Running On One Cylinder - You'll NEVER Guess WHY!

[@TarylFixesAll]

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[@glennschlorf1285]

Taryl.... that means he got screwed..... moooooo

[@thisoldminewithlars5324]

And not in a good way….

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

I've been running on one cylinder all day! No spark! No comp.... de-pression. 😂 I'm still running tho. 😊

[@thekingsilverado3266]

It was about 4 years we had one of them ancient Kohler V Twins in an early 90s craftsman tractor with the one barrel carb on it and when it arrived it was clean like new clean. It even had a brand new plugs & air filter new oil and all that the customer was thoughtful since it was running so lousy he put 2 new coils on it. It was still dead on one cyl. Several days later I go to thinking to taking the carb off & out popped fluffy the rats skull. The reason he replaced the air filter it had a hole in it. Gufaw. But it took me about 3 days to think about it then on that on that particularly warm Sunday morning I got a decent new brand of coffee even though it was 70 degrees when I woke up I finally took the carb off and found the problem and when the skull came out of the thing it somehow landed in the cup of coffee setting on the ground by the front tire. I called the customer and his wife answers and after explaining I got the problem she asks me >>>so the mouse was dead in there??? Yep I say dead dead. I guess we'll need a new tractor then she says to me... Sheessh... The mouse is not what made the thing run lady... There is just some things ya get into that turn into a world all of its own...

[@KarlUppianoKarlU]

I had a Breaks&Scrap-em boxer engine on a lawn tractor once, that wasn't hitting on both cylinders. Only thing is, it wasn't limited to one side. It was hit and miss on both cylinders. I had compression, and spark on both cylinders. But only if I unhooked both spark plugs. After much fussing and research, I discovered that someone had replaced the resistor spark plugs with regular ones. The ignition system on this engine fired both cylinders at the same time, even though only one was at the firing stroke. The other side just sparks harmlessly during the exhaust stroke. It's simpler than adding a distributor. But when a regular spark plug fires, it shorts out the coil briefly, so whichever spark plug fires first wins. The other one stays cold. A resistor spark plug doesn't completely short out the ignition, so both plugs can fire simultaneously. Replacing the spark plugs with resistor types solved the problem.

[@brnmcc01]

Yep, that's a wasted spark setup. The 32 valve Oldmobile Aurora engine also used a wasted spark system, and used only 4 ignition coils. I had two cylinders on opposite banks with badly fouled plugs and misfire codes like P0305 and P306. After replacing the plugs it wasn't much better and I thought maybe the engine had some kind of internal issues, and I got to thinking what do these two cylinders have in common? After looking at the firing order it suddenly made sense. I ran to AutoZone and got a new coil, ran like a champ after that. It wasn't too happy being a V6 lol.

[@ZippoVarga]

Wow! That's Crazy! Awesome that it didn't get sucked into the cylinder! Great detective work Taryl! Cheers! Zip~

[@TheJuan72]

nahhh, too big

[@Kyles_outdoor_workshop]

Hey Zippo! Hope you are doing well! Have a great Christmas!

[@davessmallenginerevival2847]

Hi Sean. Hope you're feeling good. Merry Christmas, happy new year my friend

[@jeremythiel2550]

Hey how's it going zip

[@Velodynamic]

That must be one happy customer. It could've been way worse then a dang bolt in the carb.

[@walmartdog1142]

The problem cylinder that was sucking air was also making the engine surge/hunt. That went away after the second repair.

[@artemovili]

I noticed the same. It still did it a little bit after the fix too. If this engine had a throttle the issue with that one cylinder would be super obvious because it would drop out when you reduce the throttle to an idle as a result of the big vacuum leak.

[@johnfernandez7468]

That was my exact problem that engine would sound like a runaway engine. Before I turned it off

[@craigjohnson3603]

Good video Taryl, I had a Kindasuky on a John Deere that would not stay running. After cleaning the carb. and head scratching I found a washer from the air cleaner down the carb. It would tip up and down blocking the carb. only when mowing! 💩

[@THEMOWERMEDIC1]

Compound failures elude Even the most experienced tech. Great job Mr dactyl! Breaks and scrapems love to eat carb screws as well!

[@davidwright2706]

One thing I've learned from working on my equipment is to always check for loose bolts. When I repowered my toro zero turn on which the original engine failed because of loose bolts. I went over the new engine and removed each bolt one by one (except the head bolts) locktighted and retorqued them.

[@partymanau]

Loctite or nylocks, cheapest insurance ever.

