Recent content by Born2Mow

My tire pressures are not listed in the Specifications section of my manual. I found the information elsewhere in the manual.

That "lawn mower guy" is clueless. The very first thing you learn on the very first day is: "Black smoke is Rich fuel condition. White smoke is burning oil."

You have shortened the engine's life, but by how much no one can say. If you disassembled the engine, you probably couldn't even measure the differences. But these engines are like Pepperidge Farm.... they remember ! Start using the fuel valve. It's on there for a reason, and now you know the...

I think the OP's fuel is at fault. A new mower would indeed run about 3 days on the first tank of fuel. Then he adds his own fuel and things start to go wrong. Twice at exactly the same time. That's not a coincidence, that's a reason. The proof of this is he's too quick to blame the store...

This or a Lazy-Boy !! :ROFLMAO:

Another missing Stickie... instructing first time posters to be sure and log the brand, model, model number and some photos.

You think I'm aggressive, just wait until DFACS knocks on your door with the police in tow. Those people are more aggressive than the IRS. I know, I used to work with them. All I'm asking is that you re-think your safety measures for the sake of your grandson. Not my grandson, YOURS.

Most jets are cleaned in-situ. Those few that unscrew are obvious from their hex shape or screwdriver slot. Most modern float needles are tipped with soft viton, making float needle replacement MORE common, and float needle seat wear a thing of the past.

No one here is going to help you defeat safety measures that help protect young and innocent operators like your grandson. Most any profession your grandson might dream of, from policeman to surgeon, would be completely ended by the loss of just 2 fingers. And mower accidents happen to children...

Unlike USA carbs, your model seems to have an idle circuit as witnessed by the screw we see prominently displayed in the middle of photo #1 and 2. Engines may RUN on the main jet, but they actually start on the IDLE circuit. So you'll want to remove that screw and blow carb cleaner through that...

How old is your grandson ?

Just saw this. Watch and see how a mass of grass clippings could jam the governor....

I'd believe the governor simply came out of adjustment before I'd believe a spring went "bad".

You could always stretch a pair of your wife's panty hose over the motor. But the neighbors may laugh. :ROFLMAO:

The fool left Ethanol fuel in the fuel system over the winter. Now the engine can't get enough fuel without the choke. You're going to need to dis-assemble the entire fuel system and clean or replace everything.... from the fuel cap to the carb. This includes the fuel lines, manual fuel valve...

• In my part of the country, Ethanol fuel can go "bad" in as little as 8 weeks. Especially if the vehicle is left stationary. The mere fact that you asked makes me extremely uneasy. If you have doubts, then change it. • Lots of things can cause the engine to knock. Start with tightening every...

Thanks for the parts visual. • No screw on your model, that was a 60's & 70's thing. • No fuel pump, your model is gravity-fed. That makes it very important to check flow, because there is NO pressure. When you unplug the fuel line from the carb, do you get a "drip, drip", or a solid stream of...

A commercial mower who needs to worry about their annual fuel bills might want EFI. A residential owner who wants to do his own service work would most definitely want a carb.

Nothing is "straightforward". :ROFLMAO: Different models may have different blade mounting shaft diameters or shaft lengths which may not be apparent at first glance. Some advanced detailed measurements would be in order.

No need to ask us, or look for one on Ebay because a 72" deck is WAY too large AND heavy to ship. Better to check your local CraigsList or FB Marketplace, or better yet hoof it on down to your local Hustler dealer and simply buy it new.

How is it you know exactly where the valve are set, but were guessing at the c/s position ? And why are you guessing at the oil level.... when "oil" was the initial complaint ? There's nothing quite like a guessing game where the guest withholds key information, and makes up answers as they...

I think you were at TDC.... on the Exhaust stroke. The piston has a hole in it, and so the oil came through the piston and out the Ex valve, which is open on that stroke.

That's what I'm thinking too. Some kind of anti-tip safety switch that's not set right, or maybe no longer mounted to the frame. Could be flopping around on the harness. Anyway, it reads the downhill as a tip-over and cuts the ignition. If it was oil or gas related it would do a lot of...

