Recent content by Tiger Small Engine

I am surprised your shop used to rebuild spindles (original poster). If OEM spindles cost $250 each, consider aftermarket ones. I realize you are rebuilding yours. I tried to rebuild expensive spindles on a Wright Stander I used to have and gave up, everything was seized up. Need a bearing...

If you think the fuel lines may be on backwards, simply reverse them and try running it that way and see if that fixes it. When you had carburetor apart, did you clean it thoroughly? It is always better to keep original carburetor before replacing it (especially on 2-stroke? With an...

That piston is heavily scored. If all that damage happened in 30 seconds, I would be both surprised and concerned. As Fish said, find out cause of the damage in addition to replacing piston, rings, and cylinder. I have had good results with Meteor as well. Less than half the cost of Stihl parts...

Batteries whether they be electric vehicles, or mower and handheld equipment, are a government, media, corporate push. The term “follow the money” probably applies here also. It will be interesting to see how all this works out over the next, say five years.

I am in the process of changing a stator and regulator/rectifier on a 2002 Grasshopper 618. Information and personal experience on these mowers are limited. It appears you have to take driveshaft from engine to gear box off in order to replace stator. It is a Kohler Command CH18 engine, no...

Are you pulling anything in a somewhat regular basis? Are you running mower at wide open throttle whether or not when blades are on when moving mower? Exactly how not flat is your property? Is hydro transaxle free of dirt and debris? You said you have been through three units in 17 years. That...

I only use Jack’s Small Engine for diagrams and looking up parts to order (on other websites). Prices are high, service is slow. Their parts look up diagrams are definitely helpful though.

I use my endoscope regularly, mainly for checking condition of piston, rings, and cylinder. Very helpful tool. Still usually pull the muffler on 2-stroke for better visibility.

The Kohler Courage single is definitely worse and has more problems hands down than the twin Courage. That said, I would never say the Kohler Courage twin was a very good engine. In fact, you are the only person I have ever heard that has said that. I am a Kohler guy and fan also, just not the...

If this engine has the Kohler smart choke on it, that might be the problem.

I realize that valves are controlled by camshaft. Thought you meant ignition timing.

Timing is controlled by the flywheel key. The shaking engine is probably loose or lost engine mounting bolts. The Kohler Courage is a dog and has several problems. Read up on it online and definitely check the top cover engine bolts for tightness under engine shroud.

A new deck How can a deck repair bill be $1400? Why didn’t you just source a good used working deck? Read the fine print on warranties. Some manufacturers will find ways out of honoring warranty or pass the buck.

SearsPartsDirect recently screwed up on the only thing I have ever bought from them. Pulley is still on “back order “, and other pulley took longer than it should have to receive. Now I have to figure out how to communicate to get credit on unneeded part.

Good to know on the squealing and whistling blown head gasket. I will remember that information for in the future.

Remember with something like a spindle, not just a model # of mower, or part # is important. Physical dimensions (height X center to center length on bolt holes X size of pulley) are important. Don’t just go to first site and order, cross reference with two or more when ordering parts (if not...

Never heard of an engine “squeaking” with a blown head gasket. Oil burning, smoking, loss of compression, lack of power, hard starting, but never “squeaking or squeeling”.

The internet is full of both bad and great “facts”. Not just with small engines. When in doubt, double or triple check your sources for accurate information. The anti-after fire solenoid on a small engine carburetor is a perfect example. All it does is block off the fuel to the main jet...

What year is it approximately (check the writing on label)? You cannot simply do a compression test on a 2-stroke handheld piece of equipment and it be accurate. The tester needs to be made for small engines with a Schraeder valve. Otherwise, won’t read correctly. A way better way to tell the...

How many hours on mower if equipped with meter? Did they use mower to pull implements? If the pump and drive cylinders and valve face are scored, then it get more complicated and expensive. No way of knowing unless the hydrostatic transaxle if cracked open. Most likely cost prohibitive with...

One or two children (maybe more) get mowed over each year and injured or killed. That is why the manufacturer puts reverse safety switches. Every time the blades disengage, think of the wear and tear on the clutch and engine. There are ways of dealing with safety switches, which I will not go...

White lithium grease

Red pancake filter on gravity fed tanks, Chinese see through paper filter on fuel pump. Cost around $1.00 and sell for $5.00. More important than cost is having in stock, changing regularly, and durability. Also install red fuel shut off valve on as much equipment as possible, and educate...

