Small Engine Tech and Classifieds

[MScruiser]

You probably didn't know, but I have been really into small gasoline engine repair for a while. My favorite activity is finding lawmowers that people have thrown out and taking them home and trying to figure out what is wrong with them. I will fix them, pressure wash them, and flip them on Craigslist.

Here are a few projects I have right now:

This is a self-propelled Homelite Bagless Mower with a 5hp Briggs engine and 20" deck and mulching blade. This thing was a real pace of work! Blade was bent and trashed. The arm assembly was cracked and broken in 4 places. Carb was completely fouled. Fuel lines were rotted. Filter looked like it hadn't been replaced in ages. Spark plug was bad. Wheel bushings were shot, and a number of other nuts and bolts were loose. The wheels are also bald from so much use! I went ahead and rebuilt the carb, cleaned the jets. Booger welded the handle back together. Replaced the fuel line. Rebuilt the recoil start assembly and replaced the rope with 550 paracord. Replaced the spark plug. Cleaned and tightened the wheel bushings. Checked off the oil. Cleaned the paper filter. Resharpened the blades. Hit it really good with the pressure washer too! It starts up and goes great now!

 

[wngrog]

That is a great hobby. I literally know nothing about doing this. My mobile repair guy loves me.

 

[MScruiser]

Here's a Yard Machines mower with 22" deck and 123cc OHV Briggs engine.

I went ahead and rebuilt the carb, and also cleaned the jets. The recoil start springs was cracked and broken, so I cut the spring, bent it into the correct orientation, and then rebuilt the recoil start assembly. Checked off the oil. Cleaned the paper filter. Resharpened the blades. Cleaned it off with the pressure washer. Starts right up now. This one is a simple mower and easy to pull-start. I think I am going to keep this one for myself.

 

[MScruiser]

Here's a pretty decent mower I found over in Belhaven. It's a Yard Machines bagless self-propelled.

Again, I rebuild the carb, removed and cleaned out the jets (always need to clean out the jets!). Rebuilt and rewound the recoil spring. Sharpened the blades. Pressure washed. New air filter element. Fresh 30wt oil. This thing cleaned up really nice. Underneath all the grime, it looks almost brand new. I think I am going to get a pretty decent amount of cash for this one.

 

[MScruiser]

On a slightly related note, I refurbushed this old 115V Ingersoll compressor I got from my wifes grandfather. New oil. New motor. New copper lines. It will get up safely to around 160 psi, but I bet I could push it a bit more if I wanted to. I love this thing!

 

[lenross1]

sweet! i did not know you were into this. Are you willing to do repair work as well or just into flipping em?

 

[FJ60Cam]

Awesome.

Tech question - I hit a stump with my mower yesterday. I didn't just graze it, the blade came to an sudden and complete stop. The blade was toast, and I replaced it with a new one, but when I fired it back up there is a pretty good vibration like something is out of balance. It still runs and finished the yard but it has a pretty good vibration going.

Any thoughts? Bent crank or output shaft or something? It's a Toro with a 6.5 hp Tecumseh if that matters.

 

[MScruiser]

Probably toasted the output shaft/crankshaft. If so, you'd be better off just replacing the engine, unless you got something real nice. Could even be a smashed bearing too. But if you are lucky, there is sometimes a sacrificial pin that connects to the flywheel to prevent damage to the crankshaft. Maybe you just bent that?

Lenny, I may be able to do repair work. I am comfortable doing carb work, cleaning, and the like, but if its something like lapping valves or fixing a bent output shaft (hehe) I would leave it to a professional. I am just a hobbyist.

 

[pmccraney]

You are the man.

ive got a Briggs and Stratton mower with a fuel delivery issue. Just got the new priming bulb plate/assembly in the mail today. If that doesn't do the trick, I'm dropping it off at your house and you can have it whatever it will fetch on Craigslist.

Now, off to the appliance thread to see if Cam can fix my Bosch freezer remotely via the internet.

You guys make me feel dumb and stuff.

 

[Bossman]

Now I know how JT feels. I'd rather be tied down to an ant hill...

 

[fountainhead]

Yep.

 

[MScruiser]

Had a big Small Engine Weekend.

Snatched up quite a few little projects.

First:
Grabbed a Murray mower with wagon wheels and a Briggs 4hp motor. After a carb rebuild and a bit or recoil start finesse, she started right up.

Also got this MTD Bagless with the same 4hp Briggs engine. Carb rebuild, new oil, new spark plug, new air filter, and she finally got started. Took a little work to get the carb tuned right, but I think I got it pretty close.

 

[MScruiser]

Also scored this YardMan with a 6hp Briggs engine. This thing is a complete basket case. I may actually part this one out, as there are quite possibly, just too many problems with it. I did manage to get it to crank, though briefly, and it hasn't done a thing since. I am not sure what is going on here. I may take a good carb and put it on this one and at least see if I can pinpoint what exactly is wrong here. It is self propelled and has a bunch of bells and whistles (all broken). I thought of taking all of the self propelled parts off, and converting it to a push mower with a big ass engine. But of course, I need to get the motor working first.

I also scored 2 blowers, a chainsaw, and a weedeater too. I have not even begun to look at those yet, but here is a picture of my loot.

All in all, it was a good small-engine weekend.; 3 mowers, 2 blowers, 1 weedeater, and 1 chainsaw.

By the way, everything you see is for sale. If you are interested in something, just I.M. me.

 

[MScruiser]

Had an eventful Sunday afternoon.

On the weedeater, I rebuilt the carb, replaced the bulb, and replaced the fuel lines with 1/8" lines. Fresh gas/oil, and she started right up.


On the blower, I rebuilt the carb, and replaced the fuel lines with 1/8" lines. Fresh gas/oil, and she started right up too.


On the chainsaw, wait for it.....still waiting??? I replaced the fuel with some new fuel/oil, and it started on the 2nd pull!!!


Not a bad day!!

I still have 1 blower to get working. I know for certain that I am going to be replacing the bulb, and rebuilding the recoil starter. I have a feeling that it will start right up after doing those few things.

Now, that still leaves the old green mower with yellow wheels (pictured above in a previous post). Not only was there water in the fuel tank/carb (which had corroded the inside of the carb and screwed everything up royally!!), but there was also water in the oil too. It is not pretty. I think I may just give up on it; taking the parts off that are still good and leaving the rest on the street for the scrap tweakers. Oh well. In one weekend, I am thinking I scored at least $500 in tools that I should be able to easily flip.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Awsome! Where do you find all this stuff?

Let me know if you run across a good 6.5 hp Toro/Tecumseh motor.

 

[MScruiser]

I come across some things while driving around. I also have a few friends that are runners that run early in the mornings and tell me if they see anything in the garbage.

I have been most successful with an app called Nextdoor, where I place adds that say something like "Looking for old and broken gas-powered lawn equipment". Its crazy how many people have old crap collecting dust in their garage. I even offer to come pick up things so all they really have to do call me. I have gotten at least $1000 in working tools in the last 2 weeks. It is a fun hobby! Since I am doing all of the work and spending next to nothing getting everything working, my wife has no problem with me spending all of my profits on myself.

I will keep an eye out for a Tecumseh.

I can't wait to get my hands on a Honda. It will become my personal mower.

 

[MScruiser]

Today I bought 25' of fuel line and a big pack of replacement carb primer bulbs. I will hopefully get that second blower working and will keep the rest for future projects.

 

[FJ60Cam]

This thread sounds like the perfect place to post this...

Check out this bad boy. My grandfather made it 100% from scratch. He's a retired machinist plus he grew up in the Great Depression, so absolutely nothing goes to waste.

This has to be 45-50 years old now. It is probably the worlds first zero turn riding mower.

It has car parts, house parts, scrap metal, wood, coffee cans...

The side safety guards boxing in the deck are a relatively recent addition. Safety wasn't really a thing back in the day.

 

[MScruiser]

Whoa! That is really cool. I hope you always keep it.

 

[FJ60Cam]

He still uses it, but when the time comes there's no way this thing leaves the family.