Looking for small rubber plugs

[blackgold]

Ok, this is a bit of a reach. I've seen what I want, just not sure where. My mother has a hard time starting the lawnmower sometimes. I've recently showed her how to remove the air filter to spray a bit of starting fluid in to get it going. This has worked out good except that the mower has a flat head screw to get to internals, not a wingnut so it's a little more difficult. What I'm looking for is a rubber plug with a grab tab so I can drill a hole in the housing, you can just pull the rubber plug out, spray some in with the nozzle, put it back in and go on your way. Any ideas on where to get some?
Thanks,
Brian

 

[cowboy73]

You could weld a wingnut to the top of the air cleaner screw. A quick zap with the welder and it would be done. You could also use a small rubber wire grommet and plug it with maybe a cut down plastic golf tee.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Why not just tune up the lawn mower so she doesn't NEED to use gas or starting fluid?

Not to be critical, but how about you take over mowing your mother's lawn while you're at it?!

 

[Orangestang]

Can you/she afford an electric start one?

 

[Jagmandave]

You could also use a thumbscrew - like a wingnut already built onto a screw - get them at your hardware store.

But I agree, why aren't you mowing your mom's yard? Especially if you're already there to help get the mower started.....

A couple of examples...

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Well first of all, sounds like the carb might need a little tuning or just replace it.

Ever since I put a new carb ($30 shipped from MTD) on my little MTD backup push mower, it will fire up on the second pull sometimes the first pull after about 5-10 pumps of the primer bulb. This thing does not get a lot of use since it's my backup and it will fire up quickly after sitting for sometimes weeks at a time during the mowing season.

The air cleaner on the Kawasaki motor on my commercial walk behind has those wing nuts on it. It makes removal very easy.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Mcmaster Carr might have what you want. Good idea, I may steal it.

 

[Tink]

Maybe mom wants to be active and or independent.

 

[blackgold]

So my mother lives about 45 minutes away... Not practical for me to go there every other day to mow her grass. The mower starts first/second pull for me every time. She does not have the strength to do it. It will take awhile to find an electric start mower for her. I used to do landscaping and fell in love with the older JD mowers. She used mine once and also fell in love with them. I have 2 mowers for her. One is a kawasaki mower with a blade clutch (makes bagging SOOO much easier) The other is a JD without a blade clutch. It's a little easier to start because it pulls easier but is the backup mower. All I would like is to be able to let her put in a dab of starting fluid to start almost effortlessly on the first pull for her. I don't need anyone telling me how to take care of/treat my mother. If you don't have a suggestion on a rubber plug or another similar option, please don't reply. To those with actual suggestions, thank you. the air filter housing is not metal so the thread in options won't work well I do not think. Yes, I have driven over before to help her start (and cut the grass). I just can't do it every time. I do go and edge every other time for her.
Brian

 

[tk421]

Lowes sells small rubber plugs like gahrajmahal posted.

 

[blackgold]

SO now that I remember, the Kawa has a wing nut but still not the easiest thing (the air filter fits on TIGHT). The Briggs does have a flat head. I was thinknig about this yesterday as I used a little fluid to start my 2 stroke JD mower.. Hrmm, where in Lowes are those at? Oh, and yes, she likes to mow the lawn (the front and sides). The back is what I still go to do for her or help her do it.
Thanks,
Brian

 

[blackgold]

This is what I am thinking of. I like the tab on it to pull it out easier and insert it back easier.

Brian

 

[blackgold]

this one might be really good as it will stay on the mower and won't get lost when you pull it out to spray.

 

[Jagmandave]

If you have an ACE hardware store nearby, they have drawers full of little stuff like this, worth a look....

 

[kbs2244]

Why plug the hole?
If it is on the raw air side of the filter a 1/8 inch hole won't do any damage.

BTW, I had the same problem with my sister. She like to mow but couldn't start the mower.
I found a junk 6.5 HP electric start mower. It had been run over and the battery and such that were in the handle were gone.
I swapped that engine onto the 5HP big wheel base she was useing.
I made a small cart for a car battery and a way to do a quick temp battery hookup.
She can hook it up, start it up, and have it running in a heart beat.

 

[pro machine Engineering]

I believe it would be best to fix the problem rather than re invent the wheel. If it needs ether to start everytime. It needs a tune up or the engine is wore out and needs replaced

 

[blackgold]

YOu're ALL missing the boat. The Kawasaki motor is pretty torquey. It takes a bit to pull it. It starts first/second pull every time for me,she just doesn't have the strength to pull it that hard. the starting fluid makes it 100x easier for her to start. There is nothing wrong with the mower. I found the plug I will be trying when I go back to her house this weekend. It was a plug in a air filter/drier I got from Lowes a few weeks ago.
Brian

 

[gtrotter]

Does it have a handle to pull it out easily? If not, drill a small through the plug and run a bolt(4"?) through it. Use a nylock nut to keep the bolt on there. Then, use two nylock nuts snugged against each other on the end to make grabbing it easy for her. Cheap to make, and isn't hard to recreate if it falls off. If it falls into the airbox, it won't get sucked through and will be easy to fish out.

EDIT: Maybe check out automotive firewall plugs, probably can find them for cheap at any auto parts store.

 

[scrapdaddy]

My Dad lost his muscles in one arm during WWII and couldn't pull start his mower, so he build a hook to grab the handle, which was attached to a rope that was strung through a pulley above the mower. He then grabbed a handle, on the other end and with both hands pulled down, to start the mower. Hope this helps

Ron

 

[Steevo]

Go buy a plastic squirt gun at the toy store, and steal the plug from the back of it.

 

[blackgold]

This is what I found last night. I wish it were a lil deeper but I guess with it tapering, that won't matter as most of it will be too narrow. I think the key will be to make it tight but meet the stop or lip on it. The pull tab will be a good way to remove it. I think the color will be good as it will be much easier to see at a glance and know it's there.. won't blend in as easy as a black plug. As far as just leaving it open, I'm wanting this to go inside the filter on the kawa... (it's a circular filter) I will know this works or not this weekend. I really appreciate those that offered real input on this. To everyone else, I have to admit I took offense to some of the things said. You don't know me or my situation and to assume the things you assumed is pretty assumptious.
Thanks,
Brian

photobucket is showing the pic but attaching other pics.. odd.

 

[ppetela]

Hi, this looks perfect for what I need...any idea where I can find the OEM or similiar prodoct? Thank you!

 

[Herb]

YOu're ALL missing the boat. The Kawasaki motor is pretty torquey. It takes a bit to pull it. It starts first/second pull every time for me,she just doesn't have the strength to pull it that hard. the starting fluid makes it 100x easier for her to start. There is nothing wrong with the mower. I found the plug I will be trying when I go back to her house this weekend. It was a plug in a air filter/drier I got from Lowes a few weeks ago.
Brian

Go buy a plastic squirt gun at the toy store, and steal the plug from the back of it.

Yes to both of these. My wife is not very strong and has trouble starting the weedwacker and lawnmower, they start for me easily each time. A really simple thing would be a small piece of duct tape - that could be replaced whenever needed.

 

[buzz4041]

Go to summitt racing they have stuff like that. Or Steele rubber products they carry everything you can think of.

 

[Nak]

Earplug.

 

[Bookworm]

how 'bout an electric mower ? Not electric start gas, but a plug-in mower. I got one cheap at an estate auction, love it. I just use it around the house (mowing 6 acres), but it is lightweight, easy to push, no smell , no upkeep, very little noise.