Generic dirt bike air filters for motorcycle racing might be an answer. They are cheap and typically fit many carb sizes. They come with a radiator band clamp that can tighten down on most any size carb. Click this.... Generic Dirt Bike AF from Walmart

.07 acres = 3050 sq. ft., or 101 x 30ft. Burt's has a great idea. Put it mostly in garden in the flat areas, with perennial ground cover on the slopes. Lots of things you can grow so easily and offset your grocery bill... plus it tastes better. Your wife will love it. DO NOT plant English ivy...

Battery sounds nice, but I see too many problem reports. IMHO, battery mowers are simply NOT ready for "prime time". If it's not battery issues, then it's charger issues. The mowers are like battery drills. Right when you need a new battery pack, they stop making that model to introduce a new...

Two choices: Go back to engineering school and then work 20 years in the hydraulic design industry. Follow the instructions.

Agreed. Surging caused by a lean condition. Suggestions... Adjust the main jet screw (if present) Check for air leaks. (Loose carb mounting ? Aging manifold gasket ?) Clean the carb. Leaving Ethanol fuels in the carb can coat the fixed size jets, making them run leaner. Wallowed out butterfly...

Bigfoot. Gold medalist in the Hide & Seek World Championships. PS. The judges are looking for an address, because he never picked up his medal.

1. Your float system is bad, which allows an immoderately high fuel level. Not high enough to leak, but higher than required so that the choke draws in too much fuel. OR 2. Your air filter needs replacing. Inability for air to enter means that more fuel is ingested, in the place of air.

What possessed this idiot to make a video of himself working on a machine he knows nothing about ? "Watch this yall, while I wear my Crocs to operate an open blade trimmer."

Could have fallen out of the muffler bearing. :ROFLMAO:

I highly doubt that. There is always a "reason". Your main job is to find it, or it will simply happen again.

It's a good bet the spring does not anchor to the belt, as the diagram shows !! :ROFLMAO: Attach the spring to the tensioner arm. The anchor point will be such that the spring is at 90 degrees (a right angle) to the tensioner arm, and at a distance about 1.2X the length of the relaxed spring...

I had a boss that used to say, "Time to take the gas cap off and put it on a new one !"

The proper wrench when the manual says it only has to be "finger tight".....

You mean "bad" as in it's involved in under-age drinking, or "bad" as in it mugs little old ladies on the subway at night ?? Can you describe what this term means ? And how does the problem reveal itself ?

"Real Men" jump past the cheater and go right to the smoke wrench !! ?

You are obviously trying to sell a new belt to simply enrich yourself, when it is painfully obvious THAT belt has at least 10 more good years. :ROFLMAO:

Joey - Questions... What is the age in years and hours run on this mower ? How old is the fuel ? Is old fuel mixed with new fuel, or did you completely empty the fuel system over the winter ? Have you checked the condition of the flywheel key ? Is the top of the engine and the surrounding area...

To a point, true.... but.... The level of the engine oil should never be up to the level of a horizontal cylinder bore or it would smoke continuously, even when new. There are oil control rings and compression rings. Compression rings will easily pass oil, which is why the second type ring its...

Sorry, I've never met him. :ROFLMAO:

Probably barking up the wrong tree. I'm not saying your coil is good or bad, but about 95% of these "won't start" issues are related to winter storage with ethanol fuel in the fuel system. When the owner tries to start the mower the plug gets fouled.... permanently. 1. Start by emptying EVERY...

And who gave you this sage advice? A neighbor, your mother-in-law, a guy you never saw before ?? What if I said it's most likely the breather hose that powers the fuel pump. A $2 / 10 minute repair ??

Lovely machine. You'll really like it. Some of the features you won't really appreciate until you get some hours on it. Everything is easy to reach and service. Two modifications I made... 1. The fuel line runs under the bulkhead behind the seat. If you'll unplug the line from the Fuel Valve...

Take that POS back and get a gasoline powered mower.... and NOT from that dealer.

If 900 degrees is too hard to measure, then you can simply use 90 degrees. :ROFLMAO:

It could also be over-heating. Remove the air cowling and remove ALL the clippings from the top of the finned cylinder(s).

A wild mother wrench, feeding its young... Aww mom, does it always have to be nuts ?

