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Thanks for the info on the brake. I guess it could be worn out if something is out of whack and it never releases. Not many hours on it.

'You have to be careful when re-installing the star type blade so as to get it positioned properly onto the mating star spindle or you will get a vib.' You'd have to be pretty ignorant to not realize that the blade is not indexed before tightening. Yep, that would be a major vibration. 'Those...

Well, that explains it! Thanks

The way I read it, you want to use the gas engine to run a generator to charge the battery to drive the mower with an electric motor. I guess I have it all wrong, at least I hope so. :)

This model but a Murray: I noticed the deck shaking like the blade was out of balance but when I took it off, it was in great condition and balanced fine. I had a new blade so I went ahead and balanced it before installation and it was pretty far off. Anyway the result was an improvement. I...

I take blades off, clean them, put them in the vise, sharpen with a file, check balance and paint. Then I hang that blade and put on one I did previously. I even do the same on my 30" rider. Typically my blades last until the airfoil on the back gets too thin for safety. Then I trash it and...

I used to use Sta-Bil and it was fine. A buddy of mine had been using Startron for a long time in all his engines so I started using it too. Its been great. Altogether, since I started using a stabilizer/cleaner in my fuel for all my engines (vehicle and OPE) I have not had to have any kind of...

And if you don't fix it, it will irritate your foot and give you a 'pawl bunion'. :cool:

The only mower I have found this on is an old HRR that has been in use for 20 years in several different places and not particularly well-treated. I have gone over it several times but since it was used to mulch and the deck never cleaned, the whole discharge box on the rear is rotten now and...

They all do it as far as I know, and with the oil splashing around when the engine is running, oil level really doesn't matter as far as this problem is concerned. I just wash the mower once a year. I use Castrol Edge synthetic, 10W-30 - best mower oil I've come across - except I use 5W-30 in a...

After some careful measuring, the blade is about 1/4" lower than the marking on the wheel adjusters, so a setting of 3" is really 2 3/4". Consequently I set it at the next setting which is 'High', which will give about a 3 1/4" cut.

It won't be a big deal next time now that I know what to do. Part of my success was due to the breaker bar with long socket being just the right height so the weight of the deck held the socket vertical as I pushed the bar with my foot. This worked because I was doing it in the garage on the...

Earlier this year I decided to do the front wheels, and its a good thing I did, because they had very little grease in them. Apparently they did not grease the axle before installing the wheel, just hitting the grease fitting with the grease gun later. The problem is, the grease fittings were...

Got it this morning. Grass is growing like crazy with downpours lately so I had to do something. Had applied Kroil several days ago, wiped off the residue today and put the air-service 15/16 socket on the breaker bar. I had to raise the deck all the way (I run it only one notch down from the...

I concluded it costs me $12-$15 a year to keep buying new ones when the old one craps out. I did discard the above Ryobi and picked up the new model which has a lot of improvements - like, it starts and idles! I gave the other one to my son who had no trimmer on a large, mostly-wooded lot. I...

When I had a 10550, I ran Opti-2 at 50:1 with premium gas. Any 2-cycle oil for trimmers/saws, etc., you find at the home center will be great at 50:1 but the Opti-2 is really special. I bought it in a 32 oz dispenser bottle. I just could not make myself use it at 100:1 like their recommendation...

SK, how low are you cutting it? There are several ways to approach Bermuda - many people cut it very low. I'm in central VA and I cut mine at 3". This way it looks great all summer no matter how hot. Possibly at the higher cut, you won't tend to pull up the runners. Another Bermuda tip: for a...

BTW, its not a Tecumseh engine if its a 2-cycle. Lawn-Boy was using Tecumseh 4-cycle engines on models like the 10684. Your Dura-Force 'E' engine was the last 2-cycle made by Toro/Lawn-Boy.

I didn't look at the diagnosis but I can tell you that excessive smoking is too much oil in the combustion chamber. Now this can be from either an overly oil-rich mix or simply too much fuel getting in with a correct mix. The choke might be on. The air filter might be restricted.

Regardless, its been a long time since I heard that sound, and it reminded me of how utterly boring my 4-cycle LBs are. I've been itching for another real LB for some time now, but I want one with the under-deck muffler so I can get 'that smell' along with the sound. Yours might just have a...

Don't know what the problem is but it is a constantly-slipping design. If it won't go, you need to adjust the free-play on the bail with the cable adjuster. About an inch is plenty. You tighten it until the wheels start turning when you raise the rear end. Then back it off until they stop. This...

Is it a steel-deck 10323 or an aluminum deck 10550? Most likely its a 10323 with drive bail (Variable Speed, same as Toro). What you're looking for is for it to go into 'power-hum' when warmed up and cutting. Also make sure you pull the throttle off of 'Choke' after starting, to the 'Run' or...

Well, it worked! The adapter is taller than the old one but the new blade is straight instead of the previous generic blade that had 'drooping' ends. The result is the new blade scribes the deck about 1/4" above the lower edge which is good enough. It also clears that ring plenum under the deck...

Possibly too much fuel in the cylinder?

BTW, just looking at my picture above showing the last authentic blade I could get for it, you can see that the blade would scribe the deck probably about 5/8" up from the edge, so I'll use that as my desired value. Man, you never know how an old picture will come in handy some day. :)

I think I found an adapter that will work - just like the old one except the blade pins are farther apart (2") which will allow the use of a common 20" generic blade. Yes, it also appears to be thicker in the bottom surface (by the drawing provided) as you mentioned. I'll scribe in the deck...

