So what happened? Why won't this run??

[Elroy]

So Elroy has this fine ole machine. It's a 1978 model or so and has been an oil burner for some time. It's one where you fill the oil and check the gas.

Anyways, today was pick up the leaves day. Put in a good half quart of straight 30 and got the oil well up on the dip stick and went to work. Ran it a good hour. Turned if off several times in the process.

Well went to start it after it had been sitting a good 30 minutes. It lit off fine but it was knocking real good. Just a fast idle and then it went bang and stopped.

Wonder why?

Just in case you're having trouble seeing the problem:

So the question is, What's wrong?? Hope it's obvious
Do we fix it or scrap it?

 

[Bodge Garage]

Is JB Weld available by the gallon?

 

[larry4406]

Good ole Tecumseh - I have had several throw a rod on me. One showered me with hot black oil.

Dumpster food.

 

[79BlackPearl]

I can tell you why it won't run....look at picture 4, ya got a screwdriver shoved in the engine!!


J/K....sorry to hear your "fine ole machine" bit the dirt. Looks like a great opportunity to purchase you one of them new fangled "zero turn radius" jobs. Then of course, you'd probably have to add onto the garage.....

Sounds like a perfect plan.

 

[rockwithjason]

obviously you aren't looking in the "inspection window" the inner workings are clearly visible and diagnosis should be a snap!

 

[gc427]

Shove a rag in that hole, fill it up with oil and fire away!

 

[Elroy]

Shove a rag in that hole, fill it up with oil and fire away!

Nice try but Elroy doubts this will solve the problem at hand.

 

[redbluebug]

Don't make stuff like they used to.

 

[ddawg16]

Did you check the spark plug? Your air filter might be blocked. If that does not work, try some Sea Foam.

But what ever you do....do not buy a Sears mower......mine is about 3 years old and is the biggest POS I have ever owned....I wish it would fall to the same fate as yours so I can justify a new one....

 

[fireball 440]

LOL Come on now it couldn't have been that loud!!! Never seen a mower throw a rod through the block before, good work!

 

[Elroy]

try some Sea Foam.

Excellent stuff that Sea Foam. Elroy understands it will cold weld that connecting rod back together as good as new with only a quarter can.

 

[Dmaxman]

Hehe...were you playing with that governor

 

[nightrain00]

Duct tape, lots and lots of duct tape.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Shove a rag in that hole, fill it up with gas and light a match!

Fixed.

 

[tdkkart]

Obviously your muffler bearing is stripped, some course hardware cloth and some bondo will fix it right up.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Looks like there is an extra screw-driver in the crankcase. I would say pull the extra screw-driver and set it on fire. Roast some marsh-mellows over the flames and make some "Somores". LOL

 

[cncjerry]

To be completely serious I would put a new motor on it, they don't make mowers with aluminum decks on them any more I would replace that motor 10 times before I throw that mower in the trash.

 

[eddyyy302]

Elroy,
Want a new used engine to go on it? I may have something with the pto shaft that I can ship to you, gotta take a look in the shop.
Dan

 

[Elroy]

To be completely serious I would put a new motor on it, they don't make mowers with aluminum decks on them any more I would replace that motor 10 times before I throw that mower in the trash.

That's the plan.

What really ***** is that Elroy was actually planning on rebuilding it this winter. Too bad that rod broke before we had a chance to take it down.

As you wisely pointed out, the deck on this mower is very heavy and they just don't build them like this anymore. We would like to save it and welding the hole up is not that big of a deal.

We'll make the call after taking it down. If the cylinder is bad or the crank is messed up we'll be looking for a new block. When running this thing would flat knock the grass down !

 

[Elroy]

Elroy,
Want a new used engine to go on it? I may have something with the pto shaft that I can ship to you, gotta take a look in the shop. Dan

At this point we're not really worried about it but yep if you got a good block we would be interested.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Elroy, my local scrap yard always has lawn mowers there. It's the only scrap yard in the area that still sells to the public. If I were you I'd check some of your local scrap yards. You might get lucky and get a decent engine for $.20/lb. These days alot of people scrap things that are still servicable or even brand new.

 

[bmwpower]

Looks like the "Xtra Life Bearings" ran out. Looks pretty cool. I would fix it and keep her. If anyone can do it, you can.

 

[D.J.]

I'm with cncjerry, just install a different engine and continue use for another 30 plus years!
________
Herbalaire 2.1 Vaporizer

 

[babzog]

We'll make the call after taking it down. If the cylinder is bad or the crank is messed up we'll be looking for a new block. When running this thing would flat knock the grass down !

That may have been part of the problem. Yer 'sposed to cut the grass, not knock it down! Sharpen the blades and give it another go!

 

[7echo]

It may be easier/cheaper to replace that motor with one that does not have the drive for the self propel. If the yard isn't too large Elroy might look into that option.

Those are commercial mowers, I see it has the extended pull rope, but does it have a handle bail that cuts off the motor?

I have the last model Lawn Boy commercial push mower. Just the extended rope, no interlock or blade brake clutch, big fuel tank. It has always burned oil, it is mixed in with the gas. : )

 

[Elroy]

It may be easier/cheaper to replace that motor with one that does not have the drive for the self propel. If the yard isn't too large Elroy might look into that option.

The PTO is contained in the lower cover plate and that should be fine. We're thinking a standard (non PTO) block should fit with the key issue being the condition of the crank.

Have any idea if a factory built short block would be available?

Those are commercial mowers, I see it has the extended pull rope, but does it have a handle bail that cuts off the motor?

Yep, it has a flywheel brake controlled by "dead man" levers on the grips.

 

[thedrivel]

couldn't live in a better place for bunton parts.

 

[7echo]

Don't know if there is a short block for that motor, I am no longer in the small engine world and don't have access to the books. I think Tecumseh aren't in the engine business anymore, but I am not sure. I bet somebody has that short block but it might be difficult to locate.

Send me the model, type, and ser/spec #s and I will ask around. I will shoot you a PM if I can find something.

 

[7echo]

posted twice

 

[Elroy]

couldn't live in a better place for bunton parts.

30 years ago that was true. Greenlee /Textron runs the facility now building job site boxes.

 

[Elroy]

Send me the model, type, and ser/spec #s and I will ask around. I will shoot you a PM if I can find something.

Thank you kindly. Give Elroy a few days and he'll do that.

If Elroy could locate a new $300 short block he'd be a happy boy!

Ye Ha! That would be rockin. But we won't get all work up just yet.

 

[bindernut]

Whoever said Tecumseh isn't in the engine business anymore is correct. They went bankrupt at least a year ago, probably haven't made an engine in 2-3 years. Someone bought the remains of the company, and has started releasing the inventory or parts that Tecumseh had. Not sure who owns it now, but the prices have gone way up!!!

the other bad part is that Bunton parts are pretty much impossible to find new.

 

[benjamming]

To be completely serious I would put a new motor on it, they don't make mowers with aluminum decks on them any more I would replace that motor 10 times before I throw that mower in the trash.

Off topic really, but Toro makes a push mower that has an aluminum deck - I bought one in 2007. It's part of their SR4 Super Recycler series.