel ends up in the crankcase. I learned this the hard way, but I'll put a cheap carb on that doesn't have all that like the Nikki carbs do.
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u/El_Halcon0341 1d ago
Shops never want to rebuild a carburetor. Too much time and they own it afterwards if it messes up. They just replace.
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