Gravely ZT42 Kawasaki FR651V Engine Won't Start - Is it the Carburetor?

The Gravely ZT42 has been hard to start for quite some time. Cousin Eddie's kind heart incentivized me to get this problem fixed immediately.
I bought my backup carburetor from Amazon. Here's the link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
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#carburetor
#gravely #kawasaki

[@WaynePolcin]

Alright, here we go! Got another video for you. Cousin Eddie has a big heart and great intentions, doesn't he? Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE and COMMENT. Stay kind!

[@DayMcQuaig]

Thank you for sharing this. There's not a lot of videos on this model. This definitely saved me some money.

[@WaynePolcin]

I’m glad I could help. Thanks for the feedback!

[@user-ho4ut6dq6i]

Very nice job explaining everything. Thanks Wade

[@mikez4364]

Best description video online. Thank you so much for your help.

[@WaynePolcin]

You’re welcome. Thanks for the feedback!

[@chadbrown4235]

Great video, helped me out a lot. Im changing it on my z42 right now

[@jeremywever6947]

Easy peazy, your place is looking better and better! 👊🏼🔥🧡👍🏼

[@WaynePolcin]

Slow and steady wins the race, unless your really old like me, haha!

[@bykrmom]

Wayne, nice video. Love Cousin Eddie introducing the project. I wish all the small engines I work on were that easy. Some of the older linkage designs are true puzzles to tease and frustrate the brain. Still a lot of fun to get old, tired mowers, weed whips and snowblowers going again after their owners gave up on them. Love to you and Suzie 🙂

[@WaynePolcin]

Yep, there's an old push mower on the repair list that I am sure will NOT be as easy. It will get the penetrating oil treatment for sure. The Kawasaki engine design has made everything easily accessible. Love you, Angie. I hope all is well with you and your family!

[@bykrmom]

@@WaynePolcin I'm doing ok, but going through a bunch of testing at the V.A. for some minor issues, but otherwise I'm good. I think it might be too much sitting on my keester while the weather is too hot. Today is supposed to be cooler and dryer so maybe I can get out and be active. Family is good as well, son and daughter seem to be doing everything right. 👍

[@terrywhite9017]

Good morning Wayne, so glad to see 👀 you again and Cousin Eddie. Hope all is well. Love you and love to all.

[@WaynePolcin]

Love you too, brother! Thanks for letting me know you’re out there!

[@michaelwhiteoldtimer7648]

Thanks for the repair video

[@moofdoggmike]

Good one WP. U make it look easy. Have a good one!

[@WaynePolcin]

After doing it a half dozen times, it ought to be easy. Thankfully, none of the fasteners where rusted, requiring mass quantities of penetrating oil! Take care my friend!

[@davejustice7464]

Great video, thank you.

[@philliphall5198]

Just remove the shaft and sand it a tad and it’s fixed 😊

[@tamiduda4660]

👍🏻 Nice job👍🏻

[@WaynePolcin]

Hi Tami! Thanks! It's great to hear from you. I hope you're doing well!

[@brucearney9536]

Always something ! 👍

[@WaynePolcin]

Yep. The fun never ends does it? When are we gonna get together? Did I already ask you if you're planning to go to the Paul Bunyan show this year?

[@HallnoutMhall]

Wayne's World 🌎 & SuzieQ too! Good morning my friend. Get out there and makes some memories and thanks for sharing. Be safe and we'll see you down the road.....thanks

[@WaynePolcin]

Michael Hall, do you ever sleep, my friend? You need to stop in some time, when the road leads you in the direction of northeast Ohio! Take care, brother!

[@HallnoutMhall]

@@WaynePolcin very rarely my friend. I sure will if I ever get over that way. Haven't had a vacation in years. Have a blessed day. Thanks

[@johngray2321]

You certainly make it look easy. I can’t remember the last time I was able to remove a nut or bolt with just my fingers🤷‍♂️

[@WaynePolcin]

I know what you mean. Normally, i have to soak the fasteners in penetrating oil for days just to get them to break free. This mower has had a "sheltered" life so things are still compliant. Plus, I have had this carburetor off a half dozen times prior to finally figuring out what the problem was, haha! This is also very easy engine to work on - there is nothing in the way of anything, which is rare.

