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I have a repair question. My cousin was mowing my lawn the other day and everything seemed to be running smoothly. However, a few days later, I noticed a huge oil leak underneath the mower and I checked the oil and it was empty. What could this be? Is it fixable? Would it be possible for me (a novice ) to fix?

Ryan

rider mower or pusher. what brand of engine with the model number would be very helpful to people answering this question. Most likely is a leaking crankshaft seal which are easy to replace but I have seen situations that also required me to replace the oil sump and crankshaft

It is a push mower. I will find out the engine model and get back to you. Crank shaft, eh? Would an extreme novice be able to fix that? Would I re-seal it or replace it?

Thanks,

Ryan

You will need to replace it.

OK. So my mower is a push mower by Sears Craftsman. It is an Eager-1. I didn't buy it, it came with my house so I don't have the manual and can't say how old it is (though it looks at least 10 years old,..) It sounds like I may need to replace the crankshaft. Any way to check to make sure that is what needs to be replaced? Do I buy that part directly from Sears? Are they standard parts or does it need to match the engine model? Is this doable for an enigine novice? Or would I be better off just buying a new mower...

Thanks for the advice,

Ryan

With your experience, buying a new one would be the best thing.
Buy a nice 21" Honda.

rmonge00 said:

I have a repair question. My cousin was mowing my lawn the other day and everything seemed to be running smoothly. However, a few days later, I noticed a huge oil leak underneath the mower and I checked the oil and it was empty. What could this be? Is it fixable? Would it be possible for me (a novice ) to fix?

Ryan

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It would be possible, but if you've got no mechanical experience I'd advise against it. It's probably a 1/2hr. job for a small engine repair facility, or you could buy another used or new mower.

rmonge00, as long as it was running fine before I personally would have it fixed or fix it myself. It depends on the fix but most likely it would be cheaper to repair than buy a new one, unless you are really wanting a new mower those Eager-1's last a lot longer than ten years with regular maint. What kind of condition is the rest of the mower?

You don't need to replace the crank. Just the seal. It is a easy fix will take you longer to run to napa and get the seal then it will take to put it in. Most napa parts stores will carry it.

Carscw said:

You don't need to replace the crank. Just the seal. It is a easy fix will take you longer to run to napa and get the seal then it will take to put it in. Most napa parts stores will carry it.

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You will need a seal number or size of seal to get one from NAPA. Best way to get this is take out old seal first. If you can find a number on it you are good to go but if not you will need to measure the crankshaft size and the hole the seal came out of and how thick the seal is. Not a hard job to do. First thing remove plug wire, next drain oil, turn mower upside down, remove mower blade and flange, I remove seal by drilling a small hole in seal metal and install a self tapping screw and pull seal out with pliers. Install new seal by taping it in with a small hammer and just reverse what you did when you took it apart. Not a hard job at all and less then 20 dollars with new oil and seal. A lot cheaper then a new mower. It should be a less then a 100 dollar job at a repair shop still cheaper then a new mower.

rmonge00 said:

....Any way to check to make sure that is what needs to be replaced? ... Is this doable for an enigine novice?
Ryan

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Hello Ryan & WELCOME to LMF...

It most likely is the seal at the crank... BUT it could be a drain plug came out... wont hurt to look...
Clean it up under the deck (Use spray brake cleaner) then dump a pint or so engine oil into the engine and let it set for a bit and look what has oil on it... that will be where the leak is at...
Shaft seal is not hard to replace, getting it out is going to be the biggest challenge.. Pay attention to the direction it comes out, don't put the new one in upside down... Easy to do & if the mower otherwise is working ... it's always better to repair than replace especially when the repair will only cost a couple $... :smile:KennyV

It might seem obvious but should be stated - make sure to clean off the rust and baked on grass residue from the exposed part of the crankshaft that the new seal has to slide over. Doesn't do any good to replace it if the new one goes over the equivalent of a round file. A wooden handled wire brush from a hardware store will do it, although lazy people like me will use a radial brush on an angle grinder and then burnish it with a 2" scotchbrite.

flyerdan said:

It might seem obvious but should be stated - make sure to clean off the rust and baked on grass residue from the exposed part of the crankshaft that the new seal has to slide over. Doesn't do any good to replace it if the new one goes over the equivalent of a round file. A wooden handled wire brush from a hardware store will do it, although lazy people like me will use a radial brush on an angle grinder and then burnish it with a 2" scotchbrite.

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Lube up your freshly cleaned crank with some motor oil as you slide the new seal on, as well.:smile:

Good advice guys!

All good avice, but don't get carred away with a radal brush on a angle grinder unless you know what you are doing because you can do more harm then good real fast. Best thing is just clean with fine sandpaper where the seal rides.

Great advice! I am going to give it a try sometime this winter.... I have absolutely NO idea what I am doing, so even if it doesn't work it should be a good learning experience... To give you guys an idea of my incompetence - I don't even know where the oil plug is!! I will look to see if that came off before I get the seal.

So, it is ok to turn the mower upside down while I do this??? Anywhere to get a good diagram and instructions for what I am dealing with?

I really appreciate the help! You guys are great!

Ryan

rmonge00 said:

Great advice! I am going to give it a try sometime this winter.... I have absolutely NO idea what I am doing, so even if it doesn't work it should be a good learning experience... To give you guys an idea of my incompetence - I don't even know where the oil plug is!! I will look to see if that came off before I get the seal.

So, it is ok to turn the mower upside down while I do this??? Anywhere to get a good diagram and instructions for what I am dealing with?

I really appreciate the help! You guys are great!

Ryan

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Disconnect your spark plug lead, catch the fuel that will drizzle out of your fuel tank, (or empty it in advance) turn it onto its side and have a good look under your mower. Blocking it in place may help. Some mowers aren't equipped with drain plugs, so don't be too dismayed not to see one. You might find one under the mower, or you might find one on the side of the engine, down low. For diagrams, maybe the manufacturer's website?.

Ryan ...
There is no need to turn it upside down just to look.... but you can turn it on it's side... Carburetor to the Up side... The oil drain plug could be, under the deck or on the side of the engine above the deck... while you have it turned on it's side... spray some break clean on the crankshaft and the bottom of the engine... that will clean any old oil from possible leak points... then add a little oil and let it set for a while, turn on it's side again and look for fresh oil ... that will be the problem area... :smile:KennyV

Your cousin probably hit an immoveable object with the irresistible force of your mower blade.
Consequently, you have an oil leak and I'm guessing you may have problems you haven't discovered yet, such as: a bent crank shaft, a sheared flywheel key, a bent blade, and damage to anything that connects the blade to the shaft.
Everything but the crank shaft is relatively easy to fix but a waste of time if the crankshaft is bent. A bent crank makes your mower a yard gnome.
If it were mine I would do a full evaluation before I purchased any parts. A big part of the evaluation would be an interrogation of the culpable suspect......The cousin, or possibly "the villain" in this case.
Do you know of anything he may have hit with the mower? Did the mower run after he finished using it? Perhaps you could follow the cut grass to where it stops....at the concrete block, or 2" steel pipe. How about the remnant 4x4 fence post that was left behind?
Might not be a big deal but check everything before you make a big investment of time an money.