Recent content by Hammermechanicman

No i am not talking about an impact wrench. I am talking about an air hammer also called an air chisel. Usually there is a washer on the bolt that holds the pulley on and if you leave it off the pulley will come off over the bolt head. The air hammer is applied to the head of the bolt.

Either valves or rings. Did you deglaze the cylinder with a hone? Did you lap in the valves? What did you set the lash at? A leakdown tester would tell you where the problem is.

The countyline product is API TC rated which is an obsolete rating method. It is considered a bottom tier oil.

I hope rhis doesn't devolve into a "what is the best oil thread" . I paid $70 for a gallon of Red Armor and thought it was a pretty good deal. A gallon, 128 oz if mixed at 50:1 it makes 64 gallons of fuel. That is a little more than a dollar a gallon. If you buy an oil in the small 6 pack of 1...

Bad boys i have worked on have a 12ga black wire that grounds everthing. If he follows it back in the harness it will probably connect to a half dozen or so smaller black wires. 2 clues. He said with key off 0 volts, key on test light from wire to ground very dim. That indicates he is...

The black wire is supposed to be grounded. When you say the light is dim it is because you are on The negative side of the load. It is probably the ground for most everything on the mower. When you turn the key on and measure voltage from the black wire to ground you will get very close to...

Then drive self to hospital after wife beats the crap out of you. ?

I am lucky to be a 5 occasionally. Some folks think i am smart but not really. I just have good google foo. Without google and Utube university i am dumb as a post.

Had a cust with a rtz50 have the center spindle completely break out of the deck from stress cracking around the mounting bolts. That was a fun fix. Had another one cutting uneven and the outside spindle was leaning because the deck around the outside bolts was cracked out. Look at the deck...

I have lots of stuff from HF. Most of it good. 20 ton press, pnumatic oil extractor, earthquake 1/2 impact, pry bars, tool box, ratchets, and a buch of other stuff. Some of their suff is good some isn't and some of it is just trash. All depends. Now about that oil...........

Put the crank bolt back in with no washer on it. Use a air hammer on the bolt. Usually comes right off.

I had a set of them on a hand truck. One of them split in the tread within days of installing them. Not a fan of HF tires

Never tried it with dish soap. Always used kerosene. Next one i do i will try the dish soap. Learn things every day.

If it is locked up with the bypass engaged and the brake is not stuck then something broke inside. If it whines then the belt is turning the pump so either motor is locked or something broke in the gear train. If you are adventurous here is the parts list for it i think. If not google can...

Don't assume engine is running rich because plug is black. I would replace the plug just to eliminate it and adjust the valves and check head bolts. You could have a spark problem, coil or plug, or a fuel delivery problem, fuel starvation. When you mow do you run the engine at full speed? You...

Like bert said check for batt voltage at B terminal. If you have that and you have a wiring diagram you can work through the circuit. Put a jumper wire between the B and S terminal of the switch. Have this where you can easily pull it out if engine starts cranking. Now work through the circuit...

You might want to stock up on the generic stuff and seasonal maint stuff if you haven't already. Different sizes of fuel line, different sizes of starter rope, spark plugs, oil filters, air filters, fuel filters. Most of this is relatively inexpensive and you will move fairly quick. Most of the...

If you guys didn't drive on the wrong side of the road you would get your parts delivered quicker. ?

Take the belt off and check all the spindle and idler bearings. Don't just spin them, put pressure on them while turning slowly feeling for any grittyness.

Does it make a grinding noise? If so you probably have a seized bearing and the brake is dragging. Probably need to pull t.d he clufch and check it.

Thanks. Profit is important but what kind of person i am is more important. Your stuff is worth what other people will pay for it. Your worth is what other people think of you.

I am sure the problem can be remedied with judicious application of the proper sized hammer. Trust me. I know these things.

Hand filing chain can be a bit technique sensitive. I can do it with no guages or guides pretty well. If you are not experienced should probably use a guide or a Pferd 3 in 1. Or you just buy some cheap azz Archer chain off Ebay. I call it weekend warrior chain. Great for the guy whi uses his...

