Recent content by efred

I use a stepped cone-style balancer. Hey, have any of you noticed that NONE of the alignment steps in those balancers correspond with ANY hole in any blade?

Sometimes, there could be a bit of debris in the carburetor bowl. I've had that happen from time to time.

Yes, they are. They are VERY high quality, but EXPEN$IVE. I have a pair of small/medium water pump pliers, and they were over $35, some 15 years ago.

I had a mower that quit running, and I discovered that the fuel line before the filter was plugged with spider eggs. Pressured the gas tank, and it shot out. How that danged thing got in there is beyond me. That's very rare and unusual, but apparently I'm the exception.

For future reference, draining when hot will not only drain faster, but any debris in the system will flow out while it is still in suspension. That's been the preference.

"I cut some today getting used to this machine. It is a lot different, but very comfortable and cuts great." I understand: I borrowed my friend's Dixon Kodiak, and it was frightening to mow, at first. I told him it was like shaving with a chainsaw, but by the time I finished, it was like...

Speaking of compression, have you checked the compression, both cold AND hot? There are tolerances in the valve train to accommodate the expansion of those parts, and the wear on the engine changes those tolerances. It's possible that you're not getting enough compression. It's an easy check.

I'm no help: I mow 5+ acres with a 21" self-propelled push mower. I mow for over an hour (or run out of gas, whichever comes first) each day, until I'm done. It's supposed to be great for your health (you know, all that walking, cardio workout, etc.), but all I get is beat.

You can buy torque rods/extensions, that only allow a pre-engineered amount of torque when used with an impact wrench. That way, with your impact wrench at maximum, it will only torque to what it is designed. They're not too expensive, and most tool companies will sell them, either as a kit...

The main, and most important reason to use synthetic oil, is that air-cooled engines will run cooler, alleviating overheating and fuel vapor lock problems.

Has anyone tried something like that spray-on bed liner, without the grit?

Are you referring to the left and right motors that drive each wheel? I don't know what kind of motor they are, but if they are piston/swashplate style, you don't want to be tearing into them - it's like rebuilding an injector pump; lots of small parts, and very tight tolerances. Even a...

You say you ordered a new carb from Amazon? If so, why not just put it on? I hope you didn't tear the new carb apart just to steal the needle valve and seat.

It's also possible that your rings are getting blowby, pressurizing the crankcase, and pushing oil through the vent tube into the carb, making a mess like you described. It's much more involved to inspect, but maybe do another compression check. By the way, what is the proper spec on the...

If the grass I'm cutting is green, it will build up under the deck of both of my CC mowers, my old 2165, and my new SC 500HW. Fortunately, they have deck washing attachments, which helps somewhat. I've always wondered if that plastic spray-on bedliner put on without the grit, would work.