I load test a lot of customer batteries and also charge a lot of batteries. You can literally spend hours reading on the Internet about batteries (it pays off). My Noco charger 5 amp is my favorite.

It has been my experience that both Honda and Toro self-propelled mowers are good/great. Try not to get too hung up in horsepower ratings.

If you knew enough to pull the engine, split the case, check the camshaft and compression release on the camshaft, and reassemble, you should have known about checking valves first. Pull valve cover, manually rotate engine and watch for very subtle movement on intake or exhaust valves (depends...

It is not that all of YouTube is bad for small engines, or any other topic for that matter. The issue is, you gotta sort through the garbage to get to the gold. If you don’t have much knowledge or experience, you may think the garbage is gold. everytime someone asks about testing a coil (or a...

Sounds like pilot (idle) jet is blocked, or possible intake air leak. Remove carburetor, completely take apart, thoroughly clean, replace.

My question is why have you put up with this for five years? Sounds like a simple carburetor adjustment. OEM carburetors will last for several years. I still have the original in my Stihl FS250R and have only replaced the metering diaphragm once.

Hopefully you did not throw OEM carburetor away. Clean it thoroughly, reinstall, and see if surge under load is present or not, then let us know.

With that amount of blow by, most likely rings need to be replaced at a minimum . Had this on a customer’s Honda two years ago. Take breather tube off of carburetor and it was shooting a mist of oil. Replaced rings, and hand scoured pistons with green Scotchbrite pads (slight vertical scoring)...

Your governor, after static adjustment, is running as it should. In the second question from CraigH. Governors don’t simply magically fix themselves after cleaning a carburetor. Most likely you had some linkage in a bind. After removing, cleaning, and reinstalling carb correctly, engine is...

If you can’t get the engine shroud off, it’s going to be a long day.

Always try to keep and clean original carburetor before changing. Heat up spark arrestor if clogged to regain full wide open throttle. Pull muffler and check for scoring on piston, rings, and cylinder if the above don’t fix issue. I check condition of piston, rings, and cylinder more often than...

Rust and corrosion will not affect the performance or longevity of engine as long as it is free from dirt, debris, and grass. Blue spark indicates a nice strong spark, yellow a weaker spark. .010” on air gap on ignition coils. If you feel the need to scrub engine, use a small steel brush, try...

Yes you need to replace ignition coil. Just locate engine model number and order a compatible coil from online.

Stihl synthetic 2-stroke pre-mix (gray bottle) is expensive. It is also some of the best oil for the purpose on the market. As long as you use a quality oil, not some cheap Walmart crap, mix it at correct ratio (usually 50:1), and keep your gas fresh, 30-60 days, it will work fine.

Different manufacturers of belts measure the belt differently. An inch difference in physical length can and will make a difference. A 1/4” difference in length will not make a difference, in my opinion.

Lesco never got big or even slightly popular. I have only seen one in all my years (mowed with it). Seemed to be a decent machine, and pretty sure they were discontinued several years ago.

Try to bend the bracket to tighten the spring some and see if belt tension increases.

Don’t take this stuff personally, he wasn’t directing comments at you personally. Bing you have a lot of nerve to come on here, and then start cussing out Bertsmobile who is trying to help.

Most of the aftermarket carburetors I order from Amazon have been plug and play and run great. Exceptions are often Kohler carburetors that run lean and require drilling out pilot jet slightly. These plastic carburetors cannot corrode because they are plastic, easy to clean and service. Install...

How does it run under load with blades on, also hunting and surging? You are still lean if you have good fuel flow, no air leaks, and correct carburetor. My experience with aftermarket carburetor’s specifically with Kohler engines is sometimes/often a similar result. You will need to slightly...

You may be able to repair the leak with a new seal and top off the oil. However, if there is internal damage causing it to not move correctly on slopes, that is usually the beginning of the end for hydrostatic transaxle.

I use 87 ethanol fuel and Stihl synthetic 2-stroke oil. Keep fuel fresh, 30-60 days.

That is some fairly aggressive scoring in the cylinder. If you can use a stone or ball hone and improve it to useable state, I would be surprised. Will probably experience loss of compression and oil burning. Consider replacing cylinder.