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Stuff I worked on this weekend:
Old John Deere riding lawnmower. Got the lawnmower for $300. It supposedly ran last year but I couldn't get it started when I got it home. Cleaned carb, put new gas with some Seafoam in it, figured out the rigged kill switch and starter button, reattached the throttle cable to the makeshift, add-on throttle lever. Runs pretty good but it won't idle very well, more like hunting up and down due to some adjustment with the governor sytem/linkage I think.
Also bought a used Stihl MS290 for $250. It ran and cut wood when I looked at it and bought it. But when I got it home and tried to used it on some real wood, it barely cut and the oiling system wasn't functioning. Disassembled the clutch to discover stripped out drive gear, completely missing brake components, wear blocks all worn down or missing, spark plug toast, filth everywhere. So I'm hoping to get it running and oiling properly and then buy a couple new chains for it and hopefully be able to cut some wood and add to my wood pile very soon.
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That would be great to have a second saw as a backup (or primary). The MS310 and MS290 seem to always be listed together when I look for parts so it must just be some minor differences between them, maybe they are first cousins, or possibly even siblings. I'm hopeful that its big enough for cutting up firewood but small enough to not wear me out. I don't plan to be felling trees or running a logging operation. Good thing is that my trailer only holds about 1/2 cord so maybe it will fill before I'm worn out. All the parts I ordered (Amazon and Ebay) are cheap Chinese aftermarket parts but they got high ratings so I'm going to give it a shot just to keep my costs down. Hopefully I can get the 290 working well enough to serve in occasional weekend warrior duty. I'm going to try to fix it myself and if that doesn't work out, I'll be visiting a small engine place like Jon suggested. I'm new to small engine work but I do have some decent fix-it skills.The best place I have found for genuine Stihl parts is Ebay. I may still have a little MS310 around here somewhere. If I can find it you can have it. Pretty much the same saw as the 290. The old Stihls are great saws, but now most are made in China. I am looking at Shindaiwa for a small saw. My MS460 wears me out too quick.
I installed rear coil spacers today in my LX470. 5 pax, 2 dogs, plus drawer, fridge, roof rack and camping gear is just too much for stock AHC (automatic height control). I discovered that when I replaced the coils this spring, the axle drooped enough to pull the diff vent hose off the housing and has been open to the world. I replaced my diff oil as a result.
Unfortunately, apparently when I let the axle droop to install the spacers, something stretched, pulled, bent, i don't know, and now I have an AHC fault stuck in low height. Dammit. I love AHC but I don't know the problem. To make it worse, i can't remember my password to access my TechStream for diagnosis.![]()
Thanks Virgil, as always! I got into TechStream last night. Plugged in and found a sensor error. After more research and having an idea what to look for, I discovered that when I drooped the axle, the link and arm of the sensor actually inverted. I flipped it back and now I just need to find the ground to fender measures so I can get proper height in neutral (it's a stinkbug at the moment).