You would think since it is May that I would have my whole garden planted, I don’t! I have had issues with my tiller this year and had to get new tires, ok...so I kept getting flats, decided to try new inner tubes and when my husband went to try and put the new ones in the rims bent so badly that it became necessary. Finally got the tires in and replaced after it taking awhile to find the right ones with the proper rims and they sent two of the exact same tire...one tillers there is a pattern to the tire that helps pull the tiller through the dirt, if you put both tires on with the stems facing out like normal...the tread pattern is backwards on one. I had a heck of a time trying to till with the tires like that. I read up a bit and was thinking about sending one back for a replacement and found that the wheel’s axel hub actually had the pin hole on both sides, so I flipped one tire around with the stem on the inside...not ideal, but the wheels come off easily and I needed to till my garden! Anyway, I got the garden filled totally twice, got a few things planted, then it rained so much I was unable to walk in the garden without sinking up to my ankles. I had to wait for it to dry out again. I tilled a little a week later, got a bit more planted...then the same thing happened...more rain, more waiting. The thing is, here...the grass and weeds grow quickly when it rains, and you really have to remove all of the roots when you till in this sandy soil...or a week later you are back at square one starting all over again.
So, I tilled a bit...then planted the part I tilled...then more rain. I finally had a good solid week with no rain...so I started tilling one more time. My garden plot is about 25 or so feet wide by about 75 feet long...so it takes me awhile. It was hot, I retilled the areas I planted, between the rows and got about 3/4 complete tilling the whole thing when I decided to take a break and get some water. This tiller is only able to do a strip about 18 inches wide so it pretty much works me to death, it doesn’t have a reverse and it is difficult to turn too. After my water break, I went to start it up and it would not start and I noticed a wet spot on the ground underneath the tiller. On closer examination it was dripping fluids, gasoline actually....from a little silver doohickey close to the choke. Yep, I had to figure out what it was...called upon my Facebook friends...engine gurus. It is actually a carburetor...yep, now my carburetor is steadily dripping gas. I got a container and put it underneath it to catch the gas coming out...I would not call it a stream, but an extremely fast drip. So...when you don’t know anything about fixing engines...you read. I found the on-line manual for the tiller, I have no clue what I did with the original one...it is a 2013 model...a lot can happen in five years. Anyway, I look through it and find a parts list after my engine experts told me what the silver thing was...it was the carburetor bowl and contains the float valve. Do you know what it said in the manual? It said refer to the engine manual! Ok, so now I must find the engine manual, but first I need to find out the type and model number. Do you know how many small engines there are? Ok so I find something on line that suggests where to look for the model number on the engine...look for a silver plate or a number imprinted on some part on the engine itself. I couldn’t find a metal tag, no numbers imprinted either...all I saw was that it was a Briggs and Stratton 800 series. Not exactly what I needed but a start. I had no idea how many different Briggs and Stratton model numbers there were in the 800 series until I went to their on line parts site. There are a lot of them!
I looked some more on the tiller trying to see if I missed something, I cleaned off several spots on the tiller looking for some sign of something that actually said Model Number. I found none. I got down on my hands and knees and looked, I propped the tiller up and looked all over the engine. I tilted it over on its side trying to get a better look at stickers on the plastic housing. All I found was a manufactured year and emission compliance lingo...but there was a number on part of it. I got the Serial Number and did some searches to no avail. But, I wrote down all the numbers I saw on the tiller...trying to figure out what part number I needed to order. I am still not positive I got the right carburetor...I probably won’t know for sure until it gets here, supposedly on Monday. Why do these things have to be so difficult? Is it because I know nothing about engines? Or do the manufacturers just try and drive you crazy enough to frustrate you badly enough to just throw the old one away and buy new? Sorry, I don’t have the money to buy a whole new tiller! So, I found a number...I am not sure what it was exactly, but it got me to another number...that got me to carburetor rebuild kits. Then, after seeing all the little springs and washers and valves and floats...on the rebuild kits, I wondered how much was a whole carburetor all ready put together? I watched a couple of YouTube videos and one guy said the whole thing was fairly inexpensive and only took about fifteen minutes to put on. I searched for a whole carburetor. I found, and purchased a new carburetor, all the gaskets, new fuel lines and filters for just under $21! I am hoping it works, it looked the same...and with new fuel lines and filters and all...my tiller should be as good as new soon. I did do some reading up on maintenance practices for it...yeah, I just put gas in it and go...I generally leave maintenance up to my husband...although I did put some SeaFoam in it (gas additive) when I filled it with gas at the beginning of this season. I purchased Stabil to put in the tank for when we put up these implements for winter, but I had no idea before that you are suppose to remove the spark plug and dump oil in the hole. Guess I need to find that information in the manual again and make myself a checklist.
Lol...yes, I am still learning...you are never to old to learn something new!
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