[@dennislarsson1723]

I was asked to check out an Evinrude outboard motor that the owner said would only run at full throttle. 40 horse twin cylinder. Brand new boat and motor. Dealer looked at it several times and claimed it ran fine. First thing I did was look down the throat of the carb and gee, what do we have here? I pulled out a plastic cap plug that was stuck in the reed valve for the upper cylinder. Closed it up, started it and purred like a kitten. Great job Mr. Dealer.

[@mjg263]

Great tip using the spray bottle to tell if both cylinders are firing. I’ll bet there are more loose bolts & nuts on that thing!

[@whathappened2230]

Thank you for another interesting video! Always cool to see you fix things!

[@TimothyArnott-m7z]

Hey Taryl, Tim here, BOY i LOVE ur chanel!!!....a bolt, then intake gaskets, i've used the water pray on an exhaust pipe for YEARS!!!....but what a strange deal for a cold cylinder, YOU found it all, and of cors FIXED IT ALL!!!...'Cause Taryl fixes all!!!....LOVED IT!!!...if i dont get a chance to chime in on somethin, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!...to ALL of ur clan!!...(pls include ALL kitties, especially Mommo!!!..PEACE to you sir, me and Bobaloo chat about the vids often!!

[@Wheel_Horse]

I've got one of those monster pressure washers too. It's older than that one though but still runs good. That's when Breaks & Scrapem was still making engines that last. That pump on there is a monster... WAY LOTS of pressure!

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I have one of them giant pressure washers I believe I bought that around 1992 if I remember the implosion of the True Value hardware stores in this region that is where we got it. It says True Value right on the machine but it was probably made under a dozen other names too. I suspect it was really a MTD or YARDMAN machine by the red & white colors. Its the first ever Briggs OPPOSED V Twin I seen that has 17.5hp on it. Never seen another OPPOSED twin cyl with 17.5hp on it and also is the fact most of the serial is the same serial on the 19.5's because I have several of em 4 to be exact. I have 3 spare opposed twin engines at the ready here. I could use 2 LINKAGE set ups. I bought those 2 motors in need on CL and FB Market place.

[@Wheel_Horse]

@@thekingsilverado3266 I think the engine on mine is rated 16 HP. Pump is not belt driven like the one in the video, it's bolted right to the engine through some sort of 'transmission' or something.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

@@Wheel_Horse I think that machine there is totally a commercial machine. What you are describing is like what I have. The commercial pressure washers like that machine I am familiar with were made by Ingersol Rand.. Gravely Farm Equipment made a few for commercial cleaning as well. Those I have seen at truck stops around where I live

[@Wheel_Horse]

@@thekingsilverado3266 I'm sure mine is commercial, although there is zero manufacturer information anywhere on it. Probably was at one time but long gone now. The pump is made by "General" and is quite similar to the one in Taryl's video, a '3 piston' job capable of more than 4K PSI as I recall. I never have run it that high!

[@fair2middlin]

Another great video from Taryl Dactal!! I would have given up when I got the other side running. That is what makes you the Master

[@donlokatme]

love vangard v-twins and honda v-twins wold love a video on what wrong with the outher one also

[@tarylfixesallskits]

SKITS Channel here!

[@jimbrewer2893]

Good find on both. Just goes to show, don't stop at one fix and push it out the door.

[@kenforu1531]

Fix it right or don't bother.

[@davidsprocket5141]

Great work, some shops may have let it go after the bolt removal. You know better. I will remember this problem and repair.

[@jamiewallace2564]

Few years back my landlord gave me a Deere GT-235 with an 18hp Breaks on it, ran real weak & only on one cylinder. Took a while, but finally figured out it was a corroded broken wire on the Diode. Runs like a champ now. Great vids Taryl & crew. James in Wisconsin

[@stripersniper1531]

I love these mechanical autopsies.Learn a lot from them . Musty just put up a good one too …good stuff .thx T

[@jeffclark2725]

Agreed, would not have guessed the bolt down the carb, Great video, thumbs up

[@robt6695]

Nice job Taryl. I have an old single cylinder lawn mower which is surging at full throttle. Just replaced the old air filter. Will look for some air leaks.

[@josephearl6000]

My favorite lines: "fire it up, fire it up, fire it up!", "it's not running, it's not running, it's not running", "there's money!", "Get it boy! Get it!", "I'm not doing that. You can. That's up to you, but I'm not." And the "detractor voice" is awesome! "Taryl you can't take that flywheel off like that. You'll ruin the engine." Fantastic content. Though it's entertaining, I almost always learn something. Thank you.

[@NebukedNezzer]

good work finding the problems and fixing them.

