Poulan HDF550M User Manual - Page 17

TROUBLESHOOTING POINTS PROBLEM Will not start 1. Out of fuel. 2. Engine not "CHOKED" properly. 3. Engine flooded. 4. Dirty air cleaner. 5. Water in fuel. 6. Clogged fuel tank. 7. Loose spark plug wire. 8. Bad spark plug or improper gap. 9. Carburetor out of adjustment. CAUSE CORRECTION 1. Fill fuel tank. 2. See "TO START ENGINE" in the Operation section. 3. Wait several minutes before attempting to start. 4. Clean or replace air cleaner cartridge. 5. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, and refill tank with fresh gasoline. 6. Remove fuel tank and clean. 7. Make sure spark plug wire is seated properly on plug. 8. Replace spark plug or adjust gap. 9. Make necessary adjustments. Hard to start 1. Throttle control not set properly. 2. Dirty air cleaner. 3. Bad spark plug or improper gap. 4. Stale or dirty fuel. 5. Loose spark plug wire. 6. Carburetor out of adjustment. 1. Place throttle control in "FAST' position. 2. Clean or replace air cleaner cartridge. 3. Replace spark plug or adjust gap. 4. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 5. Make sure spark plug wire is seated properly on plug. 6. Make necessary adjustments. Loss of power 1. Engine is overloaded. 2. Dirty air cleaner. 3. Low oil level/dirty oil. 4. Faulty spark plug. 5. Oil in fuel. 6. Stale or dirty fuel. 7. Water in fuel. 8. Clogged fuel tank. 9. Spark plug wire loose. 10. Dirty engine air screen. 11. Dirty/clogged muffler. 12. Carburetor out of adjustment. 13. Poor compression. 1. Set depth stake and wheels for shallower tilling. 2. Clean or replace air cleaner cartridge. 3. Check oil level/change oil. 4. Clean and regap or change spark plug. 5. Drain and clean fuel tank and refill, and clean carburetor. 6. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 7. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, and refill tank with fresh gasoline. 8. Remove fuel tank and clean. 9. Connect and tighten spark plug wire. 10. Clean engine air screen. 11. Clean/replace muffler. 12. Make necessary adjustments. 13. Contact an authorized service center/department. Engine overheats 1. Low oil level/dirty oil. 2. Dirty engine air screen. 3. Dirty engine. 4. Partially plugged muffler. 5. improper carburetor adjustment. 1. Check oil level/change oil. 2. Clean engine air screen. 3. Clean cylinder fins, air screen, muffler area. 4. Remove and clean muffler. 5. Adjust carburetor to richer position. Excessive bounce/ difficult handling 1. Ground too dry and hard. 2. Wheels and depth stake incorrectly adjusted. 1. Moisten ground or wait for more favorable soil conditions. 2. Adjust wheels and depth stake. Soil balls up or clumps 1. Ground too wet. 1. Wait for more favorable soil conditions. Engine runs but tiller won't move 1. Tine control is not engaged. 2. V-belt not correctly adjusted. 3. V-belt is off pulley(s). 1. Engage tine control. 2. Inspect/adjust V-belt. 3. Inspect V-belt. Engine runs but labors when tilling 1. Tilling too deep. 2. Throttle control not properly adjusted. 3. Carburetor out of adjustment. 1. Set depth stake for shallower tilling. 2. Check throttle control setting. 3. Make necessary adjustments. 17