12 Year Old Daughter Tried to Help - Toro Mower/Briggs & Stratton Engine

My 12 year-old daughter thought she was helping dad out by mowing the lawn. A lovely gesture. However, when the mower ran out of gas, she retrieved the gas can and filled up the reservoir. Only problem.... she filled the OIL reservoir. She tried to pull-start the engine, and imagine that, it didn't run.

I've drained the oil-gas mixture and then let the mower sit. Refilled with new oil, hoping that might work. Not so much. I know I can replace the engine (or just replace the whole mower for $75 more).

So my questions are these:

1) Is there any hope for the current engine?
2) Should I buy a new engine and replace?
3) Should I just buy a new mower? (Maybe an electric one, so not to confuse my daughter... )

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

No need to purchase anything new, just a little TLC. Pull the spark plug and clean out the cylinder by pulling the starter rope about ten times. This should remove any excess fuel/oil in the cylinder. If the plug looks good install and you should be able to start the mower. It may smoke for awhile until all the oil clears, but there should be no long lasting injure to the unit. Tell your daughter that the mistake she made has been done a thousand times before, by everyone from mechanics to PHD's, and she did not ruin anything. Great father/daughter learning moment, where an ice cream come for both will also help.

sbrubaker said:

My 12 year-old daughter thought she was helping dad out by mowing the lawn. A lovely gesture. However, when the mower ran out of gas, she retrieved the gas can and filled up the reservoir. Only problem.... she filled the OIL reservoir. She tried to pull-start the engine, and imagine that, it didn't run.

I've drained the oil-gas mixture and then let the mower sit. Refilled with new oil, hoping that might work. Not so much. I know I can replace the engine (or just replace the whole mower for $75 more).

So my questions are these:

1) Is there any hope for the current engine?
2) Should I buy a new engine and replace?
3) Should I just buy a new mower? (Maybe an electric one, so not to confuse my daughter... )

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Yehhh, been there done that, got the T-shirt (sweater/rashie/Jackie Howard).

As there is relatively little oil in respect of total engine chamber
what you have done already, combined with removing the oil filler
cap, removing the spark plug and air filter, and leaving mower sit
in a warm vented space (outdoors on sunny days is good) will
likely evaporate any gas.
That way takes time and saves little as you would need to
change oil anyway shortly after engine fired up, twenty minutes max.

Faster, and likely safer, is to remove the oil by removing the baseplate
and taking out sump plug. Loosely replace plug and add at least
1.5litres of diesel to oil fill. Tip mower upside down for maybe 30seconds,
repeating that action several times.
Drain 'mix' through sump plug, leave plug out.
Take out spark plug and remove air filter.
Slowly pull recoil over until no liquid is ejected from spark plug.
Let sit for a 1/2 hour and repeat with a few fast pulls.
No liquids present....?..secure sump plug and baseplate.
Remove carby bowl and clean if any 'mix' found.
Put mower back together and fill with oil.
Check air filter is clean.
Give mower a run and change oil after two hours or
1 (one) month, whichever suits.

Trust that helps some.

KK

Yep like Rivits said all will be fine, if you tried to pull starter and it wouldn't move its just hydro locked with gas-oil in cylinder, do just what Rivits said, if anything she did clean inside of engine out :thumbsup:

your engine should be fine (as Rivits stated) basically just a good drying out should work.
id check the air filter also for any saturation.

your not alone my friend
when my son was a teenager (had his drivers license) he wanted to use my truck one day to go see his girl friend.
I told him it needed gas
well the next day I went to use my truck started it up and all (HE- double hockey sticks ) broke loose.
engine was missing bad, smoking like a chimney out the exhaust.
well come to find out he put some of my boat 2-cycle gas that I had in the garage in the tank.

about $900.00 later in repairs my truck ran again.

lugnut

p.s. give that "daddy's helper" a big hug for me :thumbsup: