Rebuilding a 1978 5124

[WhyZed]

Rebuilding a 1979 5124

I thought I had a good deal on a preowned LB as the owner/salesman ('Dick faced' liar) stated that he had it for a decade and it worked perfect :thumbsup: Maintained regularly and he was sad to see it go:frown: He got a brand new big-wheeler with a bag and just wanted the little LB gone to make room.
I got it for $20.00 and I think I paid to much :wink:

Just home after a quick jont into the carwash I was so happy with myself.





Then I start rippin into her and find all is not so Rosy.
There are some heavy pock-marks. One goes all the way through, 2 more are all most through. Paints blisterin on the shiny side of the deck!



So I got a plan and put it into fruition.



Glass done



2 coats of rubber truck-bed liner. - sorry Pics later :ashamed:

4 coats of green paint with wet sanding in between coats.


New (old :wink: cylinder) on top of totally disassembled and cleaned crank with new piston and rings.. Oh-Ya
Rebuilt motor with piston and rings. I cleaned 2-3 cups of grass trimmins out of the crankcase!! :shocked:
The reeds were suffed with grass = open! :shocked:
The carbon in the head, piston top, crank, cylinder, exhaust was stupid stupid stupid!! What do these 'people?' use for 2 stroke oil?
What do these 'people?' use for air filters? How do these people get work?



The piston definitely had been seized and he broke it free to sell "not seized!! Mother F-er!!!
The rings were seized into the grooves, the piston pin seized into the piston and the cylinder scored bad!!!





Time for some snacks and a brew er two. I'll see if it fires up tomorrow if I can get back to it.
Ps - the carb was totally STUFFED with vanish and grass. It is the 'Utility' carb and I don't know how to take the main jet out?
Anyone know?

Thanks LB lovers - cheers... :thumbsup:

 

[Fireman 123]

Sounds like you just bought a $20 dollar mower to me.

 

[WhyZed]

I got it for $20.00, he was asking $50 and coming across like he always maintained it well but didn't winterize it properly, and just wanted to upgrade to a big wheeled bagger to keep up with the neighbors..

He was dishonest about the mower, thus the *&*#X#% comments :tongue: It needed more then a "tune-up"

So now I got a $20.00 mower that I didn't really want to spend $100.00 on plus 4 days but it is what it is.
If I turned it over, would I get $120 plus my time for it? Had I known it was seized (had he been honest) and needed a new piston/rings/cylinder (luckily i had a spare cyl) I would not have bought it..

If I sell it, ill be in prefect working order, if not, I'll put it on the curb, free sign on it.

 

[WhyZed]

Oh, ya - the muffler is rusted out, a 5" long hole. I don't have a spare one of those but I'm lookin :shocked:.
I couldn't see the condition of the deck top or bottom because it was totally plugged and covered with moldy grass which I didn't want to touch with my hands, thus straight to the powerwash :confused2:

 

[Fireman 123]

Always turn the blade, or pull on the rope a little when buying and old lawn boy. Very easy to put the wrong gas in one and then it's shot.

 

[Two-Stroke]

Even though the guy lied to you the mower was well worth $20. If it were me... I doubt that I would have done all that (time and $$$) to restore it. I probably would have made it a parts machine -- but my hat's off to you for fixing it. :thumbsup:

 

[WhyZed]

Always turn the blade, or pull on the rope a little when buying and old lawn boy. Very easy to put the wrong gas in one and then it's shot.

Ya, I did pull the cord. It felt nice like there was decent compression. He lived on a busy/noisy street, I couldn't hear metal on metal but it had definitely been seized and then freed. Next times I'll always take my compression tester.

 

[WhyZed]

Even though the guy lied to you the mower was well worth $20. If it were me... I doubt that I would have done all that (time and $$$) to restore it. I probably would have made it a parts machine -- but my hat's off to you for fixing it. :thumbsup:

Yes, my only problem with this purchase was that he lied to me.
I don't mind fixing one up for the team. My buddy had a cylinder in a box that fit & he gave it to me, otherwise I would not proceeded. So a piston, rings, 2 cans of paint, a can of carb cleaner and many joyful hrs tinkering. :wink:

Just need a steel wheel, my rings to come in, a couple missing screws and see if it runs

I'm just getting started in this, so it's good experience, wouldn't do it again (with this model) .

 

[WhyZed]

I got it running last night and its running very good. Still need a muffler and have a line on one.
I'll get some pics up, I still need to make a stencil and paint the insignia.

 

[impalass]

I got it running last night and its running very good. Still need a muffler and have a line on one.
I'll get some pics up, I still need to make a stencil and paint the insignia.

What type of muffler do you need. Do you have a picture of the old muffler.