It belongs to an older couple (80+) and i have worked on other stuff for them before. As far as i know they really forgot why they parked it. If i had asked for money i am sure they would have paid me but since i neglected to check it before i started servicing it i feel it is on me. They gave...

Best to use a guage but you can put the chain on the bar and put a straight edge across a couple teeth. The raker should be, depending on the saw and chain, should be .025 or .030 below the top of the teeth. Count how many file strokes it takes to get it there and do all the rest the rakers the...

Yeah. Sounds like a blown head gasket. Bigger problem that that is the word courage on the engine.

?⌚

Yeah. I always check out units and not take the customer's word for anything. Errrr....... almost always. At least all i am out is a carb kit and some fuel line.

No. Tecumseh on a toro mower

Well i broke my own rule. Customer brought in .mower and said it ran fine just sat for a year or so with gas in it. Opened the tank and sure enough rotten gas. Pulled carb and cleaned and rebuilt it, new fuel line and cleaned out the tank. Went to start it. Well crap no compression. Never take...

One reason i keep very little inventory on hand. Essentially seasonal maint and carb stuff. Fuel line, starter cord and the like. I don't stock belts and blades, just too many to keep up with. Like Star my advertising is business cards and word of mouth. Best bang for the buck in this business.

I guess there are 2 types of storing. One is storing fuel for use and the other is storing fuel in equipmemt. I usuall get 20 to 30 gallons at a time in the 5 gallon gas cans. Use it up in a few months. No need for any stabilizer. All my equipment just gets run dry except the ZTR and the...

Just because a plug fires when laid against the engine doesn't mean it is good. Eliminate things. Like was said , try a new plug and see what happens.

I always liked the way a friend once phrased it. In sales i need you. In service you need me. Over many years people have wanted me to go into business with them. Usually when i asked to see their business model i got a blank stare or i got some wishful thinking scribbling. I could tell none...

I am a fair to middleing welder. Dad was a millwright and taught me how to use a buzz box in grade school. I have a Lincoln 210MP DC stick/MIG welder and a Century 230Amp AC/DC buzz box with an arc stabilizer for the big stuff. An oxy/acetylene rig for gas welding and i switch to oxy/propane...

Not an easy weld on that thin metal. I wouldn't do it.

"Hello Mr customer. We just sold you an expensive mower with a known problem. If the Mfgr comes out with a fix we will put it on. Possibly free of charge, possibly not. It depends. Sorry there is a Mfgr defect with your unit but $hi+ happens. Thank you for you business, please recommend us to...

Did the dealer replace the unit or tell you $hi+ happens? Just curious.

You got a carb problem. Check valve or metering needle most likely.

Everybody has their method about storage with fuel. I don't store any of my equipment with fuel in them except the IH 184 LoBoy and the Ferris with the 36hp Briggs. The other 3 chainsaws, 2 string trimmers, 2 generators, Bunton walkbehind, pole saw, snow blower, Sears ST12, chipper, blower...

You need to do a pressure test on the carb. See if the metering needle is leaking down. Clue, you had to adjust the carb to run good. If tank is pressurizing and saw sits and needle very slowly leaks down it can cause flooding. Try running saw then shutting it off, remove and replace fuel cap...

The old 07, 08, 09 saws are low RPM torque saws compared to today's high RPM saws. Those things were made for big wood with long bars. That saw to the right collector is worth quite a bit. Most folks don't cut big wood and a 660 or 880 type saw will do the job so these are donosaurs now. If you...

There is no belt tension adjustment. Make sure the pivots for the brakes and the tension idler are free and greased. Install new belt. If belt slips check for worn engine pulley. If it is bogging the engine down in tall grass the belt is not slipping.

? nice snag

Only the one terminal melted? Most likley the terminal on the wire has a corroded connection with the terminal or the terminal itself is corroded. Look at the contact in the plug. You probably. Eed to replace it.

And why can't you charge the 5 hours? If you are doing this as a business you don't let the customer tell you how much they will pay for a job. If they will only pay for half a job you do half the job. All that time is billable. Did they spen the time to try and find parts? Of course not. They...

