Poulan HDF550M owner manual Troubleshooting Points

TROUBLESHOOTING POINTS

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

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