Troy-Bilt Pony Riding Lawn Tractor Doesn't Start or Runs Rough?

In this video I go through removing the carburetor on the Troy Bilt Pony riding garden tractor, cleaning the carburetor and give some tips and tricks on how to get it running like new again! The engine used in the video is the E1550 series with 15.5 Horse Power. This should be very similar if your Pony has the 17.5 Briggs and Stratton.
Jet cleaning Rods and brushes:
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[@albertcox3553]

Wow what a learning experience. Thank you so much for the help. God bless

[@JLPicard440]

Awesome! You're welcome... 😊

[@Candoit2]

Excellent video! You are also a great instructor/teacher! I have exactly the same problem I think and Will use your video as my guide. Thank you so very much.😊 Keep the videos coming. !! Subscribed!😊

[@JLPicard440]

You are welcome! I'm so glad I could help and thanks for the sub... 😀

[@claytonsonnier7912]

I’d just like to say I truly appreciate your video.!.!.!. Your straightforward to the point and detailed explanations and I didn’t have to meet your kids, hear horrible jokes,no random cat that’s not edited out and you did it all at a perfect pace. I’m a tower climber so small engines are completely out of my wheelhouse yet I successfully removed my carburetor and cleaned it, replaced everything and it actually cranked right up to my amazement. Keep up the good work man your recipe is perfect.!.!.!.

[@JLPicard440]

Wow! Thank you so much for the great feedback. Tower climber... yikes! I am an amateur radio operator and I've tried to climb towers, I get up about 30 feet and I'm like Elvis! All shook up, hands are shaking and my knees are weak... Lol.. 😂. I have to put everything on a hinge so I can lay it over and work on it... 😀. If you're climbing any of the really tall ones that have a light on top.. My hat is off to you. It takes a special breed to do that..

[@przmatic_]

Great video, thanks!

[@JLPicard440]

You're welcome!

[@G25071983]

Followed n worked thank you

[@JLPicard440]

You're welcome!

[@aimeedillon-williams1939]

It worked! Thanks

[@JLPicard440]

Excellent! You're welcome... 😀

[@johnsmith-gk4td]

Thank you so much!!

[@JLPicard440]

You're welcome!

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

Hey thanks so much for getting back with me 😊. I also forgot the hose that comes from intake side seems to collapse when the motor reved up its not the main fuel line, and it's not that small line that comes from the top of the tank the hose is about three eights inside diameter its on the side of intake and goes to the motor

[@JLPicard440]

I think that's a vacuum hose. You can get the model of the engine off the valve cover and go to a site like www.partstree.com. You can plug in your engine model number to get the parts breakdown. From there get the part number of the hose.

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

@@JLPicard440 hey thanks I will try that

[@ottosasse691]

I liked your video. It was very detailed simple and clear. Thks

[@JLPicard440]

You're welcome! Thanks for the great feedback...

[@keith4886]

😊​. HI JL. I have a Troy Built Pony that has a rear hanger rod that has come out. Where does it attach to? The rod has a hole through the end for a bowtie clip.

[@JLPicard440]

Is it on the deck?

[@keith4886]

@@JLPicard440Hello J.L. Thank you for replying to my email. I am slowly finding out things about riding mowers. Tackled the job today & fixed it in ten minutes. It was a stabilizer rod that connects to the lifting arm of the deck. It had popped out while I was mowing. It popped right back in & I teplaced the bowtie clip that holds it in place. Again thank you for your reply. It looks like I am back in business again. I enjoy your videos very much. My thanks, Keith.

[@JLPicard440]

That's great! I thought it might be on the deck but I wasn't sure what you meant... The clip must have come out some how allowing the rod to pop out.. 😊

[@wgrscooby]

Thanks you

[@JLPicard440]

Thank you too!

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

I have Troy built bronco lawn tractor 540 cc 19 hp intek Briggs an Stratton 42 inch cut when I got the more it wouldn't start unless you put your hand over the breather intake and feed the intake with amount of air . I thought it was the carb so took it off and cleaned it but it still wouldn't run. So I bought a new carb an put on it an started right up . Since spring been driving mowed yard parked in the garage ran just fine went to start it to day won't start unless you hold hand over breather intake. This mower was. Only used 1 summer do you think it could be the valves, sure could use some advice I also put fresh gas in it thinking might help

[@JLPicard440]

Is it possible the fuel filter had some trash in it and recontaminated the new carburetor with the same thing as the old one? It sounds like a carburetor problem to me. You can try to adjust the valves, but I have my doubts if that's the problem..

