Recent content by Auto Doc's

If you know it's not right, don't keep operating it until the issue is resolved. In legal terms, that is called "failure to mitigate the problem". Don't tell the dealer you kept running it.

I have a 2014 RZT S50 and a 2011 Z-Force 48 and both have turned out to be strong reliable machines.

Sounds like one ignition coil is not functioning properly, or a spark plug is bad. You are running on only one cylinder for power. V-twin engines do not shake or vibrate when a cylinder is not firing. Simple test: Start the engine and get it hot, then use a spray bottle to shoot a stream of...

Hello roreyy, Remove the deck and lift the main chassis up to check the drive belt and pullies. This sounds like a drive belt has lost some chunks out of the inner portion. That will create a vibration like you described. If that is the case, I suggest you replace the belt and both tensioner...

That sounds like a normal operation to me. You need to reference the operator's manual for clarification.

Hello Fresh767, We need the model number off the label of both mowers to reference the exact designs. Is the engine on the proposed model a 6.5? The crank length would have to be the same. Most crankshafts are keyed the same on these mowers from what I have seen.

Hi J. Loyd, There are thousands of MTD models, being a 2016 does not help us very much at all (It's not like a car or truck). Locate the product identification label and let us know the exact model and serial information on it. Help us help you. Thanks, and welcome to the forum.

Pull the upper cover and air cleaner off/ out of the way then operate the throttle to verify the choke is working freely and releasing properly. The choke plate lever may be hanging up from excess dust or grass clippings. This design was a little moody about the choke hanging up.

Open a separate help request and give us your product label number information off the machine.

Plug gap is .030 inch for this plug. From the sound of things, the coil is failing when hot after running for 15-20 minutes. Coils are temperature sensitive when hot. They cool off and will work again for a short time.

I finally had to call in Terminix pest control company and have them put down a "roach sterilizer" that would kill the roaches and the eggs. My mom moved from Virginia and stayed with me here in TX for a short time and all of her luggage was loaded with German cockroaches. Those things are...

Seat switch or one of the handle lever safety switches has the bracket tab bent back out of place. Mine has done that with the right handle control safety switch a couple of times. I need to weld the switch tab to strengthen it back up when I have time. The park brake switch tab may also be...

Hello MG, If it is over 8-10 years old (with many like JD it is seldom 5 years) manufacturers will no longer make the parts, and they are simply depleting old stock. Companies no longer lease and maintain massive warehouses full of parts that just sit for years. Even when built new, they use...

This listing may help with size information, the old part numbers shown is 37X65, 12-7245, MXV4300 https://www.ebay.com/itm/234702827168?msockid=33330d53062b6be92f911b3707ad6ae2

Murray 5HP 25-inch deck.

Hello TLoyd, It helps to have the product label information off of the machine, so we know what engine you have and how to better help you. Rider engines don't just jump timing or shear a flywheel key. When it comes to push mowers, they will shear a flywheel key when the blade strikes a hard...

Hello ACF, How many hours are on this engine? Any maintenance history? Having 130 PSI compression does not support failed rings, but they can stick the oil control rings. Change the oil and add a 1/2 cup of Marvel Mystery oil in with the new oil and that will unstick the oil control rings...

Hi Slomo, He's a retired Sears tech from what he says. That means replace everything first and diagnose second. LOL When he discovers it was something stupid simple, he does not share his findings due to embarrassment or foolish pride. First time poster here searching for instant answers and...

We have the same (poor foods) health epidemic down here in much of South Texas. Barbacoa and Menudo along with lots of Big Red and Dr. Pepper sodas.

Leave the headlights disconnected and see if everything now works and you can use the mower. I suspect the headlight harness has gotten pinched somehow. Th black tubing cover usually hides the damage.

How big of a property are you trying to maintain? What is the prevailing brand of equipment folks in your area use and trust? Network with folks and get the "good and the bad" stories about their equipment brands and choices. From your initial post, you might be better off with a compact...

You are asking for a tall order that will not be cheap and likely not reliable as well. Digital gauges and electronics are all the rage on modern rider equipment. Winter weather and electronics don't play well together.

Use a genuine belt, do not trust the measured length of the old one because it is worn and stretched. Get your product label information off the sticker on the underside of the seat. There may be a label for parts also but be careful to look for hand operated blade engagement option for the belt.

We really need the product label numbers off of the label on the bottom of the seat assembly The tiny aluminum gadget with 3 wires connected is to voltage regulator. Unplug all of them and see if it still blows the fuse. If it does blow, you have likely got a problem with the electric PTO...

