My Lawn Mower Repair Thread (56k warning)

[hanyoukimura]

A busy day today!

This morning a woman who was interested in the gray Craftsman called back wanting to come pick it up.

So with an hour's notice I went out and made sure everything was ready.

I got an email from a guy wanting the Yard Man. I told him I was avilable and he could come anytime.

About 20 minutes a woman pulled into teh driveway asking if I serviced mowers. I said yes and she had her daughter push it over (they live just up the road).

A little after that both peopel showed up and bought mowers.

Unfortunately something happened to the Yard Man and I got a call from the guy saying it wouldn't stay running halfway through mowing his yard. So he came back and I refunded $40 and gave him the red Craftsman. He never called back after that so I'm guessing it worked out.

After that was all sorted, I finished tuning up the woman's mower, which is a Toro 20432. It's clearly been reasonably cared for, as the chrome handle bars weren't severely rused and it ran pretty well. She just wanted it tuned up and cleaned because someone borrowed it and left it a mess. So I worked my magic and tried out some Killer Chrome I got for $1.95. Works well as you'll all see.

The old girl cleaned up well!

So for one Craftsman I got another, it appears to be nearly new. She said it wouldn't stay running. A quick look shows someone tried very poorly to work on it. It's got a drywall screw where the 1/4 bolt the help hold the (loose) tank should be.

I didn't work on it at all today, too tired, but I did rinse it off.

This evening I also acquired yet another one of these Yard Machines. This will be the third one! They couldn't get it to stay running and sold it to me for $15. Very dirty but cleaned up well.

I also finally got around to working on a Honda HRM215 that the gentleman who I bought the drill press from dropped off. It wouldn't stay running and the the drive wouldn't stay engaged. A good carburetor/fuel system cleaning and cable adjustments took care of those issues.

It needs tires and new blades, as can be seen with this nifty close-up.

Unfortunately I discovered a bigger problem while inspecting the blades:

Not sure what to do about that. I wonder if this mower qualifies for Honda's lifetime warranty on Nexite decks. The owner bought it new.

I'm wiped. A productive day though. Sold 2 mowers, acquired and washed two, tuned up one, and got another running. Whew!

 

[hanyoukimura]

Good progress made.

Both the Craftsman and Yard Machines are finished. Both run great now. The Craftsman had a broken intake manifold. Replaced it and it started right up.

The MTD had a dirty carburetor and missing blade brake handle and cable. I ended up swapping the upper section of the handlebar with one from another mower since I didn't have a matching handle for the one that came with it. Went ahead and repainted the replacement handlebar and brake handle. Came out pretty nice. The paint on this one was pretty well faded, but nothing a good detailing couldn't fix!

 

[S.E.M.]

still have not got to mine yet, thanks for your insight and good job.:thumbsup:

 

[hanyoukimura]

Thanks!

Yeah when I did my headlights I sealed them with 3M Scotchguard film. Alternatively you could use clear coat, or wax often. They still look as good as they day I did them.

Been pretty busy lately.

The HRM215 is all done with the exception of an air filter that's on order. Looks and works practically new.

The Yard Man finally sold (and hasn't come back!) to a man who left me this guy:

It actually runs, but the plastic throttle body for the blade brake cable broke. I have a new one for it. It's a Craftsman I guess, but I don't seen a model number on it anywhere, which is a bit of a problem because it could really use new rear drive wheels.

Someone brought two mowers (a Craftsman and a Troy-Bilt) as well as a chainsaw to be looked at.

The Caftsman had a seized control cable, broken recoil spring, rotted fuel line, and water in the carburetor.

It's all fixed and cleaned up now, it cleaned up well (forgot photos).

The Troy built had old gas in it, rotted fuel line, seized control cable, and the drive system doesn't really work. It's running now but I have to look at the drive system more closely, perhaps it needs a belt, I'm not sure. The deck's not in great shape. It's still solid but a lot of paint has peeled off, especially up front. Only going to get worse...

The last one I worked on today is an older Toro. Carburetor needed to be rebuilt. Starts first pull and runs great now. Drive system doesn't work but at least its light.

Cleaned it up a bit...paint's not in great shape so I went easy on it.

Oh and the Craftsman push mower sold.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Another productive day!

