vibrating mower

[inthewall]

Mowing the lawn yesterday, two more passes left and I run over a big rock my kid left in the grass. It bent the blade so I replaced it. The mower has a serious vibration. Im guessing a bent shaft. Is it repairable for a decent price or should I just run it until it starts crapping out?

 

[Michael Hanson]

Time for a new mower,if the blade didnt fix it. 2 cents MIke

 

[fsusteve]

is it a push mower? I've bent a s***load ofblades and never bent a shaft, did you use a new blade?

 

[splitshot]

Im guessing a bent shaft.

I'm guessing your right, and not a safe unit to run.

I'd either haul it into a dealer, or start shopping craigslist.

 

[inthewall]

I replaced with a new blade. Snapper push mower, self propelled, started on first pull every spring with old gas. **** My kid was at a Giants game with grandpa. He didn't get to hear me cussing.

 

[bigndn]

I'm guessing your right, and not a safe unit to run.

I'd either haul it into a dealer, or start shopping craigslist.

I agree with this. Or check out a small engine repair shop.

 

[rebeccacupps]

It depends on how expensive of an investment your mower was up front. I have spent $100-$200 on a mower & when it breaks, it cost the same to fix so I end up getting a new one. The last one I lost, I was avoiding running into our outdoor patio furniture and hit the corner of our concrete patio with the blade: game over.

I would call a local mower repair shop and they can usually tell you over the phone if it's worth it. Good luck

 

[inthewall]

There is a couple of repair shops in town, I will check with them. I'm also going to get a price on the same motor. Mower was about $450 five years ago.

 

[inthewall]

Same honda engine is $220. I might be going that route.

 

[fsusteve]

look under there and double check, I'm sure that's prolly it but man those shafts are pretty tough.

 

[RavenTai]

could the new blade be out of balance or possibly not centered on the mount?


I have bent an s-load of blades but never a shaft.

 

[KLF]

could the new blade be out of balance or possibly not centered on the mount?


I have bent an s-load of blades but never a shaft.

X2

I would check the blade balance, drive a nail into a tree and hang the blade from it horizontally, see if it stays level. Or stop at a local small engine repair shop, see if they have a blade balancing jig. We have one in our shop, darned handy. Looks like this:

 

[inthewall]

Can I run the mower without the blade to see if it still vibrates?

 

[fsusteve]

yep...

 

[dohcdelsol93]

depending on what engine you have many of them are harmonicly ballanced via the blade IE: won't run without a blade because it leaves the engine unballanced and will sound like your starting it with a sheared key way. You said you have a honda engine...i'm not sure if that one will start without the blade or not but many of the Briggs push mower engines won't.


First off check your blade adapter and make sure it's not broken/sheared. It has a key way in it.

Secondly i doubt your new blade is off ballance.

third...pull your spark plug out. Take a rag and wrap it around the engine brake bail and tie it off so it's dis engaged. Have someone push down on the handles and pull the engine slowly while you watch the crankshaft. Look for some wobble.


If it has wobble you have a few options.

one replace the engine and/or mower but that's a kick ass mower if it's the drive disk style snapper mower (will run 550 now MSRP with a briggs)

second replace the crankshaft which is not cost effective

third, take a BFH (big hammer) and smack the crap out of the crank from where it's bent and bend it back out. Will take few trys but it's worked for many a shade tree for many a year. I WILL not do this for customers at my shop but i've done this on many mowers belonging to family/friends and on my personal lawn mower. Its not a proper fix but it will get you by but just so you know your weakening the crank and the next time you hit something it will bend even worse.

 

[D'Animal]

Not trying to argue at all but, In my opinion, Not a good idea to recomend this to the general world wide public. It is worse than doing it to a customers mower.

third, take a BFH (big hammer) and smack the crap out of the crank from where it's bent and bend it back out. Will take few trys but it's worked for many a shade tree for many a year. I WILL not do this for customers at my shop but i've done this on many mowers belonging to family/friends and on my personal lawn mower. Its not a proper fix but it will get you by but just so you know your weakening the crank and the next time you hit something it will bend even worse.

The next time he hits something, the crankshaft can snap off and the blad and piece of crankshaft go flying in some direction at 3,200rpm. Hopefully that direction is not at the operators feet, family dog or a child.


It is a fact that B&S used to sell and require dealers to have their crankshaft straightening jig mounted on a bench. They stopped this around 1985 since some were overstressing the crankshafts and straightening ones that should not have been straightened. In a nutshell, they were tired of getting sued over blades and crankshaft flying off and people getting injured.