I see this happen often on several models when the parents try to let the kids mow with their rider. Of course, the first request is to bypass the seat switch. MY answer is NO! and I will not give them any wiring information to attempt it themself.

Need the product label tag information. This favors a restriction of the fuel tank valve outlet screen or possible water in the fuel.

Everything has to be connected, and the voltage regulator body properly grounded. Measure output to the battery at the battery, not at the regulator output wire. If it is not charging, then there is an open or corroded circuit between the regulator battery charge wire and the battery. An...

I checked the engine number HP rating, and it is around 30HP @ 3600 RPM. Maybe a pull start is not realistic on this big of a motor. What did this come off of? That round item with all the wires suggests a throttle control device.

I forgot the mention the connector for the solenoid on the bottom of the carburetor. Gently move the connector from side to side and see if the engine acts up. The pins on the harness connect tend to spread and lose proper connection over time. If that solenoid is an aftermarket, they always...

I had to recheck Parts Tree. This model may not have had a vapor vent hose. The tank shown is in plain site placed ahead of the operator console? The fuel line connection comes out of the bottom and runs to the carburetor. That plug shows to be burning very lean. This indicates a fuel...

How much play is in the piston when installed in the cylinder? Is the cylinder scored badly? Parts show to be available, but they are expensive. Parts Tree: https://www.partstree.com/models/124t02-0203-b1-briggs-stratton-vertical-engine/?msockid=0bfed40a19466eea294dc22418c86fad

Instead of focusing on quality a durability that has kept them alive and well all these years, many are leaning towards "options and electronic gadgets" that fail in a very short time. I think we will suffer from this for quite some time to come. The term I hear quite often is "shrinkflation"...

Pictures would help. Do you have a tool to measure the plug gap? Plugs seldom come with the gap set correctly for your engine. Is it excess black carbon buildup on the plug tip? Nothing wrong with Champion plugs unless they are counterfeit. Ran great for 15 minutes then started to stall...

I will suggest tire chains. I actually used ones off of a Datsun 210 years ago for "mudding" my rider after I cut a link or two out of them and attached them. They worked great in the winter on snow and ice as well. The other option is a small trailer with weight loaded at the front, so the...

So how do (or can) we flip this problem around against our current entitled society that is hell bent on having everything done with garbage cheap parts and think mower mechanics are just beggars with a hobby? The few (new) equipment dealers that are in my area seem to think they can charge...

The engine identification information off the label is needed for accurate information. Does the engine lose power when this occurs? Is this water cooled, and you are just hearing the cooling fan cycle on?

The Tweels hold up. The others have been taken off the market from what I can find (sorry nothing official), so the dealer is likely installing an old stock they happen to have left. If one has broken out, the other one is not far behind. Foam filling stock tires is an option, but the machine...

Hi sgkent, It's known around here (in South Texas) as unemployed, past prison records, no steady job, "will work for food" and low (cash only) wage people who can drive anything with gears. Hay hauler trucks do not have to run DOT stickers; they just run Texas exempt farm tags. The drivers...

Hi sgkent, I work on a lot of hay hauler big trucks along with other equipment and I had one truck come in with a chronic lack of power and stalling under load. I pulled the 2 large diesel filters, and one had a section of a plastic shopping bag stretching out of the filter housing has I...

Need to find the product information label on the chassis of the machine to figure out how yours is built. https://www.partstree.com/search/?type=model&term=craftsman+lt1000+1iding+Mowers&page=1&msclkid=628bfd9ffc2b1e3cfab2955f991330f2

That is also known as a "love tap". LOL

Hello G, "You are getting warmer". Clean the valve rocker cover off. there will be a set of numbers stamped into the top (unless someone has had it off and now it is installed upside down) These numbers provide the B&S engine information only. That label under the hood is a convenient common...

Drivebelt or deck belt? How many hours are on this? Is it stored inside, covered up, or left out in the weather? Run it until it breaks or starts chunking out parts but have a new one on standby. Usually idler and tensioner pullies are needed by then as well.

Being that it is an encased unit, I would see about getting a new one or one from a different mower. Throttle cables can be problematic at times because they will bend or kink inside the enclosure due to faulty sweep angle design of the lever. If you look up the stock part you will likely find...

Go to Parts Tree or Jacks small engine to get the correct parts that fit. The dealer will be stupid expensive due to inflated markup.

First come the original manuals which everyone seems to get but then come amendments and corrections that no one hardly seems to get.

