My Lawn Mower Repair Thread (56k warning)

[Two-Stroke]

A good reason not to design a lawn mower engine air filter that faces forward and opens by tipping down. Can you guess what that reason is?

This may be the obvious answer (as opposed to the correct one :laughing: ) but here goes... Because the cover can open without being noticed by the operator... Then the filter element falls out... But the operator still doesn't notice and keeps mowing with no air filter. :mur:

 

[hanyoukimura]

This may be the obvious answer (as opposed to the correct one :laughing: ) but here goes... Because the cover can open without being noticed by the operator... Then the filter element falls out... But the operator still doesn't notice and keeps mowing with no air filter. :mur:

Pretty much. That Ariens with the Tecumseh Vector engine whose air filter cover faces forward and opens downward. I was mowing the lawn and before I had time to stop it had fallen off and the cover and the filter got chewed up by the mower

 

[mazr]

I had to bump this great thread.

Any new projects lately?

And I wish I was near your location. I was just in the market for a used mower and I would have gladly snapped one of yours up.

 

[hanyoukimura]

I had to bump this great thread.

Any new projects lately?

And I wish I was near your location. I was just in the market for a used mower and I would have gladly snapped one of yours up.

Not really, this has been a brutal, bitterly cold winter. I just haven't had it in me to work on anything. I do have a couple in line for when things warm up a bit though.

 

[Gerald007]

Thank you Hanyoukimura. Your thread is awesome.:smile: I've recently taken up the retoration and re-sale of unwanted lawn mowers. Although i don't stop with mowers. It is such a fun affordable hobby and there are limitless projects available. I know you said you use rubbing compound to restore the finish. Do you tape off the decals when re-painting or toughing up? I am contemplating repainting an old rally mower i have but an reluctant to do so as i don't want to lose all of the decals. I would like to at least keep the warning labels.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Thank you Hanyoukimura. Your thread is awesome.:smile: I've recently taken up the retoration and re-sale of unwanted lawn mowers. Although i don't stop with mowers. It is such a fun affordable hobby and there are limitless projects available. I know you said you use rubbing compound to restore the finish. Do you tape off the decals when re-painting or toughing up? I am contemplating repainting an old rally mower i have but an reluctant to do so as i don't want to lose all of the decals. I would like to at least keep the warning labels.

It's a fun hobby indeed! For the decals, I usually mask them off. Only once did I actually see a heat gun and remove the label to reapply it later. It's a PITA.

Well after a winter hiatus its time to get back in the swing of things. Today I finished up a Cub Cadet push mower I got late last fall. This one was a rare treat, because I got it already in working order. All it needed was a tuneup and a good cleaning. Looks almost new and runs awesome. Gotta love those Honda engines. No before photos but here's some of the finished product:

A neat trick for the black plastic parts I hadn't considered before is to use a high shine interior protectant. Makes that plastic look shiny and new.

I also picked up a control cable for the Ariens I was working on last fall too. I ned to order a new filter cover for it because it kinda got destroyed when it fell off the mower while running and ended up under it!

 

[hanyoukimura]

Next up was a scrapyard save. This one was literally on its way to be scrapped when I gave the guy $10 for it. Put a spare gas tank on it and cleaned the carburetor out (which was actually clean and dry), and adjusted the float which was preventing gas from getting in the blow and it fired right up. All it needs is a new control cable, tune up, and a good cleaning.

 

[Lawn lady]

I read the entire thread and simply loved it. While reading which only took about 3 days I managed to get 3 lawnmowers to repair. I can only hope that they turn out as nice. I am just learning so it will be an experience I am sure. Thanks for the great reading and education. :thumbsup:

 

[hanyoukimura]

I read the entire thread and simply loved it. While reading which only took about 3 days I managed to get 3 lawnmowers to repair. I can only hope that they turn out as nice. I am just learning so it will be an experience I am sure. Thanks for the great reading and education. :thumbsup:

Practice makes perfect! Have fun with them. :smile:

Today I tried one more time to get this craftsman running again.

I was on the verge of selling it last year and right when the buyer came to look at it it the damn thing wouldn't start. I tried to get it going and nothing. Spray carb spray in the intake and i doesn't even cough. All it does is puff smoke occasionally when I pull it over. After cleaning the carburetor out again and draining some oil (it was a bit overfilled), I still couldn't get any signs of life from it. Decided to cut my losses and remove the engine from the deck. Since the Yard Man I just acquired is missing its plastic shroud anyway, I transplanted the engine to the craftsman deck and installed the Craftsman's shroud an accessories.

I should be acquiring a running Briggs engine Thursday (deck is rotted out), so that will goon the Yard Man deck. this is just as well since the control cable I ordered for it was too short for the Tecumseh engine but should be long enough for the Briggs engine. if all goes well I'll have two running mowers by the end of the week.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Heart transplant complete and successful. Fired right up and ran like a new mower!