[@petertothpete6518]

Great video as always! I'm liking these shorter "what's wrong" clips. Hoping to see one on the other unit as well. AND PLEASE do one on the old Gilson blower! Got an 8hp I gotta get to myself, previous owner replaced the shear pin on the auger with a Gr5 bolt and now 1/4 of the auger gear teeth are gone.

[@jc-pj3nh]

Wow never thought to use a squirt bottle to test hot parts. Cool

[@frederickbowman4494]

GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@toddcreech3763]

It may not be rocket science but you sir are a genius !

[@skypilot7103]

Great fix thanks again!

[@dabneyoffermein595]

Nobody else would have figured that out. I would have been glad to pay 200 just to have this discovered and be back to running it again. Wow, that water spray evaporates so quickly. A great indicator that things are working when you can spray both muffler pipes down and have that water evaporate and realize that things are fixed 100% and back to complete normally. Great Find !!!

[@CompetentSalesUSA]

Thank you

[@waylangoddard7178]

Reminds me of a lawnmower that I was working on this past summer. It was a Pulsar branded mower with a Chinese engine. Couldn't figure out why it kept flooding out. Turns out, it kept choking itself out by sucking its own air filter down into the carburetor. This was a really weird 2-piece air filter which apparently has a major design flaw. Almost brand-new mower and the guy brought it to me saying it wasn't running at all. I'm glad it was something simple or it wouldn't have been worth my time fixing. I've since quit working on such cheap mowers.

[@BearE9090]

Great tip with the water. It's hard to imagine that the bolt got sucked into the carb. Great video, thanks.

[@fordsrmaster]

I really enjoy these videos .

[@jefftheaussie2225]

A friend of mine was having trouble with the Kwaka motor on his mower, no power, wouldn’t rev up. He pulled the heads off and did the valves but it still wouldn’t go properly. He called the ‘big guns’ in (me haha) and I could hear a rattle in the muffler. It had a baffle broken off and it was blocking the gas flow. We pulled the muffler off and it went like a champion. Still a very expensive fix unless you build your own exhaust system. Jeff.

[@Tom-xc8up]

I love you guys.

[@philliphall5198]

Merry Christmas and Thank You’ll for the Years of information and laughter ❤

[@dandydonslife9869]

Good troubleshooting.

[@AnneStevenson-w3t]

Spot on its finding the cause that takes the time fixing it no bother.

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

That's what that rattle was! I heard metal rattling in my generator. It completely stopped tho. I think I'll take a look any way since im doing valves tomorrow. Thanks! 👏🏼💜

[@LewisMowersandBoats]

Fantastic diagnosis brother 👏

[@patrickshaw8595]

1959 BS Repair manual says that the first thing you do is turn the flywheel backwards by hand to check compression. With a twin you first do it with only #1 plug in it. Then you do it with #2 installed. After 50 years I like to do that first and then stick donut spark testers in both plug wires and spin it with a drill for 10-15 seconds. If it misses even one spark you have to fix it so it doesn't. Then - by whatever means necessary - make sure there is no gas in the carb and shut the fuel off (may have to pinch the hose). At that point a squeeze bottle full of mixed gas having a 0.100" hole in the lid primes it, starts it - and then you try and "catch it" and keep it running. Once you succeed in keeping it running on prime - then enable the fuel flow and see if it will take over from the prime bottle. The reason for doing it this way is because "compression = zero leakage" of rings, head gasket. Ignition just has to meet the "1/4" sparks every time without fail" criterion. But fuel is different because you can have either too much or too little. You have to find the "sweet spot". So doing it this way keeps you from blaming the fuel system when it is a leaky intake valve or weak sparks. You are welcome.

[@Jeff_Pendleton]

Good diagnosis.

[@pyrog.c.c89]

Awesome Taryl, Merry Christmas.

[@RPike-bq3xm]

Nice professional job!!!

[@jamesm699]

I have a 16hp castiron L head briggs I purchased a while ago but it had an interesting issue it had less than a 100 hours on it has great compression had great spark had never been apart and had a new carburetor I couldn't get it to run and I remember seeing one of your videos about electronic ignition on those old briggs engines and got thinking about that. Someone had switched it over but never adjusted the timing I put a factory coil on it new points and now runs well

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing 👍

[@jaryljackderriere1232]

Who'd a thunk that could happen? The Lawnmower Detectives do it again by solving lawnmower mysteries. You guys really are the best!!! Merry Christmas to y'all.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

The carb is usually the first place to look for strange sheet going on but sometimes when the problem seems to have another answer to it then that becomes the last place to look especially if the thing runs. I just love some of the stranger stuff like when mufflers implode and the will start up dies out ya put a new carb on it and does the same sheet or won't even start back up. Now those R the fun projects that really burn you ass even years later

[@ericst-germain4774]

IT'S EASY TO LEARN WITH YOU TARYL !

