Check that the float bowel is vented. There should be a small hole on the left side of the carb body, near the idel screw.

If you installed a new rubber base for the needle it may be upside down. The grove goes down.

"The grove goes down." Actually the groove in the seat faces up. The needle seats against the other side. Probably a matter of perspective. I had heard earlier this fall from a dealer who got shipped aftermarket needle and seat kits (instead of OEM)- that the needles themselves were deformed and none of them sealed. SO, if you haven't used OEM Tec, pick up a set and try again.

The seat groove faces upward and the needle inserts into the smooth side. Tried aftermarket and OEM, no luck.

I've been doing this for a long time, which is why I really am stumped.

If the carb is off, upside down, and the weight of the float is pressing the needle into the seat, I cannot blow light air pressure through the fuel inlet, so I know it's sealed.

"Can it be pushing through the main jet and up through the tube into the carb body?" Looking at your original statement, I would have to say that if it isn't a needle problem I don't know that it is repairable. If you think about it, fuel is only going to rise in the tube only as high as the fuel is in the bowl. If it is continuing to fill the bowl and beyond, I can't think what else it would be.

Might be two little gremlins in there, with a hand crank pump, turning it for all they are worth, and filling everything up with fuel, so it runs out onto the floor, or where-ever! ;0)

@baymee,
I have the exact same carb as you do and the same symptoms.
I posted here:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lmower/msg110850154482.html?4

I ended up buying a new carb, everything functions well now, but still curious of what the cause could be.
Mine too sealed when blowing though the fuel inlet with the carb upside down.

Took fzbcheve's advise
"Check that the float bowel is vented. There should be a small hole on the left side of the carb body, near the idel screw."
I put a breadwire through mine and there was no obstruction, slid in easily.So that doesn't seem to be the cause, but a good tip nevertheless.

I hope you get it resolved and not have to buy a new carb like I did. Sometimes the money is just not worth enduring so much aggravation.

What's even stranger is that the owner said it wouldn't start at all and it was brought in with a half full tank and no shut off valve.

The first thing I checked was the jet and the bowl. As soon as I put it back together it started doing this.

This carb uses the primer bulb line for a bowl vent. I don't see any other holes.

baymee
"This carb uses the primer bulb line for a bowl vent. I don't see any other holes."

I'm at work now, I'll take a pic and post it tonight to show you where I found my hole. I believe that is the one fzbcheve was referring to.

baymee,
Here's the pic of my carb.
At the end of the red bread wire is where I found the carb vent. Curious if you have one there.
I doubt that is the problem since mine was not clogged.

{{gwi:144463}}

Please pass a napkin so I can wipe this egg off my face.

I installed a third needle and seat, genuine Tecumseh parts, and it stopped leaking.

I'll take 3 aspirin and check it in the morning.

Then I'll take a look at that hole.

Thanks all.

Don't beat yourself up. These can be buggers. Sometimes a light lube helps the slide in nice and square. DO you use the regular TEC tool?

Although the carb doesn't leak anymore, it won't idle at all. It was taken apart and soaked, then I ran carb cleaner through all the idle ports. No luck.

When attempting to go to low speed, it surges and stops dead almost immediately.

Does anybody have a picture of the governor spring location of a 5HP Craftsman snowblower. The spring is in the third slot down from the top. I can't find any pics in the manual. The governor arm and shaft were OK.

I'm about ready to pack it in and get a new carb.

Can't help you on the pic, but does controlling the throttle shaft manually give you the same result?

Yes, holding the throttle shaft against the idle screw does the exact thing at low speed. Runs good at full throttle, which is all the user really needs.

On Tecumseh carbs, with the idel adjust screw, there is a passage in the tube that the bowel nut fits into. Its just opposit of the small plug on the side of the tube. Make a wire tool of about .010" to .015", with a right angle bend, and insert it into the tube and clean out this passage. Then blow carb cleaner into the idel screw port, and it should come out this passage in the tube.This circuit is where the engine runs most of the time. If you can't adjust the idel screw, this means this passage is plugged. When you adjust this carb, turn the bowel nut screw in, untill the engine just starts to smooth out. You want to hear it burp once in a while. Winter use engines want to be on the rich side. In cold weather they will start better, and have more power.

I actually found out why it wouldn't idle. After giving advice and helping others, it seems I am not following my own advice. Egg on my face has fallen onto the keyboard and I'd just as soon delete this whole post. :(

It was my second slip-up this week. I spent more than a few hours trying to figure out why our new coal-fired boiler wasn't burning correctly. Turns out the fan motor was turning in the wrong direction. Everything worked, but the air wasn't the velocity it should be. Works great now.

Can't even trust manufacturers these days. :)

Don't be so hard on yourself, mistakes are inevitable, we all make them.

Would be interesting to know how you solved the idle problem.

Well, I know better, but I soaked the jet in commercial cleaner, blew out both holes, but never put a wire through the small hole because I felt air coming out of it with my finger. Turns out, there was dirt lodged in it.

Well at least it was a cheap fix and you got it done.
Thanks for letting us know.

If you haven't started drinking yet,nows a good time to start.I find after afew Budweisers and a break to relax that i can usally go back with a new mind set and fix whatever i've missed or screwed up.Wait till youre done fixing whatever youre working on before toke'n on that bowl of weed tho.
I find that 2 + 2 carb cleaner works great.A friend of mine recomends Wally World carb cleaner.Says its also cheaper than 2 + 2 carb cleaner.I also use the thin metal wire repair tags have to attach em to whatever for cleaning out ports etc..Doses your friend have a guitar?Ask him/her the next time he/she changes his/her guitar strings to save you the E string or the 6th string (the thinnest string) not to be confused with the #1 string which is also the E string but much thicker.Hey works great for cleaning those ports,needle holes.Hope i've been of some help.Peace,Gary