[Shop-talk] lawn mower motor woes

[Bob Spidell]

I have a Craftsman mower with, I think, a 7HP Tecumseh mower.  A few 
years ago, it wouldn't start and, figuring, well, something was wrong 
with the engine I tore it down and reassembled it.  I finally threw in 
the towel and took it to a small motors shop who got it running.  It 
turns out the blade had a not visible crack in it; apparently, the blade 
is part of the circuit that triggers the magneto for spark (that's what 
they told me, and it makes sense in a weird sort of way).  If nothing 
else works, try a new blade (if the mower is worth it).

Bob


On 7/5/2018 3:24 PM, Brian Kemp wrote:
> I second the fresh gas comment.  I bought a wood chipper at a yard 
> sale at a price too good to pass up.  An earlier customer broke the 
> pull string, so it was not running.  The seller told me it was fresh 
> gas, but even after replacing the fuel lines and rebuilding the carb, 
> I couldn't keep it running.  I drained the seller's gas and put in 
> fresh gas and it ran fine.
>
> If you live someplace like California, the gas goes bad pretty quick.  
> I always add stabilizer to my generator gas and my chipper gas if I'm 
> not going to finish the tank.
>
> Brian
>
> On 7/5/2018 5:49 AM, Pat Horne wrote:
>> How long since it was used?
>>
>> If it was not used recently I’d start with fresh fuel.
>>
>> Check plug for fouling.
>>
>> If it seems to have the same compression I’d rebuild the carburetor.
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Peace,
>> Pat
>>
>> Pat Horne
>> We support Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity
>>
>>
>> On Jul 4, 2018, at 9:00 PM, john niolon <jniolon at att.net 
>> <mailto:jniolon at att.net>> wrote:
>>
>> I've got a H.F. Predator 212 cc (6 hp) engine on my old 1980 Yazoo 
>> big wheel mower that I use for trim work... It's about 2 years old 
>> and performed flawlessly... even better than the Briggs before it.
>>
>> Today I choked it, pulled the cord twice and it fired up on the third 
>> pull... opened the choke and started for the grass... it did seem to 
>> smoke a little but I figured it was a little flooded. It ran about a 
>> minute the kinda 'sputtered' backfired twice and quit.
>>
>> I cussed it and pulled a couple of times no go... then closed the 
>> choke again and it fired off but died immediately... had no time to 
>> play with it so the weed eater finished the trim .
>>
>>
>> wondering what my trouble shooting should include ?? it's getting 
>> some fire since it's trying to run... wonder if the backfires might 
>> have done something in the carb...
>>
>> wondering where to start..
>>
>> thanks
>> john
>

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