That's a good point but I expect to get more than two years out of this one. BTW, it has to be the same size to fit the battery cage, so a larger one would not fit and a smaller one would not be secure.

Does it blow white or blue smoke when running? When you tilt the mower up for whatever reason always raise the carburetor side. If you raise the muffler side it will cause this problem, then you'll have to put another new air filter on it. If you don't ever do that and it doesn't smoke/burn oil...

If its a pleated paper filter, yes, it will make it run rich and wash oil off the cylinder wall. If its a sponge filter that is normally oiled, the engine will suck the excess oil out of it in a short while. OP; you have a stuck float. Tap on the carb to loosen it. You should be running a...

The rear-engine MTD 30" riding mower like this Cub Cadet and many others; Murray, Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, etc. with the plastic coated steel wire battery restraint/support. First disconnect the battery, then remove the top restraint which has a 1/2" bolt to the body. Now, grasp the lower support...

New 350 CCA battery did the trick - really spins the starter motor! The old one was 150 CCA. BTW, it has been in service two years this month, not three as I said earlier. The old battery only had 9 volts in it and as I said, it would not take a charge although it could be jumped. Whatever, its...

I think this one's time is just about up. Engine is still good, deck is good, but the blade is obsolete, it needs another set of wheels and axles and the bag is wearing out. Plus the major factor is I just don't need it and I have no room for it. Oh, BTW, the problem with the post-1994 blade...

At least I found out it is a nut, which simplifies the problem. I'll hit it with Kroil and wait a day or so, then heat it with propane and do the Kroil again. Finally I'll heat it again when I'm set up to loosen it. Not red hot, and I think the blade will be enough of a heat sink to protect the...

Well, that's it, then. Never having had a riding mower before, I had no idea of expected battery life, and for all I know, the mower could have sat for a year before I got it. Thanks for the quick responses. :) I'll take this opportunity to get a premium battery. I recently did that on my 2007...

Just want to see what your ideas are on this; after three years of very occasional/light use, the last two times I went to use it, the battery was apparently dead - no crank. So I hooked up my auto battery charger but it doesn't appear to be taking a charge, either at 2 Amps or 10. However, all...

And your air filter will be soaked with oil. Definitely get that fixed as it will ruin the engine. Don't forget to change the oil.

I don't see it using significantly more fuel without visible smoke. Even at 50:1 it should smoke if you happen to leave it on 'choke' after warming up. However, the gas is going somewhere and it apparently is going through the engine. Owners started replacing the pilot jet on the 10550 and 10323...

Its a murderous job. Just recently helped my wife with her mom and dad's estate. Had pickers come in, had yard/estate sales and put some items on ebay. For example, sold a '90s Troy-Bilt 'Horse' tiller in like-new shape, running and new battery for $450 but it was worth much more - just couldn't...

Just casually looked around and didn't see anything about the legendary LB smell when cutting grass. It has to be an older one with the under-deck muffler and it has to use Lawn-Boy oil, but its the combination of the oil and the smell of toasted grass on the muffler. Once you smell this, you...

Don't use starting fluid! Put the 2-cycle mix in it. You'll use starting fluid and it'll wash all oil out of the cylinder, possibly freezing the rings if any humidity gets in there. I've been reading a lot of problems with the Dura-Force and I have to say these engines are getting very old in...

Jeff is right, they do this. Opti-2 is a wonderful oil and I recommend it, but even though I understand completely about how it works, I never could bring myself to run it at 100:1. I used 50:1 and it worked great with no smoke after coming off the choke. You can help the carb not stick and...

Yeah, they do this. Pick up the back of the mower and drop it from about 6" and see if the float still sticks. If the muffler wasn't above the deck, it would sit there and drain the tank if you let it. Just another LB peculiarity. Another possible aid would be to use Startron in your 2-cycle...

So the Hondas are now taking only 12 oz of oil? After 19 oz for many years? I've had GCV 160 and GSV 190 engines. Anyway, I use a vacuum device to remove the oil from my mowers.

Not trying to be a wise guy, but since there is no utility in mower at less than about 2000 RPM, does it matter if it won't idle? I have a Lawn-Boy 22271 with the Honda GSV 190 (Commercial OHC) and it wouldn't idle for the first 8 years or so either. After changing to premium gas with Startron...

You should be able to jury rig one. Take your pictures with you and measure between the uprights. If you can find a pile of old mowers you should be able to get what will work but at least you have the engine brake/switch itself and the cable for it. The rest is cake. You probably will never...

I have the current version of the mower and the starter motor is also the alternator - probably it was the same in the '80s.

I have thrown away a power head in great condition because of that damned little square carb. I recently thought I was going to have to do it again but my Ryobi came back to life after acting like it was fuel-starved. At $99 for a new one that I'll get 5 - 10 years out of, I won't spend that...

For your application the non-lined cylinder should be adequate. I bought a steel deck mower with Tecumseh 195cc engine in 2004 and am still using it with no problems. I also have an aluminum deck mower with 190cc Honda commercial GSV engine with iron sleeve which is also doing great from 2008. I...

Grinding off the locating pins was one of my first thoughts, and I will definitely consider doing it when the time comes for another new blade and if I still have it. At this point I'd really like to find a good home for it.

I remembered the problem; the new-style driver has the key made into it so the crankshaft must have a keyway that starts at the bottom. The old way was the driver has a keyway in it that fits a separate key in the crank - the complete opposite. The crank has a short keyway for the Woodruff key...