mule 550 won't run

[Mulepatrick]

Hey all!! I have a 2001 550 that won't or run. Good spark and gas to the new carburetor but it seems no fuel to spark plug. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Travis]

Toss some gas or spray some carb cleaner/starting fluid down the carb throat.

spray it where the duct from the air filter goes to the carb. Then try to start it.

if it does fuel is not making it to through the new carb.

next take out the spark plug and spray some carb cleaner or pour a small amount of gas down the hole, put the plug back in. And turn it over.

if none of these give any results  lift the bed and  unplug the coil ground wire, it's right behind the governor linkage. Then try to start it.

if you want I can upload you some troubleshooting  pages from my shop manual to look at.

Next you might try to unhook the fuel line coming from the pump, to the carb, turn the engine over and gas should shoot out of the pump.

one of the least likely options would be to pull the valve cover and  be sure the valves are operating correctly/not out of time. thats a last last resort.

[Travis]

Here is the coil ground wire. Unplug it right there. Black wire

It's next to th oil fill cap

[Mulepatrick]

23 minutes ago, Travis said:

Here is the coil ground wire. Unplug it right there. Black wire

It's next to th oil fill cap. 

On 4/22/2018 at 9:20 PM, Travis said:

As far as I know, no.  Did you look at kawasakipartshouse.com ? O EM parts, but a bit cheaper. I'm rebuilding my 550 now.

What parts were missing? There are quite a few 1000 parts on Ebay.

 

I did find another issue and it started...it does idle good but has a very severe hesitation on acceleration...i did put on a new omw carb. Hardly has enough power to move...any thoughts?

[Mulepatrick]

I did find an electrical issue and it started..seems to idle ok...new one carb..severe hesitation at acceleration..won't hardly rev up..no power...your thoughts?

[Travis]

It could be sucking air from somewhere, or not getting good fuel flow enough to accelerate. Did you put new gaskets with the carb?

I would also add be sure your choke is fully opening and closing.

[Mulepatrick]

Yes I did install new gaskets..

[Travis]

Okay.

If I am not mistaken there is 1 or 2 gaskets that have a small hole in the corner of them that match up with corresponding holes in the carburetor. But I may be totally wrong it's been almost a year since I put the carb on mine.

 

[Mulepatrick]

Yes there is the small gasket in between the engine and plastic spacer..then the main gasket in between carb and plastic spacer...in question.. That 2nd gasket has indentions..which direction do they face...towards engine or carb...

[Travis]

Towards the carb.

 and if you want i have NO PROBLEM at ALL taking my carb off if you aren't sure of the order of the gaskets.

[Mulepatrick]

I did check and gaskets look correct...i adjust air fuel...seems idle ok...but eventually it does die...you can pump the gas and get it going and then it runs on down the road..

[Mulepatrick]

Hey Travis..Im a diesel guy so I'm not much into these faders but I did swap engines and components...do I need to adjust that governor lever as I did exchange that as well??

[Travis]

Very possible.

I have a full service manual for the engine, I'll post some pics with the procedure for adjusting the governor

 

[Willy M]

Tie a carrot to a long stick and hold out in front of the Mule, should go forward then. It's worked in the past!

[Mulepatrick]

Thanks. I appreciate that.

[Travis]

This first pic is the general instruction. And use The FE290 setting which is Counter clockwise. And the last 2 go together.

[Travis]

[Willy M]

couldn't resist! Do you have a fuel filter on this model? Could be clogged.  Also any small crack in a fuel line can do bad things.  Does the engine have points and condenser or the newer electronics?

[Travis]

3 minutes ago, Willy M said:

couldn't resist!

Hahahaha!! That's hilarious,Will!

[Travis]

@Mulepatrick.

If you need any sort of info at all I have my 550 owners manual, 550 shop manual, and the engine shop manual, so do not hesitate to ask for anything my friend.

[Travis]

1 hour ago, Willy M said:

couldn't resist! Do you have a fuel filter on this model? Could be clogged.  Also any small crack in a fuel line can do bad things.  Does the engine have points and condenser or the newer electronics?

This engine has a ignition coil on the flywheel, no points.

[Mulepatrick]

Hey guys...do you think that coil is weak?

[Mulepatrick]

The engine Runs fine...it stutters when you hit the gas and sometimes will accelerate sometimes not...

[Travis]

Its possible, as old as these engines are, (15+)  I would buy a inline spark tester, like one you would use on a Briggs engine,  this is one like i have. you  hook it up to the plug wire, and clip it to ground, or on the spark plug, if you've got a orange, yellow spark, coil is weak, if its blue or white, thats great! another thing could be a faulty spark plug, sometimes under higher pressure (such as revving the engine) the spark wont jump the gap, the plug i use on the 550 is NGK  i BPR5ES. i would also be sure the plug gap is correct, should be 0.028-0.030, you might also try gapping it slight smaller than spec, if your coils weak it wont have enough oomf to jump the gap over high pressure. EDIT: one thing i would do, is when it starts to bog while revving, choke the engine, about 1/4 of the way, then half choke, then about 3/4  of fully choked. if it runs better while being choked you have a lean mixture of air and fuel. or more air, not much fuel.

[Mulepatrick]

I'll try those..thx.. As I said it idles and high rpm is good.  Just getting it there...it has quite a sitter.

[Travis]

So if you maintain full throttle or close, and idle, it's fine, but going from idle to high rpm is when it Boggs and stumbles...correct?

 

[Mulepatrick]

Yes...that is correct....it will just stutter etc...sometimes it will rev up but with difficulty...

[Mulepatrick]

Yes...that is correct....it will just stutter etc...

[Travis]

I have no clue, I've read everything right and left and all through trouble shooting sections.

Never ran into a problem like it....

[Mulepatrick]

Yes...that is correct....it will just stutter etc...I did notice the spark is Oran g ish and it seems to weaken after spinning the engine over after 10-20 seconds.  I ordered a new coil for it. I did take an empty cloth and shine up the magnet...reset the gap to .0012 per spec's. So hopefully that will fix it.