Not to spoil your project, but this bigger engine is serious overkill. Is the crank to correct diameter? Frankly, I suggest nothing over a 14-15hp and stay with a pull start to keep it simple

That is a creative idea. I would be worried about one of the brushes eventually breaking off and becoming a projectile. Tuning the throttle down might help reduce stress on the assembly.

We need the product label information and the engine number information. The LT1000 came in many design changes through the years and just guessing never works.

Have you tried a little more hand pressure on the lever to overcome the stop? This may be an intentional design issue to indicate where the choke would be activated. It also helps people realize when the choke is still on which would cause excess fuel use and spark plug fouling.

I have to ask why do you want studded tires?

Don't place too much faith in your coolant pressure tester if is aged. I just discovered all 3 of mine were leaking at the housing assembly threads (Stant brand testers). If you tested under pressure the level should have risen quite a bit.

Hi macdoesit, The trouble is that it only takes 1 drop of water getting caught in the fuel bowl to disrupt fuel being drawn in by the carburetor jets. Water is heavier than gasoline and they are totally opposing liquids.

Has the oil level risen significantly after being run for a while? That is the most obvious way to tell. If they are checking the oil right after it has been run there will be aeration in the oil for a little bit of time. The oil needs to be checked when cold. Another way to determine if it...

That looks to be beyond saving, the seal groove and aluminum scoring tells me this thing was run low on oil. Here is a used long block engine I found on Ebay...

Hi slomo, I call BS on the drain plug rusted in place story. It was likely severely overtightened in the past and the threads were galled, or the impatient lube jockey cross threaded it. When I first started out as a mechanic in Virginia in the 80's I was actually taught to always install a...

I would suspect head warpage and compression pressure blowing past the head gaskets into the valve pushrod area. (That goes straight into the crankcase) Rings are a seldom failure unless they are smoking badly and have scored cylinders due to excessive dusting and poor oil changes.

What was your leak down test gauge showing? I ask because you cannot always trust what the dip stick fill tube is indicating. Was this engine a "smoker" before the pushrod incident? Was the head releveled by sand with fine sandpaper on a true flat surface, and a new head gasket used during...

How did you determine bad rings? Are the cylinder scored?

Pictures of your concerns would help us help you.

Hello JoeKarpowski, Minor surging at idle is a sign of a dirty carburetor internally. The carburetor would need to be removed and properly cleaned. If you want to attempt this, I can only recommend watching some videos of people who work on small engine equipment for a living. Sources: Teryl...

This poor thing has lived a long life. Sorry, it's time to let it go or find a better engine. There is no "polishing" that will save the crank journal and bearing surfaces. All that does it take metal away and increase the oil clearances. After that, the connecting rod will likely break and take...

Two things happen when you apply power to the wrong circuit. One is you let the "magic smoke" out and two, you likely created more problems than you started with.

Have you ever worked on a carburetor before? They are not to complex, but you need to take pictures as you go. The top cover has to have the screws carefully removed, to inspect the inside of the carburetor bowl.

Hi StarTech, I also had a couple fail years back because they were too thin, but the last one I got was a thicker and improved design.

When you initially reset the governor adjustment, it likely had enough room to allow the governor center pin to pop up out of place. Hopefully it is a simple fix and a new gasket, and you are back up and running. Note: Use only a Briggs and Stratton sump gasket kit. Amazon gaskets will create...

They are push on speed clip retainers Sometimes you can find them at a NAPA or a parts store that has selector boxes of various sizes. Occasionally they can be found at a good hardware store. A good small engine shop would have them, if one can be found in your area. It helps to remove the...

The governor has only one job and that is to "govern" (control) the top running speed (RPM) of the engine, that is it, end of story! No starts or surging have nothing to do with the governor operation. Governors do not require adjustment once they have been set during initial factory assembly...

This is a lawnmower forum, not English 101. Many people have terrible writing skills, and they always will.

That is not the number. Look at the flat vertical section opposite side of the block from the air cleaner and carburetor. They will be dot etched numbers, not casted.

Hi Phillybo, The manuals do not give the exact design specification for the installed height of the valve guides. If this head has a pushrod guide plate mounted below the rocker arm retainer bolts, be sure to check them for excessive wear in the area that pushrod comes through. These are often...

Hi StarTech, Back when I was a JD service manager, I used to tell my more opinionated techs that I would gladly make them manager for a day if they wanted to see if they could do the job better than me. They knew that I was not joking and quickly backed off with all the gripping and...

