Recent content by jimvw57

Hopped on yesterday (first time I used it this season as the kid usually drives) and helping out a neighbor with leaves, It slipped down a slight hill into a hole, causing me to slide over in the seat, and snapped off the left side arm. the cast aluminum pivot broke, I finally used a vise grip...

yup, do it every year... I leave the deck a bit high and cruise on through the leaves, it doesn't get rid of them completely but the take up a fraction of what the would if they were uncut. I don't have the mulching blades and I usually leave the grass on the long side for the winter months...

Check vave clearance, but I suspect it is the mag. My son was cutting the lawn and shut it off to move some planters, and it wouldn't start. ended up replacing the mag and the soaked sparkplugs, and oil. I was smoking a bit before it wouldn't start so I suspect it may have dropped a cylinder and...

I guess I didn't update this... I installed the replacement arm parts, after re-ordering the correct one, (use serial number to get the right ones) and it has worked with no problems all summer. At least when I see it zipping around the yard as my son seems to have taken over driving it. I think...

If the pulley attached to the spring has a loose pivot point, the belt tension could be messed up. Pull the deck and see how everything looks.

I always use non ethanol gas. at least that is what it is labeled on the pump, sometimes I wonder if someone made a mistake... also use the stations with seperate hoses for each grade of fuel.

So here is what fixed this. Replaced magneto and got spark instantly. machine started, then died. I suspected fuel so I drained the tank expecting to see some water in there, none found. I then realized there was too much gas through the carb, Pulled the carb and found the needle and seat was...

so obviously (to me) I have no spark, even with the wire disconnected that grounds out the coil (shuts off the engine) When cranking over the engine, fuel/gas mixture will blow out the sparkplug opening so that would rule out compression and fuel, only thing left is no spark. Oil level is at...

So after some preventative maint this spring, First cut of the lawn. Just as we were finishing up, The motor died and wouldn't start. Checked gas, and it was mostly empty. Added a few gallons, and it won't start. I gave a shot of starter fluid, still no start. Pulled the sparkplug and it was...

They come apart fairly easily, and it is possible it needs cleaning and some lubrication. Both of mine were broken, but still worked. They work much better with new parts. Be sure you check by serial number as the new/old parts are not interchangeable.

enjoying the warmer weather, and no snow! I am sure we will be paying for it come spring, but haven't even started the snow blower up since October when I ran it a bit and drained the gas to make sure there was no water in the tank/lines. The mower is buried in the corner of the shed so no...

check the parking brake switch. mine rotated so it wouldn't work right. The safety switches are all in a row so if one fails, the rest work quite strangely.

could be the drive pulley, maybe it lost the key between the pulley and the shaft (?)

remove the clutch, or at least the bracket that holds it from rotating and see if it moves a little bit, like mentioned, watch out for the wires attached to the clutch coil. This will tell you if it is the motor or the clutch. sometimes when the clutch locks up and the motor stops fast, it can...

Still a it chilly out, and not in a big hurry to install them yet. I have seen a few videos about a rail across the front of a mower to help people get in and out of the mower (zero turn mower) . Anyone installed one and how do they like them? I am sure I could fab up something similar but...