That model seems to be a re-branded MTD designed mower. Same as a lot of the Craftsman, Ariens, Husky, and about 5 other brands. A brief search on the internet will show you that these are all famous for not having a lot of deck lift. And what little there is, is not very accurate. My BIL's...

Year model and number of hours would really help. Suggestions (no particular order): Running too hot. Pull the air cowling and clean off the tops of the cylinder(s). Try fresh gas. Take a spare plug with you and see if the spark goes away right when this event is happening. Have the coil tested.

I understand all that. I have the same type setup on my Exmark... you can't actually see the fuel due to an S-turn in the fill neck. But it might be possible to get a slender and flexible wooden rod to snake in there. If not a thin give-away yard stick, then try a 1/4" wooden dowel.

If you can insert a thin, wooden yard stick, it will easily indicate the fuel level. You could even add your own marks. Hang it up on the wall and it will be dry when you need to measure again. My son's Boy Scout troop had a diesel bus donated. It had a 95gal fuel tank with NO fuel gauge. So I...

I worked at a Honda dealership and they begged us to buy their computer system for our Parts Dept. The sales pitch was that we could get parts "faster". As soon as the system was installed, Honda started buying back parts for machines older than 5 years. Owners would come in to get common...

Borrow your neighbor's car to go get the woodruff key. Then back it into a fire hydrant on the way home. No need to say anything because it's not important. ?

The 34" Hustler Dash I owned did not incorporate a linkage from the deck to the frame. This meant that the deck was allowed to swing back and forth.... which is OK, but it plays havoc with the belt length and belt tensioner system. Suggestions.... Make sure you are using the EXACT correct belt...

Speaking for myself.... I'd be photographing the "needed brackets" on the old spindles, making some measurements, and then sawing them off. Then hauling the photos, dimensions and the sawed off pieces to the local weld shop. Ten minutes later I'd be mowing. But, that's just how I would do it.

We need an engine brand and an engine model number.

1. Car and motorcycle engine break-in has little in common with mower engine break-in for several reasons. Cars and motorcycles have varying power output as they run through the gears. Running over the road they run into high power requirements called "hills" or "uphill grades". They also...

It could be something as simple as your neighbor hit an obstacle in his yard, and didn't think it was "important". (Nothing is "important" when you don't need to personally maintain the equipment. Hint, hint.) Unplug the spark plug. Turn the mower onto it's side and make sure the idiot neighbor...

The truth is, both battery cables were made by the same cable maker. Look for the other cable to take a "nose-dive" within 6 months. I've taken to making my own cables now.

Agreed. Besides making the parts sale, the big makers have a vested interest in having the customer re-visit their dealer's Parts Dept every 6 months. There they'll see the latest models and think... "Gosh, the new models are great and have new features I could use. And my mower has been running...

1. You will be needing a self-propelled mower for sure. 2. I like the TroyBilt mowers with the front wheel drive. I find it easier to lift the front wheel than operate a lever to slow things down when cutting in close. I know... that's just me, but slight downward pressure on the bars just...

You sure that isn't your cell phone ! :ROFLMAO:

If your battery is in good standing, then your safety interlock system may be thwarting your attempts. Check the seat and blade engagement safety switches.

Don't muck around with it. Take it back to the dealer and explain the situation.

Here's the simplistic analysis... The EFI will work better longer, but when it breaks you'll need a pro to fix it. (And so few mowers use EFI that finding the right pro could turn into a long-term search. So that question really depends on where you live.) If you are a pro and your fuel costs...

Sir, with all due respect.... no one is going to help you defeat a legally mandated safety switch.

Most likely cause... The issue shows when the choke turns OFF. This results in several areas to investigate... The choke may be physically opening (turning OFF) too soon. A cold engine does require a 'rich' mixture. So there may be some mechanical issue (dirt, grass clippings, etc) that need...

Rob - Thanks for the reply. Really appreciated. So few people take the time to say 'thanks'.

Replace the spark plug with a new one. Start using a fuel conditioner and carb cleaner, such as StarTron , on the outside chance that a dirty fuel system is causing this issue.

You don't need all that. The way I read your question is that you want to check the cam/valve timing without assuming the "dots" are correct. Presumably, you have a single camshaft engine. Because both valves need to be nearly closed at TDC, and because one gear tooth will typically throw that...