If not you first succeed, try, try again and again and again.... That free returns thing must be intoxicating.

They are not that failure prone unless it has been run with a dead/bad battery for a very long time. The charging system on these are only meant to maintain the battery and run the PTO clutch and lights as need. Thy are not meant to constantly recharge a bad battery. If it mounts to the plastic...

Helo Phillybo, Have you compared it to the other head to verify what is going on? Often times a pushrod get bent on these when the valve lash is too far out of spec. The pushrod come to the edge of the rocker cup and it binds up on these.

"Necessity is the mother of invention" (Plato) That looks pretty interesting, but it works and that's what counts Now you need to take a little clear silicone and seal up all the exposed connections to prevent dirt and moisture from creeping in and ruining your progress. I take it that the...

Product ID number and serial number is needed. This is not a machine you just start bypassing thing on blindly experimenting. Is this a fuel injected model?

That is a catastrophic failure of the connecting rod. I do not recommend any attempt and rebuilding this engine. Time for an engine. This mower was built in the late 90's according to online information.

A picture would be most helpful My imagination recall has the memory bank overloaded at the moment. Wild guess is that the voltage regulator has been removed and forgotten about before you purchased the mower, or it was sold because the previous owner could not figure it out.

Glad it was something simple.

Hi Star Tech, The head with plastic blades is an optional head that Stihl offers. It comes with hardware for different models or adapters can be purchased.

Jack of all trades about covers it. I stopped doing free estimates and taking in random customers or "emergencies". Now I only rely on a network of known good customers referrals. Business has been steady without too much hustle and bustle. Anyone who is referred to me already understands that...

Make sure the disengage rod has not been set for the side that is not working. Each drive motor has a pull rod usually at the rear under the unit.

2-strokes like this Stihl FS38 are designed to run wide open throttle for cooling and to keep the centrifugal clutch fully engaged. Putting a wider cutting head on it puts too much stress on the components. An FS38 is a light duty DIY trimmer. If you want commercial results, consider a larger...

An engineer once told me if it isn't broke, don't break it trying to figure it out.

I would not expect anything immediate, but I have seen it work. Run it and get the fuel mix down in the carburetor well, then let it set and see if it works its magic.

Mix it according to instructions in the fuel can/jug being used, then gently shake the fuel/jug around to mix it (churn it). Sometimes my Southern vocabulary is not quite understood. LOL

Hi slomo, If I believed everything You Tube shows us, there would not much else in life to do but be a pessimist. Those shows tend to be very biased and flip flop opinions based on conjecture. Alcohol does not "remove" water; it breaks it down and encapsulates it so it can pass through with...

Hi macdoesit, Using HEET is not a bad suggestion in my opinion. Honestly, I forgot about that. HEET is basically a bottle of Methanol fuel solvent (petrol) (Not to be confused with Ethanol (corn). It has to be churned in a fuel can, not just poured in the tank to be effective.

Hello macdoesit, The local JD dealer is who uncrates and performs the make ready for sale on new riders for the big box stores (It's in their JD sales contract to carry the JD products.) They get minimal fuel put in them for a quick test run and then they set on display for months before being...

That wheel assembly was installed with very little grease and has not seen any new grease in a long time. Bearing failures are often sudden in cases like this. The small ball bearing come out and the wheel suddenly cocks sideways and wobbles. That appears to be an aftermarket "universal rim...

Bad gas is usually from them leaving fuel in them while on the sale line. Fuel left sitting degrades especially with heat and sudden changes in the weather. Most likely, they need to pull the carburetor and give it a proper cleaning. This machine likely sat on display for months with old fuel...

I've got a huge stack of certifications, but they mean very little if the knowledge is not understood and applied. Way too much of this so-called "certification" process has been pushed off to 1-hour videos and pass the 20 questions at the end. No practical application or real-world equipment...

What is the off chance there is a little diesel fuel mixed in with the gas? That would reduce power and make the grey smoke you described. I've seen it happen a couple of times on customer equipment.

The manual says change oil every 5 hours. Use SAE 10W-30. Synthetic should not be an issue if that is your preference. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2074088/Honda-Hrn216-Series.html?page=45#manual

If they are being proactive trying to research an issue to perform a proper repair, I would not have an issue with that.

As I slip past 60 years of age and still working hard, it has made me reflect on much of my past "hard times". My goodness, If I had not learned my skills early in life as a troubleshooter and mechanic, I would be flat broke and begging for food and shelter on a daily basis. That, or living...