[@eggbertfarnsworth5787]

Good video. Nicely reordered and very good narration, however I'm disappointed. I wanted to see you fix the old carb choke shaft! (teasing a bit, but I really did want to see it). I may have to enlarge the choke shaft pivot holes on mine. It's loose when cold, but gets tight when engine is warmed up, so not usually a problem.

[@WaynePolcin]

I did eventually fix the choke shaft. It was easier than I thought. I just spread the slot in the shaft enough to slide the choke plate out and the shaft pulled out easily. I took some fine sandpaper to the shaft and gently cleaned it. I also gently sanded the holes in the carb body. It all went back together nicely. Now I have a good backup carburetor. Maybe I’ll put up a video on how I did that. Thanks for the feedback!

[@jayaye001]

Nice Video! Ive changed the Carburetor, the Spark Plugs and new fuel line and all but my mower keeps shutting off after a few minutes of cutting.

[@jayaye001]

I have the same motor on my Exmark Pioneer

[@WaynePolcin]

Did you also replace the fuel filter?

[@WaynePolcin]

When it shuts down, are you able to immediately start it again?

[@krystalwatson8053]

Hello! I have the same engine on my mower. Thanks for the video, it helped me tremendously replacing the carb. My mower is an old gal. When i engage the pto and make a few passes, it spits and sputters like it is running out of fuel. I have replaced the spark plugs, fuel filter, and now the carb. Could it be a coil pack or perhaps the seat sensor? It just dies when the pto is engaged after 20-30 seconds.

[@WaynePolcin]

That’s a good question. Have you replaced the fuel filter and cleaned the air filter?

[@stevewohnoutka5622]

WILL Carb PART # 15004-1064 work? I have the same Kawasaki engine model number as you. However, last digits are DS33-R. I can't find 1064 on Amazon, just Kawasaki for $256

[@philliphall5198]

Why not have it cleaned and a kit installed ??? That plastic choke shaft is a dam problem, Kawasaki better make a metal shaft to replace it 😊😊

[@dlewis80sfg]

I just put on a new carb but won’t run without it on choke. Any adjustments I can make?

[@WaynePolcin]

This means you’re not getting enough fuel through the carburetor. Setting the choke limits air intake into the mixture so the engine will run with less fuel. Did you have this same problem before you replaced the carburetor? What were the symptoms causing you to replace it?

[@dlewis80sfg]

I had the same problem but old carb had a lot of carbon build up on it and I could barely blow air thru the fuel intake connection. The only adjustment I see is the idle screw. The rpm’s did go up when I turned it but it was still on half choke. What else could it be?? Thanks for the reply!!

[@WaynePolcin]

@dlewis80sfg have you checked for air leaks in the fuel line? Is the impulse connector tube in good condition - no leaks?

[@dlewis80sfg]

How do I check for air leaks? Should I just replace the line? My skills are limited about now, I could replace the connector tube also and see if that works. Thank you for the advice!

[@chadbrown4235]

Did you forget the gaskets? Or just not using any?

[@WaynePolcin]

I would have to review the video, but I think I mentioned something about the gaskets. Yes. I did use gaskets.

[@Todd-pm6ny]

What a waist of my time when in a hurry to fix my mower. Dude loves to hear himself talk

[@WaynePolcin]

Haha, you got me figured out. I love to read the comments too. The nice thing about KZbin is that you can skip any part of a video you don’t like. I love reading my own replies too. I hope you were able to get your mower fixed. Stay kind my friend!

[@frankie7508]

Nice job replacing the carburetor and explaining the attachments especially the linkages and springs. Please stop calling the breather vents impulse tubes. This engine has two breather tubes, A large and a small one. They are breather engine vents As part of the air pollution control system. Was this an OEM carburetor or a cheap chinese knock off??

[@WaynePolcin]

Thanks for the feedback. You are correct about the breather tube. I hade just finished working on a 2-stroke chainsaw engine and must have had that terminology stuck in my head. As I recall, I ordered the part from Amazon so I would expect it is a Chinese knockoff - it seems to perform well. Only time will tell. Since I made the video, I finally figured out how to remove the choke plate to get the choke lever to work properly so now I have a working OEM backup carb.