Hello, I have a 5 HP B&S horizontal shaft on my roto tiller.. starts good, & runs good, but gas leaks from the side plate covering the small diaphram.. Can't see the exact leal, because of the small pipe, but if I tilt the roto tiller up out of the ground & towards me, it leaks real bad.. Also can't tell it might be leaking where the carb sits on the tank, but I put a new gasket there, & replaced the diaphram, & neither helped..
thanks in advance..

If the surface of the tank where the gasket mates between the carb and tank isn't perfectly clean and the bolts arn't tight enough then it will leak ( also make sure you dont over tighten the screews it will warp the tank ) if its still leaking between the tank and carb try using 2 gaskets their. As for the side plate leaking where the diaphram goes if those little screews are to tight it may also warp the little plate. Make sure both surfaces are clean.

Thanks, I will check it out tomorrow...

Well I got the gas leak stopped.. It was between the carb & tank.. I filed the top of the tank & no leaks... It runs nice , starts good, but as soon as I engagethe tillers, & put it in the ground , it dies.. like no power... had the motor bored to .010, new piston & rings... should dig to China... Could the pipes in the gas tank be plugged on the screens??

Yes i would check the fuel pickup tubes for blockage. Also would replace the spark plug for good messure.

There's a little rod on top of the carb that I think works the butterfly, & on this rod was a tiny spring that has a hookon each end, & it hooks to the holes on each end.. Anyway this spring fell off when I had the carb apart, & now I can't find it.. Does this spring have anything to do with response from the governor, or should the carb work OK without it?? just wondering if that's why it dies as soon as I put it under load..

That little spring just help keep some of the play out of the rod between the govenor and the carb butterfly it "shouldn't" have anything to do with the engine dying when its under a load. That sounds more like a carb issue. Have you removed and cleaned the jet adjustment screew at the bottom of the carb ? Did you replace the screew ? Sometimes little "cone" at the end of the screew will wear and devolpe a ridge causeing a incorrect air/fuel mixture. Also check the tubes and screeens at the end of the tubes for any dirt or corrosion causing a blockage. Another thing you may want to check is the flywheel key. If it has sheared any it will throw the timing off and cause the engine not to preform like it should.

Great thanks, will check all those things tomorrow..

Well this sucker has me a bit buffaloed..Starts good, runs good, responds to the throttle lever well, but as soon as I grab the handles & wiggle the tiller, or let the tiller pull itself so that it bounces on hard ground, it starts to sputter, like it's flooding, so I turn the needle in a bit, & it clears itself, but if I try to move it again, (or dig in the garden), it sputters again & the motor dies.. I cleaned the screens, & doesn't seem to be any obstructions.. The little spring & cap are still under the diaphram in the carb.. Should I maybe take them out?? Actually it seems more like flooding rather than starving for fuel, yet when it quits, it's almost like not enough fuel.. I blew everything out, but have no gunk to soak the carb in, should I get some ??
thanks..John

Did you inspect the fuel pump diaphragm??

A damaged or leaking diaphragm could cause this problem.

Make sure there is no water in your fuel tank as this can also cause a problem like what you describe.

Yes, I put in a new diaphram.. The gas is fresh.. I will pull the carb & tank again.. I do have another carb & tank, so I'll put it on & see if that changes anything...

when you put the new diaphragm in did you put the spring and spring retainer in correctly? These can easily be put in incorrectly but I think if they are put in incorrectly the motor may not run at all. I can't remember but it may be worth checking while you have it all apart.
You didn't say if this machine has been sitting a while or not. If it has the potential for a plugged carb is highly possible. These carb tank combos can be a real pain to try and clear up if that is the case. Alot of small passages.