The paper element type filters are a cropshoot if they work or not with a gravity system. Normally gravity systems use a metal screen type filter. Depending on the porosity of the media used in the paper cartridge filter the surface tension of the fuel can stop fuel flow.

That and worn engine pulleys on manual engagement decks. I like the folks who don't take the time to loosen belt guides and just crank the belt over the sharp edge of the pulley between a rigid belt guide compromising the belt. My favorite is the mowers with the belt guide being metal ears bent...

Not designed for clutching applications or high torque applications. They work pretty well if used properly. Won't last more than a few minutes on a mower.

I guess i need to start looking for some big rocks.

OEM belt? All spindle and idler bearings checked? Rough terrain bouncing deck? All belt guides in place? Has belt rolled over backwards? Are they mowing at the lowest height setting?

I have 4 acres and between the moles, the weeds and the lack of rain my yards is just a goat pasture. Pretty much just gave up. Last time i mowed i cut down 4' tall Queen Annes Lace and 1' tall buckhorn and no grass. This weed behind my barn is over 6 feet tall. I got a lot of weeds taller than me.

I see 2 different groups of buyers. The i want it as cheap as possible crowd and what i call the premium buyer. Most folks around me mow an acre or more. I see more and more higher end and Commercial grade ZTRs. Lots of premium buyers. I have "in town" customers with the cheaper than cheap push...

The Acme 9000 parts washer

I doubt if wd40 will be a good parts washer fluid. Won't really cut oily and greasy parts. Be careful of some cleaners that are corrosive like Super Clean. If you leave aluminum in to soak it can start to erode the aluminum.

Needs renamed to "creamsicle" owners group.

When it dies, if you can, pull the fuel line off the carb and crank the engine. Does the fuel pump put out a good flow of fuel? If not and you have replaced the fuel filter check for grass in tank clogging the fuel pickup. You can't look in and see this. You have to pull the pickup out of the tank

Could be a few things. Is it a single or a twin cylinder. Possible engine hot and boiling fuel in carb causing vapor lock. Possibly coil is going bad. Works cold and craps out when hot. Common problem. Possibly starving for fuel. Clogged tank pickup, clogged fuel filter, crap in carb float bowl...

Sounds like you have a good plan. I have a couple contractors that mainly bring me chainsaws. I don't have space or want to have a large inventory of parts so i really can't service contractors like you do but i get the occasional it won't start can you look at it tonight call from them. The JD...

My little pump has worked for 20 years. I am an old school dinosaur. Kero and stale gas and when the pump starts starving i strain the mess through an old T shirt. It gets the chunks out. Have never changed out the fluid. Just add more when it gets low. Don't have one of those saftey cleaners...

I use kerosene in my parts washer. I also dump old gas from customers equipment in it too. My parts washer is an old stainless steel shop sink with a 5gal bucket under it and a parts washer pump.

The small shops struggle while the 2 JD/Stihl dealers near me are right now are booked for service 6 to 8 weeks and both are looking for techs.

16' wide diesel batwing Toro Groundsmaster.

It seems like more and more the only people the mfgrs want to sell parts to are their dealers. Dealing with us little independent guys is probably not profitable for them as we don't order enough stuff to be worth their while to provide parts to distributors to supply us. At least JD will sell...

Pulling the plug wire away slightly doesn't retard the timing (speed of light thing) It acts as a booster gap and increases the amount of energy it takes to junp both gaps. Back in the day of cars with point ignitions one of the snake oil products in the JC Whitney catalog was the Spark...

We are just about in a drought with weeks in the 90's and more on the way. So very little mowing or yard work going on. Business has dropped off dramatically. When i have needed Briggs parts my vendor is out of everthing i seem to need but i can find it on ebay for double or tripple what they...

Nice job!?

OK Taryl

And......nobody has the equipment to actually test a plug anyway.

Well......spending 5 nights a week during all 4 years of HS and spending all your free time working on cars sort of makes you a dick socially in HS. If you can fix machines then you can fix machines. If you can't you can't. Other than the 2 weeks at the AMF school everthing else is self...

Worked all 4 years of high school as a pinspotter mechanic at a small bowling alley. Went to the AMF school for 2 weeks when i was 14 and got certified. During the summers i worked other jobs. One summer it was at an airport in the maint hanger. Even though i wasn't an A&P mechanic they let me...