...and no one is tougher that Chuck Norris.

It requires a 5/8 socket to take those blades off. I use an impact wrench and 5/8 6-point socket to remove them, and reinstall them by hand with Never-Seeze on the threads. The decks on the MTD/Craftsman have so little adjustment that my BIL has already bent 2 sets of blades this season ...

Remove the float bowl. Insure that the float and float valve move up and down freely. Turn ON the fuel valve. If you do NOT have a fuel pump, then fuel should be flowing freely into the float valve. If you DO have a fuel pump, then you might need to spin the engine with the starter to get a...

The simple way to test is by using a 12V "test lamp". Unplug the 2 leads from the clutch and connect the test lamp to the same wires. If the safety requirements are met (fat guy in the seat, etc), then the light will illuminate when the PTO switch is engaged.

Yes. Somewhere there is a manual.

Easy cure. Name your teenager "Electric". Then, have your teen pull that T-shaped handle on top. Then you'll have "electric start".

The fact that there is a flexible section of exhaust hose means that Scag knows there is a vibration issue. That stuff is EXPENSIVE and isn't added to an exhaust system simply to add "good looks" !!! 1. As I understand it.... the muffler mounts to the back plate on the mower, while the pipe...

1. Take out both plugs. Tightly hold your thumb over the plug holes 1 at a time. Hit the electric start momentarily. If a blast of air blows your thumb off the plug hole, then it ain't the valves. This is not to say your valves don't need to be adjusted, just that the valves are not your issue...

Then you've not solved the root problem. The root cause is most probably tiny trash in the fuel system. Remove the fuel tank and clean it out. Replace all the fuel line with SAE spec J30 automotive fuel hose. Add a new fuel filter and a manual On/Off fuel valve. Then, remove the float bowl...

That's exactly why I said to use an "analog meter"...

The "Rabbit" is an indicator of throttle Speed or walking Speed.... not carb Choke. All the Hondas I've seen have a very nice gray Choke lever atop the air filter housing. Stand on the LH side, over the air filter, and look down. Pull that gray lever completely to the rear (the ON position)...

Is this mower more than 1 year old ??? The new fuels eat up the old fuel lines from the inside. Fuel hose can look "normal" on the outside and be clogged on the inside. Especially at pre-formed bends, elbows, and S-shapes. These tiny bits of rubber then clog the fuel filter. Highly suggest you...

Sounds like the Choke is not working. Check the linkage and tiny springs if this model has an auto choke. Otherwise, the choke cable may simply need adjusting. Remove the air filter and see what's going on. You should be able to see the choke with the air filter removed.

Check the Big 3: Fire, Compression, Fuel. You already check Fire.

Look for oil filter specification charts. Match the filter thread. Lots are 3/4-10 UNC, but not all. Then match the by-pass pressure rating Then match (or improve on) the micron rating of the filter material

That's the whole question in a nut shell. Sometimes I'll place an analog 10A meter between one battery terminal and the cable. Any shorts will peg the meter. Of course you need to be able to break that connection before you burn up the meter!! But you can sure save a lot of fuse replacement...

Rotella is a diesel engine oil. Initially, the "zinc package" (to benefit camshafts) was removed from auto oils because of the catalytic converter on newer cars. But diesels don't have the 'cat', and so the zinc remained. However, the newest diesel oils no longer have the zinc package either. So...

The vent should allow air into the tank, without allowing any deadly, baby whale killing fumes out. And BTW, that leaking gasoline is why we don't have dinosaurs any more. The thin black piece you noticed inside is the "flapper valve" that does the one-way breathing.

You'll want to perform Slomo's test 2 ways: key OFF and key ON. And maybe a third way if you turn on any accessories while you mow. For instance if you run a car radio, then you'll need a third test: radio OFF and radio ON. The charging circuit is generally the only thing connected to the...

Frankly, I'm shocked !

Sorry, but this information is not true. First... A "12V battery" is 12 volts in name only. Really good ones are up around ~12.8V, and the thing is useless by the time you get down to ~12.2 volts. So if you see a 12V battery with only 12.0V, get ready to drive down and get a new one...