Flooded 2 stroke

[Mick Annick]

A few weeks ago I made a mistake - I left the fuel tap on, which coincided with a stuck float in the carb, went into the garage after being away for a week to a strong smell of petrol. Stripped and cleaned the carb and all sorted, I thought.

But, today decided to repaint the exhaust, so started to remove it when petrol started pouring out of the exhaust port! I put a tray underneath, removed the plug and gently turned over the engine - got about half a litre out so far… I’ve squirted a bit of oil down the plug hole and turned the engine over a few times, but the question is will I have done any damage? The crank seals are new - I replaced them a couple of months back - should I pull off both side covers to see if any fuel has got through?

Thank

 

[DSR]

What type of petrol is it - this modern E10 or whatever could have degraded some old seals.

2 smokes normally have the fuel/air in the crank case - it's pressurised as the piston goes down so the fuel then flows into the inlet port when it's uncovered so I wouldn't worry too much about it. You could always take the plug out, put the piston at BDC and turn the engine upside down to see if any petrol flows out.

 

[8ob]

I wouldn't be overthinking this Mick, take the plug out and crank it over a few times. Put a dry plug back in and start it, if it fouls a plug clean it and go again, it wont go on like this for long.

Bob

 

[Mick Annick]

I’ve had the plug out and wound it over several times, and put a bit of oil down the plug hole. It’ll be a few days before I get the exhaust painted so it will have a chance to dry out - it was just bit of a shock to see petrol pouring out of the exhaust port!

 

[MCKDAVID]

exactly as bob says, plug out, and pull it over a few times, let it breathe for a few minutes, then quick blast of carb / brake cleaner on the plug to get rid of the excess oil / fuel, then she'll run fine. no harm to the seals they'll be fine... when you go to start it, no choke, just wide open throttle... clear her lungs, it'll be fine..

 

[MCKDAVID]

I've often started them with no carb on when I've found them perpetually flooding, they'll start and run with no carb, for a few seconds then you know you've got an empty cylinder so can start afresh.

 

[badabec]

When I've flooded mine, I pull the plug, point the air line down the plug hole and keep turning it over.
Two stroke motorcycles
Two stroke strimmers

 

[minimutly]

I wouldn't be overthinking this Mick, take the plug out and crank it over a few times. Put a dry plug back in and start it, if it fouls a plug clean it and go again, it wont go on like this for long.

Bob

Hah, my chainsaw was threatened with the skip for this, took me ages to clear it. Good luck!

 

[pedrobedro]

I light the propane blow lamp and hold the plug in the flame till my fingers get hot then put the plug back in and turn the engine over with the throttle open no choke, usually gets a reaction.

 

[Memmeddu]

I've revived a Johnson 4 outboard that was completely locked up.
Because of water inside.
Since this experience
I would dismantle the engine to replace crankseals and gaskets

 

[Memmeddu]

I’ve had the plug out and wound it over several times, and put a bit of oil down the plug hole. It’ll be a few days before I get the exhaust painted so it will have a chance to dry out - it was just bit of a shock to see petrol pouring out of the exhaust port!

Last year someone took a chainsaw for repair.
It was hydrolocked , when I've turned over it spitted a lot of gasoline out of the exhaust.
I've closed the jets on the carb wide open throttle, plug out.
Tilted over till it stopped to pour gasoline out.
Heated up the cylinder with an heat gun,burned the plug .
Put the plug in and started.
Once started and suddenly stopped.
I've put the jets back to 1.5 turns and started .
Wide open throttle till it stopped to make an embarrassing amount of smoke.