[@aprendisaje9506]

Exelente !! Saludos from north carolina

[@mike-tl3is]

Thats why your the expert taryl good job sherlock

[@gwahle2403]

Great detective work!

[@mickdalrymple6425]

More great deep diving tips in fault finding...Thank you!

[@dtronic7773]

By the way I am loving the videos man very educational and fun lol big fan !!!! Thank you guys !!!!

[@josearguelles9577]

Great job, like always Taryl. Learned something new, thank you Taryl. See ya next year with something new to learn. The Master of small engine repairs. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and the same to the rest of family n to the rest of your friends including "fire it up, fire it up, fire it up".

[@FloridaMowerMan]

Y’all did a great job on the hoodies. I didn’t even know it came with a sticker or a button. I get home from work and boom I see a sticker and a button on the kitchen counter. a nice double surprise

[@mickmandela6995]

I would of guessed the intake manifold gasket after checking spark and fuel and compression, but the bolt was a surprise that was a great diagnostic challage for sure thanks for the great video👍

[@Hjerte_Verke]

*would've or would have. Maybe the disconnect happens mentally as "would've" sounds like "would of" before you even write it? Ending the use of contractions for a while might solve this epidemic of degenerative English we are seeing. Don't and won't (for example) carry a lot more verbal weight and emphasis if you say DO NOT and WILL NOT. I'm just pontificating here, not calling you out personally since you're not the only one turning "of" into a verb. I am a new English speaker so this is very bizarre.

[@alanbloodworth2653]

Good job Dr Dactyl!

[@dciccotelli6021]

I love it! Some people like to read a book before they go to bed, but your videos are not only educational, but make me laugh. I love the skits. Sometimes it's a great way to end a tough day. (Believe it or not). Thank You for sharing your vast expeience and also entertaining us all.

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

WOW! That is a happy ending to a weird behaving motor. Job well done Sir! Your cousin down in "Sling Blade Land", Old Carl would be proud of the troubleshooting, thanks for sharing. Carry On!

[@halleffect1]

Taryl is genius man

[@mcburcke]

I've worked OPE for a long time, but that is indeed a first for me! I guess you never know what might roll in the shop...

[@dr.detroit1514]

Great video. It's lucky that bold didn't fit to get into the cylinder.

[@render8]

A very clean bolt...

[@byronmcgill2656]

Man I love watching this channel You know I don’t even know why. Just cool and very informative on grass rat stuff

[@mattclark5480]

That’s a good one thanks for the video guys 👍

[@kevinleee3408]

I like the water trick with the squirt bottle just about everybody's got a squirt bottle around with Windex or something else in it but some people can't afford one of those fancy laser thermometers

[@mcburcke]

Rubbing alcohol works even faster.

[@davidduma7615]

Yeah many DIY channels would make you think you have to buy one of those infrared thermometers.

[@mcburcke]

@@davidduma7615 Understand, but a basic model now is getting really cheap.

[@TarylFixesAll]

Yeah don't waste your money @@davidduma7615

[@jhitt79]

They’re not much at all. You can get them around $20. I use mine for other things too and a good diagnostics tool for engines that don’t have opposed exhaust ports. Hard to tell if one cylinder is running cold or hot when you have bleed through heat on an exhaust manifold.

[@ZippoVarga]

Diode wire is my guess @ 3:28

[@jeffpiatt3879]

I recently fixed a stuck float on the KRohler engine in my Lincoln Welder. I was super paranoid about the air cleaner shroud screws coming back loose and getting sucked in the carb. I could see the remnants of thread lock that the factory had put on them and added more Blue threadlock when I put it all back together.

[@Jeffrey-t8g]

Been using Loctite for 45 years, rode a Hogly-Furgison Panhead that "kinda" vibrated. It also had a carbitrator body made out of brass, a M74B Linkert. Also like Hylomar on gaskets, looks like clear blue toothpaste.

[@airplanegeorge]

same thing happened to my triumph spitfire, air cleaner spacer went through the carbitrator and sat on top of a valve and caused a intermittent engine cut out.

[@braddyer7602]

THAT WAS A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN THAT REPAIR

[@ralphwatten2426]

Merry Christmas to Taryl, Slip Dog, Junior, Elkskins, Ronnie and all the Grass Rats. Thanks Taryl for all the great informative videos.