[@marinabordak7605]

You sound like a dhar man actor 😂😂

[@JLPicard440]

Oh cool! I'll have to check him out and see what he sounds like... 😊

[@heavenbound78]

great video, but i have a question on my troy bilt 17.5 b&s engine have replaced carburetor -got spark -new plug -new fuel filter but still will not stay running past 5 seconds then dies any advice would be grand

[@JLPicard440]

Have you checked the fuel to see if it's old or has any water in it?

[@heavenbound78]

hey JL yes fresh fuel, however, i was thinking last night that the fuel i am using is probably not ethanol free. not sure if that would make a difference. also, due to my negligence i wish i had taken the intake manifold off and checked it when i had the carburetor off. i may do that later. im going check valve clearance but not really sure that’s the problem. it cranks, no dragging, but not start unless i use starter fluid.anyway i m still puzzled thank for sending me a response

[@JLPicard440]

No problem.. If you have a compression gauge it would be faster to take out plugs and test for compression. If the valve clearance is a little bit off, it's not going to keep it from running, but if it's way off it'll affect the compression... It'll run no problem on 87 pump gas unless it's old. I use ethanol free to get longer storage life out of it, but it'll run fine on both as long as it's within 6 months or so.

[@heavenbound78]

@@JLPicard440 thanks JL great advice as always

[@heavenbound78]

@@JLPicard440 hey JL, i got a new compression gauge from amazon, read 95, anyway i got it going and running but runs very rough and smoky. i was thinking looking at valves and checking clearance at tdc. JL i really appreciate your help you have been fantastic. thanks again

[@kristopherolischuk2986]

Does anyone have an Amazon link to a replacement carburetor for the tractor in the video?

[@JLPicard440]

HI, I don't remember the part number, but if you get your model number from off the bottom of the seat, you can go to www.partstree.com and get the parts breakdown. From there it'll give you the part number and you can plug that into amazon...

[@wesleyhathcoat1271]

the mower is too clean did you clean it???

[@JLPicard440]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't need to. I don't remember on that particular one... 😀

[@JLPicard440]

Second 😊

[@djmikelove1578]

First

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

Backfires some too and the governor is up and down on the rpms

[@JLPicard440]

Those Ponys sometimes will do that. If you google troy bilt pony surging you'll find several ideas of what it could be.. I've even seen where those one cylinder briggs engines have a cam problem with the compression release, but I doubt if it's that from what you described..

[@G25071983]

Followed n worked thank you

[@JLPicard440]

You're welcome!

[@keith4886]

I have just replaced the carb on my Troy Built Pony 15.5 hp & I think I have the linkage to the carb set up right. The rod that goes to the main throttle also has a spring ( pretty flimsy) I checked my choke & that opens & closes. I checked this with the mower not running. But I never saw the main throttle valve move. Does it rely on air pressure to open & close when the mower is in motion?

[@JLPicard440]

HI Keith, without seeing it I can't remember for sure. Sometimes you'll move the throttle back and forth and it will only put more or less pressure on the throttle butterfly and when it's running it opens and closes. On this one I can't remember. I want to say you should see if physically move whether it's running or not. If you can't figure it out, you can send a picture to my take a bath productions Facebook page and I'll take a look at it and see if I can see anything.

[@keith4886]

@@JLPicard440 Thank you for replying, J.L. Your's has been the best video I have seen particularly hooking up the carb linkage. However, I think my old mower is knocking on heaven's door. The old engine is getting tired after nearly nine years of service & never broke down once till now. There is a grinding noise when I activate the starter & the motor turns over. I'll be playing it the Last Post soon I think.

[@JLPicard440]

Thank you for the feedback! Arrrrgh.... It could be the starter is going bad.... if the motor is running good when it starts with no funny noises that's probably what's going on with that.