Disappointment but am going to run it anyway unless a block falls in my hands

sgkent

sgkent

Lawn Addict
320 grit 2 3/4 Ball Hone came in. Took 6 strokes on the block of this 125K02-0189-E1 Briggs engine. One of the dark spots wasn't a spot. It is a casting flaw. And, it has been that way for at least 300 hours. Probably the poof of oil smoke sometimes when starting it since new. Since it is far enough down the block, and it would not pass combustion gases as it would never be exposed across all three rings like a scratch would be, I plan to run it. A new block is almost $300 so that would make the rebuild un-economical. Might keep an eye out for a low mile similar engine. Oh well, big disappointment.

flaw.jpg
 
I've seen many similar casting defects similar to this over the years and the engine ran fine. If it were a gouge from a broken ring, that would be a different story.
 
I was going to start building it tomorrow since everything is cleaned up etc., but I looked it over carefully. On closer inspection, there is a crack running from the flaw in each direction. There is also another one that interescts it a little ways from it, so there is likely to be a bigger pocket under that area, like a sink hole. I checked to see if new engines can be shipped to California and the answer is no. HF might have some stock from 2024 they are still unloading, but I just went ahead and ordered a new cylinder assembly, and a piston assembly using a coupon to save a little. I can only pray that the tolerances will be in spec. Sometimes replacement parts are worse than the originals. I will be inspecting the parts quite closely for any flaws. Don't know if the governor arm will be already installed or if I have to pull it off the old one and use it on the new assembly. This is just not fun anymore.

Thank you all for helping. This mower has to last 15 - 20 years. The alternative would have been to drive 600 miles to buy a new gasoline mower out of state and bring it back. That would have been 30 gallons of gasoline at $6 a gallon plus oil, and wear and tear etc., plus the lost time. I am not interested in an electric mower or someone else's used mower. I should not complain - I got 20 years from it, and the cost to rebuild it will still be less than a new mower, which they have smaller engines now than this one. It's would be like going from a V8 to a flathead six. If we leave the state we'll take it with us. More and more that seems to be the only way to preserve one's finances. There are just too many people in this state that believe in using other people's money to live off of. Add to it the fraud, and the future is dismal here.
 
sgkent said:
I was going to start building it tomorrow since everything is cleaned up etc., but I looked it over carefully. On closer inspection, there is a crack running from the flaw in each direction. There is also another one that interescts it a little ways from it, so there is likely to be a bigger pocket under that area, like a sink hole. I checked to see if new engines can be shipped to California and the answer is no. HF might have some stock from 2024 they are still unloading, but I just went ahead and ordered a new cylinder assembly, and a piston assembly using a coupon to save a little. I can only pray that the tolerances will be in spec. Sometimes replacement parts are worse than the originals. I will be inspecting the parts quite closely for any flaws. Don't know if the governor arm will be already installed or if I have to pull it off the old one and use it on the new assembly. This is just not fun anymore.

Thank you all for helping. This mower has to last 15 - 20 years. The alternative would have been to drive 600 miles to buy a new gasoline mower out of state and bring it back. That would have been 30 gallons of gasoline at $6 a gallon plus oil, and wear and tear etc., plus the lost time. I am not interested in an electric mower or someone else's used mower. I should not complain - I got 20 years from it, and the cost to rebuild it will still be less than a new mower, which they have smaller engines now than this one. It's would be like going from a V8 to a flathead six. If we leave the state we'll take it with us. More and more that seems to be the only way to preserve one's finances. There are just too many people in this state that believe in using other people's money to live off of. Add to it the fraud, and the future is dismal here.
Click to expand...
If you cannot legally ship a small engine into the state of California, that says it all.
God bless America.
 
Tiger Small Engine said:
If you cannot legally ship a small engine into the state of California, that says it all.
God bless America.
Click to expand...
yes. The people running government on the West Coast have good intentions but their delivery of those intentions results in nose wiggles to accomplish them - "We want therefore it will happen... ." Califodnia AB54 will take effect anyday. That outlaws plastic packaging. Like I told my other half, "you know those bottles your medicine comes in... the dairy containers... . and the meat packaging... all gone replaced by paper bags." Ever try to pour milk from a paper bag, or keep medicine away from children when it is in a paper bag?

As to the cylinder in this thread - I wasn't as worried about the pit as I was the cracks radiating from it. I don't know how structurally sound that area is. Those cracks may have been their since day 1 when it was born, or they may be growing to become a failure.
 
I’m certain you will travel out of state and pickup a replacement one day. So disappointing to read this about The Great State of California.
 
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