The airport i worked at one summer specialized in servicing turboprob Aero Commanders and planes with radials. Since i was a high school kid i changed oil, serviced spark plugs, checked tire and strut pressures and washed planes. Saw a few R2800's and R2180's and others i can't remember. We did...

You just double nut the stud and crank it it till is stops. Once it seats you stop you don't torque it

Good to see you back bert. I could write a book on all the mistakes i have made. If you learn from your mistakes i should be the smartest guy in the world but it doesn't seem to work that way.

Once asked an old boat mechanic how to test boat spark plugs. He said drive boat to middle of lake. Take spark plugs out and place them carefully on The surface of the water. If they float they are good. Put them back in. If they sink they are bad.

There is probably only one Chinese company making aftermarket crankcases. I get a lot of AM saw stuff from HLSupply https://www.hlsproparts.com/product-p/h35250.htm

If you are talking about aircraft plugs no new ones failed but you have to document everything on the annual. When a plug went into a plane it has documentation. Hell, i had to document when i put nitrogen in struts and air in tires.

One of the differences of buying from a dealer and a big bog store.

By internal short i meant the plug arcs internally from the center conductor to the metal shell.

I wonder if those were part of the ones that were the first batches out of Mexico. They had problems when they first opened the plant there.

I thought i made a mistake once but i was wrong. But i did learn something.

Bummer there. How did they fail? internal short?

Here is an example of 3 spark testers. First off none of these will tell you if the spark plug is bad or not. What they will tell you. First is the inline neon tester. It will tell you if the system is generating energy and is making it to ground somewhere. Just because it flashes doesn't mean...

Remove the belt and check spindle and idler bearings. Check for bent idler. Remove belt and see if it is has rolled over and run on the backside. Check the belt guides. Chech the tension spring.

I buy champion plugs in the 24 count shop packs for a couple dollars each. Not worth the time or effort to even consider some type of irrelevant testing. Using an ohmmeter on a plug is a waste of time. The guy in the vid has no idea how spark plugs work in the real world. Another one of those...

Check the oil level and see if it smells like gas. If it does change the oil. Remove spark plug and hold the end of plug wire approx 1/4" from ground and spin engine. Do you get a blue spark? If so you have good ignition system. Install new spark plug. Remove carb from engine. Spray about 1...

If anyone wants to be a quality troubleshooting small engine mechanic and not a parts swapper get one of these https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/ct475avtester.php

You can't look at a spark plug and tell if it is good or not. You need special equipment to test a spark plug. For $2 it is more expedient for a shop to replace a plug and see is that solves a spark issue rather than looking for a high tension spark plug tester. Some of us buffons running small...

It's just a lawn mower. How complicated can it be?

Using an ohmmeter to test a spark plug is pretty much useless. When i worked at a small airport one summer i tested spark plugs. After the plugs were cleaned you put them in a machine that pressurized the plug to a few hundred PSi then you turn up the voltage and measure how much voltage it...

When i was in 8th grade shop class the wood shop teacher (not a small engine mechanic) got a bunch of pushmower engines off old mowers from a local shop. I knew more about small engines than he did. He did some awesome wood projects but he really didn't know much about small engines. I was "that...

I am sensing a little double entendre there.

I had a guy bring me a tecumseh VH100 literally in a basket completely disassembled with a chunk broke out of the steel cam gear. WTF??? He said he and his father were trying to figure out why it wouldn't start and broke the cam taking the engine apart. He had bought a new cam and gasket set but...

What he said!

The don't call me hammer mechanic for nothing you know? If you can't fix it with ketchup or duck tape you need a hammer.

Yeah i have a bunch of the briggs knockers and smaller chainsaw knockers but usually just a rap with my small brass hammer and that works. On most bigger engines if i can get just a couple thousandths play i can pop it with a brass hammer. If no play i use a flywheel puller.

Carb linkage wrong Govenor out of adjustment Wiring just f'ed up Gaskets missing or incorrectly installed 2 stroke fuel lines on wrong Wrong part Wrong belt Wrong spark plug Stripped fastners Switches bypassed wrong Electrical tape on wire connections Parts on backwards Like others have said...

Check the wheel ratchets. Pull the belt cover off and watch as you put the wheels down. Does the belt slip on the pulley or not when the wheels don't drive.

You see lots of yards around me with the not quite cut. Buckhorn.

Long stems fold over from front of deck.. Common problem. My ferris does that too.

I stock 2 of the aftermarket solenoids for kohlers. They seem to work just as good as the new oem. Probably are the same. Connect the black wire to ground and red to the existing wire.

About what i do. If my stihl flywheeel puller doesn't fit i thread the nut back on, dangle the saw by the hoop handle and give it a whack with a brass hammer.

I wonder how he is with fuel injuction?

The dude in the video is giving hammer mechanics a bad name. I love it when he pulls a new never used flywheel puller out if the box and acts like he has used it before. Then says "not sure what a diode does" and didn't use a meter to test the stator coil. Electricity may not be his best...

If the blade is on you can just block it from turning and usually loosen the flywheel nut. Curious why and what you plan to drill to remove flywheel.

I will be the renegade heretic here. Remove valve cover. Rotate engine till one valve is open and adjust the other valve. Rotate the engine till the other valve is open and adjust the other valve. Repeat on the other cylinder. When one valve is open the other is on the heel of the cam. Don't...

Strap wrench on flywheel, impact wrench on nut, sometimes you can use a big screwdriver from underneath the flywheel and wedge it against the crankcase. Depends on the underside of the flywheel.

The fuse protects the wiring from a true short circuit which is a high current draw. It also protects from high current draw from something like a partially shorted coil in a clutch or headlight bulb. On some mowers it also protects the stator coil from excessive current deaw. Putting in 30 amp...

I call this series of saws the cockroaches of saws and they always have the same problems. Swollen gas cap and rotten fuel lines and bad seals and bad air filters

You can try to richen the idle circuit screw slightly. Check that the choke closes all the way. The bulb is not a primer but rather an air purge. You can pump it a hundred times it won't add fuel to the mixture. If the saw runs fine once it starts the exhaust is not clogged. Not a big fan of...

Most folks around me are looking for non self propelled push mowers for trimming. I could sell lots of those. Pretty much everyone around me has some type of rider. I had a JD RX75 36" mower i had for sale for a few years. Nobody wanted a 36" mower. Finally sold it for $300. I had a 76" Yazoo...

Got a real POS new crapsman in the other day. Has the new Briggs & Scrapem cheap a$$ engine with the horrible new plastic carb. If this is the best theycan do no wonder they are going chap 11.

Pic of the solenoid wiring.

Maybe i should call them Trash-o-matic mowers since the name Craftsman is already taken.

I think i will start my own line of cheap mowers. Will call them Junk King. Will give a 5 or 5 warranty. 5 minutes or 5 tanks of gas, whichever comes first. Probably source engines from we scru you out of china. I need to hire some slick marketing wanks.

Some folks think if you sell them a used mower for a few hundred dollars you should fix it free forever. No thanks.

Pretty sure briggs got all the parts stock inventory when murray went under. I wonder what the Briggs OEM parts pipeline will look like? We will probably be junking good equipment for want of an odd part that is NLA on new equipment. I wonder if the non dealer one man shops will survive 10...

I quit flipping mowers. If i count the hours at my shop rate i lost money on Every one of them except 1. I can flip chainsaws and some push mowers but not riders. Glad it worked out for you. I would have taken it to the shredder.

Probably get bought out by the chineese company welong Dingdong wedo you.

I have one of those. Have probably changed a hundred tires on it. A couple things i would change but still better tire spoons most times. Those 4" tires are a PITA.

And...................mic drop!

Pics or it didn't happen?

You got a pic of what you are talking about?

The reason the mfgr used the thick bentonite grease is because it does not need seals in the trans and it is waterproof. Many lithium based greases are not waterproof and will break down with long exposure to moisture. Not uncommon to open a 20 year old trans and find some water in it with the...

Different belt are neasured differently. Most outdoor power equipment uses FHP fractional horsepower belts with a 3L, 4L or 5L designation. These belt are measured around the outside circumference. Most automotive belts are A, B or C belts. These are measured around the inside circumference. You...

