I have a 2012 36hp prodrive (no mods) with 45hours on it. I noticed that it will not idle at all. If I let off on the throttle it sputter and dies. I can hold it at about 1000 rpms and run it at the throttle, but as soon as I let go it dies. I also have noticed it seems to stumble and sputter a little at 1/2 to WOT. I took it to the dealer earlier for service and when we where running it there was fuel pouring on the floor. They said they the float was stuck and they cleaned it. I am thinking the rest of the carb may be gummed up causing the rest of the issues.

I have also read that a burned valve could cause this as well.

What would be the best way to tackle this. Since the dealer didn't exactly fix the problem should I take it to a small engine shop or is there anything unique to these engines that a small engine mechanic could not fix.

There are several possibilities.

Yes....float could still be stuck. Or, there could be trash in the needle valve to which the float is attached.

Have you tried adjusting your idle adjustment screw yet to set idle at 1000 RPM's as your low idle out of gear?


Most liberals seem to suffer from the same mental condition....it's called stupidity!

Bend the little tab a tad for the low idle gov spring to tighten it up. Deadbird8 had a good post explaining it with pictures

I have searched and searched, but I cannot find deadbird8's post about what you are referring

I found the idle screw on the govener and adjusted it so it idles at 950-1050 rpm. It jumps around a lot. It does pop a little so I'm kinda concerened about that. I put some sea foam in the tank with fresh gas and plan to run the snot out of it on the lake tomorrow to run some fuel through it.

What are the symptoms of valves going bad

At idle it will run on only one cylinder. I pulled each plug when it idles it dies when I pull the left cylinder. If I throttle up to 2000 rpms or above both run fine. I ran it today and it ran fine at 3900 rpms at 26mph which is what it has always done. I ran it for an hour like that on the lake. When I engage the momentary engage to the prop you can really notice one cylinder because the motor jerks.

I have looked for any place the air could leak, but couldn't find anything


Any idea what I should do??

Ok... so I pulled the cowling and watched the coil and both wires appear to be firing. I even grabbed an old spark plug while it was idling on one cylinder and hooked the other plug up to it and it seem to have good spark. I then pulled the plug on the side that was not firing and it had plenty of spark as I turned it over. I put the plug back in and unplugged the cylinder that was firing and turned it over with the wire only connected to the plug that won't fire at idle. When i turn is over it won't fire, but if I turn the throttle up slightly it will fire and not even miss. I am guessing that for some reason that cylinder is not getting enough fuel. I am definitely not a mechanic, but I am at a loss as to why that one cylinder will get fuel, but not the other. Is it possible that I just have to raise the low idle level to get them both to fire?

Just an experiment for you to try....

Where your spark plug wires go through the cowling, wrap them with some electrical tape....then, run it and see what happens.


Most liberals seem to suffer from the same mental condition....it's called stupidity!

Turns out it was one of the jets in the carb. Apparently the shop the cleaned the carb the first didn't clean it very well. runs and idles like a champ now