We need the product label information. A couple of pictures might also help. By brain is having trouble focusing by using my imagination to "paint a picture" of this problem. Pick one: https://www.partstree.com/models/1330-cub-cadet-garden-tractor-parts

You miss the point. What setting are you using on your meter? Providing a picture of the meter dial setting you are using would help. Amps and Volts are not the same setting.

Thanks for the update picture. Now, I think that picture better confirms the exhaust valve guide has moved up in the casting due to an overheat condition. (Poor B&S design) I can see that the exhaust valve guide is not sticking very far at all on the combustion chamber side. At the moment, I...

Trash in the fuel can like bugs and old cut grass clippings is usually the cause. Any trash will get stuck at an angle fitting or a shutoff valve. Why? Because they have a restriction designed into them. I've cleaned fittings, shutoff valves and lines many times that had wads of fine trash...

Seems like lately I have had quite a few B&S V-twin engines that run erratically especially under load. These come to me usually after plugs, coils, fuel pump and a carburetor have been replaced. Sure enough, someone did not realize that if the valve cover vacuum pulse hose is cracked or has...

Yep, it's too heavy. The idea is to apply a vacuum (negative pressure) effect to the crankcase.

Hi Slomo, I used that trick years ago when I worked in an automotive shop. We occasionally would have a vehicle that the drain plug would not seal properly on. Applying a vacuum to the filler and then quickly switching the drain plug worked pretty slick. Not sure how that would work with an...

Looks like the connector pins got ripped off of the diode possibly. Maybe the diode got ripped out of the harness.

We need your product label information off of the machine. They have serial number differences and harnesses are usually different among them.

That is a good idea, but many mower oil filters are barely accessible, much less drill a hole.

I've seen a lead acid car battery blow apart on a cold Winter morning and bend the entire front corner of the hood on a '69 Pontiac Bonneville.... They had some heavy steel in those hoods. Arcing sparks or flame around any lead acid battery is very dangerous. Hydrogen gas is present in wet cell...

A basic rule is to never throw away any parts until you are absolutely sure the job is done. Cannot really see anything wrong with the valves except the one on the left of the picture has been getting hot on the stem portion. How did you determine a valve was bent?

I prefer the ones with rusty bolts holding the cables on a new battery. The customer has had hours (or days) trying to figure out what happened. 2-minutes with a meter and a new set of bolts seems to be a miracle cure. Don't forget the terminal spray unless you just want the practice doing...

Cannot even see down into the one valve guide hole, it's shadowed. Can you lay out the "bent" parts and take a picture for us to help you evaluate the entire problem, not just bits of it? This is turning into a "Where's Waldo" story.

Here is an example I found on line stating the difference between the two: Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are both types of alcohol commonly used for disinfecting and cleaning purposes. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a renewable and biodegradable alcohol derived from plants such as...

Amazon?

In the video it is hard to distinguish the exact noise. Audio is tricky at times. I will say that the top cover can magnify noise when it is in place. Any signs of rub marks on any of the pull start components? You may have to disassembly the center pull rope area and see it the starter dog...

Have you checked Ebay or Jack's small engine? Here is another source: https://chainsawlawnmower.com/product/honda-hr194-blade

Sounds like a worn connecting rod all throughout the audio with a little kit of piston slap every now and then. Where are you hold the mic when recording? Are you moving around? A quick listening device is a 3-foot section of 3/4 hose. Hold one end against your ear while you move the other end...

We need the full model and serial number to reference the correct parts catalogues. This is what typically happens when a coil stops working under stress (load). The engine does not rock or shake, a coil just quits. A quick test: Run at high RPM, use a spray bottle and hit each exhaust head...

If you ground the positive clamp and you get a crash course in welding.

The engine information is computer dot etched on the flat side section of the engine block; you may need to clean the block really well to see the tiny digits.

Hi Tooler, I happen to have one of these among my collection of riders. They have always been a popular model. I've never understood the dispute/preference between the "yellow deck" and the 'black deck models". Maybe it is a color scheme thing. Disconnect the PTO clutch and measure the Ohms...

Hi, Zero turns are not very good on hills usually unless going straight up and down them. That is not always possible. Wider tires also means slightly taller profile. They may actually be worse. The deck height would have to be adjusted slightly to compensate for the pitch of the mowing deck...

Hello Piney, I recommend a non-serviceable trans for that small of a property. I do not recommend pulling any heavily loaded through. A 48" deck is also a good comfortable size without making the machine too bulky. Stay away from anything loaded with electronics or displays except for a basic...