If the old grease is bentonite it won't play well with the new 00 grease. Bentonite grease is clay based and 00 grease is lithium based. Should not mix them. You need to disassemble the trans and clean all the old grease out before installing 00 grease.

The air cleaner attaches there. The priner should be a red bulb on the side of the carb. You need an air cleaner and the cover for it. It pushes on and twists.

How did you break a flywheel?

You must have been using the new stuff. The good stuff i used was 30 years or so ago.

I quit using gaskets on them. I put a 1/16" thick layer of "the right stuff" on a CLEAN cover. Install bolts till sealer just makes contact with head. Wait about a half hour then torque to spec. No more leaks.

I guess i will put the mask back on and join back in the crowd here.

Put a translucent fuel line on the output of the primer and pump the primer bulb. You should not see fuel flow back into the carb. If you do rhe check valve is bad. Assuming your mighy vac does pressure and vacum Hook up the might vac to the fuel inlet and pressurize to 7 psi. Carb shoul...

When in doubt the answer is always a bigger hammer. I clamp a small bearing separator on it and press out the spindle shaft with the 20 ton press. If i take a spindle apart i sure ain't putting the old bearings back in. New always.

You really need the tools to pressure test carbs. It sounds like the bulb check valve may not be working. When you push it does it stay compressed? If so then fuel pump or metering problem. When you press it does it rebound but doesn't fill with fuel? Primer outlet check valve leaking. Some of...

Bent a spindle and a blade. Might be a clue there. Take the deck off and place the blade tips as close together as you can. Is the one you replaced exacty level with the other one? Align the blades in a straight line and place a straight edge like a 4 ft level across the blades. Are the blades...

. You say it won't hold a charge. If so battery is definately bad. Replace the battery and check voltage while running. Should be around 13.5 - 14.5 volts. If not need to check the charging system.

Hey man, don't go hating on ethanol gas. I love the stuff. I run a mower shop and carb problems is probably 75% of my business. The dealers around me don't rebuild carbs anymore they just replace with OEM. Cha-ching $$$! So i get a lot of gummed up carbs and rotten fuel lines.

I am following it. Haven't heard of some of the products. I have and use about 15 pieces of equipment. I don't use any fuel stabilizer. I run everything dry at the end of the season. I gas them up in the spring and good to go. The only E free station near me changed the pump to E15 (turds) so...

First thing to do is replace the fuel tank vent part number 0747 313 6810. Replace the fuel line 1130 358 7701. Replace fuel filter part number 0000 350 3500. After those are replaced see if the problem persists. 89 octane regular fuel will work fine just be sure to empty it and run it dry for...

I don't think think you have a spark issue. If the engine has a lot of hours on it it probably has worn valve guides which is just holes in the aluminum block. This is a weak point on that 5hp engine. Take the head off and check for side play in the valves. Should be very little. If guides are...

I use my android phone. I check every day to see if anything has been addressed. We can only assume that this is not a problem but rather intentional on the part of the forum owners. They are not here because they feel philanthropic. They are here because the forum is a revenue generator for...

I agree with Bert, lack of communication from mods about this indicates this is the new normal which is unacceptable . Adios amigos.

My phone is faster than the computer but still........ t h i n g s a r e s s l l l o o o o w w w w. Time better spent on other forums. Lots of questions and not may answers today.

If only doing a few a year one like mine would not be cost effective. I used to use the Gunk and Berryman carb dip on 4 cycle carbs but not cubes as it ruins the check valves. I feel the US cleaner does a better job than soaking and spraying. I started with one like the HF one and it is slow to...

I have seen lots of mowers from the factory that should just be gravity fed with fuel pumps. Probably that way because they bought thousands of the same engine for different models. I put a shutoff valve on every gravity fed rider i work on. Not if but when it fills the engine with fuel.

I read a few posts till it all slowed to a crawl. I will check back every few days to see if it goes back to normal. Won't be offering any help. I participate in quite a few forums. This is the only one with this problem. Hey moderators, is the ad revenue that important? I get just as many ads...