[@bevis226]

I've have one that the rockers jumped off of the push rods. Some idiot tried to adjust the governor because the fuel pump was going bad and it was causing it to surge. It over revved and floated the valves. Luckily it didn't hurt anything, 145psi of compression on both sides. Always check the simple things before you go "adjusting stuff".

[@calholli]

The Koholer Courage bucket engine is bad about bolts rattling loose also.

[@jhonsiders6077]

I had my old Briggs do that had compression spark and correct valve adjustment. It turned out a chip of paint was stuck in the main jet in the carburetor! It has a jet for each cylinder they also say you can’t take that carb apart just one large Phillips screw holds the bowl on. I got it loose . In the process removing the carb found out mower MD had cross threaded one on the manifold bolts! When it was worked on during warranty. They are out of business I wonder why !

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Good fixed on the motor

[@bonzaibarty]

Good job Taryl!

[@christopherzatalokin8652]

I had a brand new Kohler that stopped firing on one side. Started pulling everything apart and noticed the intake manifold bolts backed completely out. Tightened them up and motor ran great.

[@dabneyoffermein595]

wow, i thought you were going to say a mouse was in the intake

[@rverro8478]

2 problems in one. Nice catch Taryl.

[@yellowveedub]

Best channel on KZbin

[@garymallard4699]

That's Why Small engine Mechanics don't have Fingerprints !! 🇨🇦🤓👍

[@robcole332]

That was some bad a$$ diagnostics there Brother Taryl. Great video

[@MikeyMack303]

Great work, as always!

[@dfields9511]

I have seen that once on a kohler pressure washer . And bolt got stuck in a way it couldn’t set the choke.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

When those older machines start back up cold surge and miss and carry on... Alotta times that is just old fuel that causes it. I have 2 old tractors that start up like that every spring the the thing hunts for idle and then after a tank of fuel or two.

[@joshblainer2652]

Once on an intek breaks and scrap em I found the carburetor butterfly came off and got lodged in the intake port. It ran just ran like crap

[@941Earl]

That was a weird one! Nice catch!

[@GlennSmith-z1l]

I have seen 2 ATVs that have had paper towels stuck in the intake port. Apparently, people don't remove them after cleaning out the air box.

[@ronnieeastman6980]

I learn a lot with you are very good you take your time so I can understand you I wish I have see you when I young now got nto old now infix saw old now I do for free or just paid how sometime Thay paid for parts. I love doing this my GOD put me do this. Your friend Ronnie Eastman.

[@gordsmith7708]

Nice find man . Owner will love the low repair cost . Why is it that more and more small equipment rattles it self to pieces ? Not too much of the old stuff did . Old school is still the best school !!! Cheers 🍻 man.

[@mikespain8655]

Infrared digital thermometer is more accurate, but the spray bottle water test works. Had an intake bolt get sucked into carburetor and got hung in on of the valves and kept it open. Removed cylinder head and there it was. Was only running on one cylinder. Customer dropped tiny bolt accidentally into carburetor.

[@freetolook3727]

Back in the 1990's Kawasaki had a recall on their Jetski engines. Apparently, the set screws holding the butterfly plate in the carburetor throttle body would loosen, come loose, fall down into the cylinder and cause the engine to seize up stopping the jetski dead in the water. A friend of mines son went ass over teakettle in the lake when that happened to him. Luckily he wasn't seriously injured.

[@brandonstclair6530]

I had a command twin that ran and sounded pretty good but wasn’t running smoothly. Found out it had a broken rod on one side but still ran.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

Egad man, a broken rod

[@styga1969]

Taryl.. I work on them Vannys all the time. Everything you mentioned goes wrong with them. I’ve seen the intake bolts walk out .. I’ve seen valve seats pop.. I’ve seen guides fall .. bent pushrods and blown head gaskets. They use to be decent engines. All of a sudden in the last I’d say 8 years .. they are junk.

[@kevinleee3408]

Excellent video

[@Cravz69]

This exact problem happened to me when I had my opposed twin Briggs and Stratton. I pulled the head and found it wedged in the exhaust valve. Luckily, it wasn’t damaged and I was able to remove it and put it back together just fine. What a poor design, used loctite after that!

[@Smalltechguy]

A bolt has got to be the first for that one in a carburetor. Nothing gets past Tayrl.

[@jamescopeland8037]

Hey teryl I have the same engine that I bought used and the guy said that it fell over on the trailer and it started but kept smoking and oil was dripping out of the exhaust and it quit dripping and it wasn't smoking as bad but the next day I went out and same thing smoking and oil was dripping out again

[@RepairGang]

Curious what you charged for this repair

[@calholli]

150

[@NickHolleran]

I have the same problem on a gx670 Honda that is driving me insane was hoping this was a Honda video