I got the Troy-Bilt running well I think, it'll need an extended test to be sure. It turns out that it was leaking oil from the head. Upon inspection I discovered that all of the lower head bolts were loose! Tightened them up and we'll see what happens.

I also got a black Yard Machines that was given to me running. Had an oil soaked air filter and oil in the carburetor, which as very dirty. Cleaned it up, put it back together, runs great. Didn't even have to replace the diaphragm.

I washed both mowers, the Yard Machines cleaned up very well and will shine like new one I work my magic on it. The Tory-Bilt cleaned up well enough, but there's only so much that can be done with paint that's peeling quite badly.

The Toro was finally picked up, glad to get some space back.

Today my order for the HRB215/HRM215 filters finally came in. I was pretty pleased to see these MaxPower air filters also come with the pre-filter. Put it in the HRM215, gave it a good test and let the customer know it was done. She seemed very pleased, complimented that it looks like a new mower now.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Busy busy!

I got four mowers from a friend who works removing rubbish. One of them was this Yard Machines. I didn't get any before photos but you can probably imagine what a typical lawn mower being thrown out looks like. Cleaned up great though! To get it running I really only had to clean out the carburetor and fuel tank and give it a tune up. Only spent $11 on it!

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That one sold quick.

In I got two Brute mowers identical to mine.

This poor thing sat all winter like this. Engine's not seized amazingly, but the flywheel key is sheered and the flywheel is cracked...need to find a flywheel for it.

This Brute also seems to have a sheered key but I haven't taken the nut off to see the extent of the damage yet. Hope the flywheel is ok. Weirdly both have seized drive wheels. Even stranger this makes 3 for 3 Brute with sheered keys and at least 2 broken flywheels (mine had a badly damaged one).

He also dropped this Poulan off yesterday. Missing some parts but hopefully the engine is still good since I have all the spares needed to make it whole.

I replaced the throttle body on the ServiceStar mower and topped off the oil. That thing runs like a champ and I love the one lever height adjust. Very handy when I used it to mow the neighbor's overgrown yard. I may repaint the deck, I'm not sure yet. At the very least it needs new rear wheels and a new belt (drive system is weak).

The other day a acquired two more freebees, a Lawn Chief and a Murray. Simple little things, the decks are solid and the Murray probably just needs a good cleaning.

Today I sold the red Yard Machines and got something interesting, an older 18" Toro...needs a wheel assembly and several engine parts...

Finally, my project with the other Toro has been coming along. After getting most of the old paint I primed it, sanded the primer, and gave it 4 coats of Rustoilum.

Not bad for spray paint and lots of surface imperfections! For fun I may wet sand and clear it, see how nice I can get the finish. Not sure yet. It'd be nice to finally start putting it back together again.

 

[EngineMan]

Its been a real pleasure to go over this post, may not be the top end mowers, but A who cares, to see someone who love's doing what they're do, and to receive satisfaction at the end of the each day. lovely photo's, lovely work, just reminds me of the old day's. good work keep it up.:thumbsup:

 

[hanyoukimura]

Thanks! I do enjoy working on them and giving these machines second chance.

Speaking of which, I had some time after work to tinker, so I cleaned out the carburetor and fuel tank of the Murray. The gas was very old in the tank, but at least it didn't leave varnish. Put it all back together with a new spark plug and it fired right up. I love this style Briggs engine, so easy to work on. Oh and I pulled the shroud off and removed all of the dried up old grass that had collected in there.

All I need to do now is change the oil, sharpen the blade, and clean it up and it'll be ready for a new home.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Productive if disappointing day.

The Toro's deck is mostly back together and looks not too shabby. I repainted various bolts
as well as the wheel height adjusters.

I then cleaned up and repainted the planned donor engine..

Not bad. But to my disappointment, when I went to test fit the engine I realized that will not, in fact mount front facing, only sideways or maybe back.

I don't like the look at all, so I'm going to save that engine for something else and use either a square Quantum or a Tecumseh engine similar to what was originally on it. Oh well.

In the meantime, I got the little Murray all cleaned up and ready for sale.

 

[Grassbandit]

Great job you're doing man, don't ever stop!
I would however like to know how you manage the solid waste from these mowers. Old chassis and blown engine blocks.
They do tend to pile up and become an eyesore.