turbofiat124
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2011
- Threads
- 83
- Messages
- 288
I just unloaded the biggest piece of crap the other day but may have gotten something just as bad in return.
I bought a Polaris Magnum 425 from a co-worker before I realized this thing was going to require a ton of work to get it going, although I estimated it would cost around $100 in parts to sort out all the bugs plus ALLOT of my time. He said the motor and trans were good but I realized I was going to have to clean the carb and brakes. And I am not 100% sure the engine is any good. Just something that fell into disrepair and was parked in a barn.
Not to mention I spent multiple hours sorting out the bugs on a running Polaris 300 Xplorer I had purchased prior.
So I put the thing up for sale on CL for $400 which was what I paid for it. But I'd take less just to get it out of my storage building.
So this guy calls me up and asked if I would be willing to trade a running Murray riding mower 15HP/42" deck for it. I told him I'd think about it.
I already have two riding mowers but you never can have too many riding mowers as backups. One day I was waiting on new spindles for my Husqvarna (Craftsman) so I got my Troy Bilt (MTD) out and discovered the float valve in the carb was sticking and it was running really rough. The pins in those plastic floats they are now using seem to be notorious for sticking.
So I had to take the carb apart on my backup mower, change the oil from where it had filled the crankcase before I could finish my yard. Nothing sucks worse having to stop and fix a riding mower or weedwacker when your trying to mow your yard and your pressed for time. And especially a backup piece of equipment at that.
I didn't want to borrow Dad's mower because if something that was totally not my fault broke on it, he would blame me just because it happened on my watch. Like that time the front wheel on his Snapper sheared off the hub. He blamed me for it but I'm sure when he hit that fence a few months prior and knocked the tire off the rim probably cracked the rim and it was just a matter of time before it broke.
So anyway I told the guy to send me a photo. I thought about it and said let's do the deal, bring it up here.
It's model 425014X92.
The engine starts easily but runs a bit rough until I engage the blade. I'm guessing the carb needs cleaning or a new kit. No big deal on that. It could be old/water contaminated gas. It may need a new spark plug. I know the air cleaner it dirty but removing it didn't make any difference. It doesn't smoke but worse case scenario it needs a valve adjustment which again is no big deal. All that can be fixed in a few hours.
I think it needs the brakes adjusting. It stops but takes a second or two before it comes to a complete stop. It may need new pads. I downloaded the owner's manual and it tells how to do it.
Otherwise it goes in all forward gears and reverse and cuts.
Just about everything that needs doing to this mower I could fix in less than a day without spending any big bucks.
I'm planning on using the hood as a canvas for flames like I did a push mower! I found a missing hood vent for $5.00 on Amazon.
Couple of questions. And I first apologize for not having the model numbers but I have a 15 HP briggs engine that threw a rod. That engine came off a 2001 Snapper. This Murray is a 2005. Any chance that the carburetor and starters are interchangeable on these two 15 HP engines?
One issue I noticed was that sometimes the starter spins but the bendix doesn't engage. I don't think the bendix is stripped. I think the shaft may just need to be lubricated.
As far as "loping carbs" or uneven idling, I believe this is due to worn throttle shaft. I've tried fixing carbs like this with new throttle shafts but never had any luck doing that. So I just thought if push comes to shove I could use the carburator from the circa 2001 Briggs engines on this 2005.
The 2001 engine has a black metal shroud and the 2005 engine has a red plastic shroud. I'm assuming they are basically the same engine, just a few cosmetic design changes.
And if push really comes to shove, I had a 15HP Kohler engine with a recoil starter I could use. That way I don't have to buy a new battery every couple of years. My yard is so bumpy I think that is why I have so much bad luck with lawn mower batteries.
I bought a Polaris Magnum 425 from a co-worker before I realized this thing was going to require a ton of work to get it going, although I estimated it would cost around $100 in parts to sort out all the bugs plus ALLOT of my time. He said the motor and trans were good but I realized I was going to have to clean the carb and brakes. And I am not 100% sure the engine is any good. Just something that fell into disrepair and was parked in a barn.
Not to mention I spent multiple hours sorting out the bugs on a running Polaris 300 Xplorer I had purchased prior.
So I put the thing up for sale on CL for $400 which was what I paid for it. But I'd take less just to get it out of my storage building.
So this guy calls me up and asked if I would be willing to trade a running Murray riding mower 15HP/42" deck for it. I told him I'd think about it.
I already have two riding mowers but you never can have too many riding mowers as backups. One day I was waiting on new spindles for my Husqvarna (Craftsman) so I got my Troy Bilt (MTD) out and discovered the float valve in the carb was sticking and it was running really rough. The pins in those plastic floats they are now using seem to be notorious for sticking.
So I had to take the carb apart on my backup mower, change the oil from where it had filled the crankcase before I could finish my yard. Nothing sucks worse having to stop and fix a riding mower or weedwacker when your trying to mow your yard and your pressed for time. And especially a backup piece of equipment at that.
I didn't want to borrow Dad's mower because if something that was totally not my fault broke on it, he would blame me just because it happened on my watch. Like that time the front wheel on his Snapper sheared off the hub. He blamed me for it but I'm sure when he hit that fence a few months prior and knocked the tire off the rim probably cracked the rim and it was just a matter of time before it broke.
So anyway I told the guy to send me a photo. I thought about it and said let's do the deal, bring it up here.
It's model 425014X92.
The engine starts easily but runs a bit rough until I engage the blade. I'm guessing the carb needs cleaning or a new kit. No big deal on that. It could be old/water contaminated gas. It may need a new spark plug. I know the air cleaner it dirty but removing it didn't make any difference. It doesn't smoke but worse case scenario it needs a valve adjustment which again is no big deal. All that can be fixed in a few hours.
I think it needs the brakes adjusting. It stops but takes a second or two before it comes to a complete stop. It may need new pads. I downloaded the owner's manual and it tells how to do it.
Otherwise it goes in all forward gears and reverse and cuts.
Just about everything that needs doing to this mower I could fix in less than a day without spending any big bucks.
I'm planning on using the hood as a canvas for flames like I did a push mower! I found a missing hood vent for $5.00 on Amazon.
Couple of questions. And I first apologize for not having the model numbers but I have a 15 HP briggs engine that threw a rod. That engine came off a 2001 Snapper. This Murray is a 2005. Any chance that the carburetor and starters are interchangeable on these two 15 HP engines?
One issue I noticed was that sometimes the starter spins but the bendix doesn't engage. I don't think the bendix is stripped. I think the shaft may just need to be lubricated.
As far as "loping carbs" or uneven idling, I believe this is due to worn throttle shaft. I've tried fixing carbs like this with new throttle shafts but never had any luck doing that. So I just thought if push comes to shove I could use the carburator from the circa 2001 Briggs engines on this 2005.
The 2001 engine has a black metal shroud and the 2005 engine has a red plastic shroud. I'm assuming they are basically the same engine, just a few cosmetic design changes.
And if push really comes to shove, I had a 15HP Kohler engine with a recoil starter I could use. That way I don't have to buy a new battery every couple of years. My yard is so bumpy I think that is why I have so much bad luck with lawn mower batteries.