Recent content by Auto Doc's

RTV is a term that means room temperature vulcanizing. It is a gasket sealer. It is meant to be used conservatively, but all too often people get carried away and slobber all over everything. Some people use High Tack or aviation adhesive. This stuff can be hard to clean up later if you need...

I applaud your drive and ambition. But reality has to be considered. Can you afford your own equipment, fuel and maintenance? There are some lofty goals that need to be considered. If you want to do custom yard grooming it can get expensive quick, and it will cost you a lot more than you're...

Being that this his happening when the engine gets hot, I would suspect the plug or coil. Many places sell "lawn mower plugs", but they are not always correct. Please provide the engine information if possible. There should be a information tag or a series of numbers stamped into the valve...

Is it cranking properly after the valve adjustment was done? I do not think these early ones had ACR.

Some seals just will not have enough room or material to risk removing them while the end closure is still in place. You are referring to the engine crankshaft PTO/ output oil seal?

Make a note of the original seal depth. Usually drilling a small 1/8 hole carefully into the seal face without pushing the bit into the housing or bearing hard works. Use a small cheap body dent/seal puller and insert the screw into the hole. Tap the weight back and the seal will pop right out...

Check All most heaven small engine salvage in Indiana, they are one of the biggest in the country. Finding a good used one is about your only choice.

The cylinder condition needs to be determined before you go too far into this. If it has had straight fuel with no oil mix ran in it, the cylinder will be rubbed with aluminum transfer metal from the piston.

It likely has the sheared the flywheel key segment. The flywheel magnet could also be rusty and creating the weak spark

This problem favors a low oil pressure shutoff switch. If the oil is too low or the oil pump is not working, the engine will not start and run. The low oil pressure switch could also be bad. As for the key switch, that is normal has the key switch changes contacts from the crank to run...

Basically, a relay works, or it does not. You have other possible issues. You do not have a relay issue, that is a charging system or PTO clutch issue. I suggest you check your charging system with the PTO engage and at High RPM to make sure the system is not dropping voltage as it gets hot...

I use a lot of Ryobi and DeWalt. Milwaukee is expensive. Alot of your choice depends on use.

Make sure the muffler is not clogged. Also, it may need a carburetor, some just cannot be fully cleaned.

Operator manuals advise against "shift on the fly".

Most of the training classes are now online modules.

Try looking on erepalcement.com. Enter you model information on a web parts search, and it will lead you to the site. The have exploded parts views so you can find the part you are looking for. What makes you think the solenoid is bad on your machine?

Husqvarna is probably the best selection for both price and reliability, but only from a dealer. The model you are considering is a very good one. A locking differential is not needed unless you are cutting a lot of soft or sandy property, other than that it is and expensive (bragging rights)...

The plug wire terminal end is worn and making poor contact. This can get confusing due to the intermittent operation. Option one is change the terminal end to a crimp style one if you have enough lead to do that. Option two is to dismantle the machine and replace the coil.

What machine is this switch going on? I have not seen a 4-pin start switch in a long time. Is it a universal "tractor" switch? If so, it may not even be compatible. Does the switch have any markings, or can you provide a couple of pictures of it? Do you have a multi-meter and know how to use it?

There is a tab for the larger governor spring that has to be bent out slightly to increase or decrease the tension on the spring. The tab is hidden by the lower throttle linkage plate that bolts to the engine near each head.

Basic governor adjustment: In your situation, opening the motor will just create confusion and unneeded work. The governors are simple and do not fail on these engines. Remove the air cleaner components so you can study the linkage operation. Manually move the throttle shaft on the carburetor...

I suggest you carefully remove the carburetor and clean it really well inside and out. There are lots of videos online to help you.

Verify the housing gasket was put on correctly to line up with the vent hole.

First question I have is, are the tires correct? Don't pay attention to the numbers on the sidewall, measure the actual height with correct air pressure. It's a crap shoot if tires a mismatched. Spindle bushings are a common wear item, and they will make the frontend appear to be "twisted".

140 CC's size engine is approximately 9 HP at 3600 RPM. Most mowers are rated at a top speed of 3600 RPM. Sounds like you are trying to mow thick tall grass, this engine will not handle that for very long. Even a 20 HP engine would have a bit of a struggle. I suggest a bigger mower. Putting a...

Hi Skippydiesel, No one will ever get rich working on small engine equipment. It's decent for a young person trying to learn more about general mechanics or a decent hobby for older retiring folks. It is not a top paying career by any stretch of the imagination. New riders cost as much as a...

From what I can tell on Manual Lib in a diagram there is a control module on the gauge pack area and there is an inline 20A fuse. Locate that fuse and make sure it is not blown. Jump start will blow fuses on many machines.

It really is not a matter of zero turn with or without steering wheel vs conventional lawn tractor. It's a matter of machine weight, operator weight, wheelbase, tire size & tread design and ground contour. With that said, there are always benefits versus hinderances with every ride on mowing...

Can you clue us in on what exactly you are working on, A model and engine size would be helpful to sort this out maybe. Having trouble with my crystal ball this week.

Hello Old Diyer, The rider tire pressures need to be correct, and your deck hanger adjustments made to ensure a level cut. This goes back to the gauge wheels are not intended for full time ground contact. Set the gauge wheels for your 2" winter cut and rely on the deck adjustment lever to...

Ethanol producers are laughing all the way to the bank because the federal government is paying farmers subsidies to produce surplus corn, and the Ethanol producers are buying the corn cheap. The producer then basically distills the corn into raw Ethanol and sells the product to the refiners to...

Hello MParr, That is correct, gauge wheels are meant to only contact the ground when there is an uneven/ irregular ground condition. Once upon a time they were call "anti-scalping wheels" Unfortunately, many people never read the operators manuals. Years ago, it became a waste of money to...

"Terryl fixes all" has a video on these Tuff Torque drives. One thing that needs attention is the wear plate. They need to be resurfaced flat using flat tempered glass Or, similar true flat surface) and 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Along with that use thin .020-inch shims under the pressure...

Basically, to set the governor: Move the carburetor throttle butterfly to full open and verify which direction the governor shaft rotates when you do that. Then loosen the pinch bolt while still holding the throttle butterfly wide open. Rotate the governor shaft the same direction noted earlier...

Most Briggs engines run limited at a top speed of 3600 RPM at wide open throttle. Does this machine have a throttle cable and pull back springs to control the RPM?

Anyone who has taken a basic physics class knows Ethanol mixed fuel has a lower thermal efficiency compared to regular gasoline. That means mileage is lower, but the byproduct of exhaust is supposedly cleaner. It's all about reducing carbon byproducts in the air. They are ratcheting up the...

Aftermarket gaskets are usually thicker than OEM and that may help. Another thing that helps is applying a very thin coat of Honda Bond gasket sealer. Regular RTV will not hold up

3/8" ID tubing or a pipe nipple cut to length as a bushing?

This stuff needs oxygen to harden up. Maybe laying it out in the direct sunlight will help. Other than that, I think you got some bad cans of sealing foam.

How is it off? Too low? Too high?

Replace the crankcase breather, it is full of old oil carbon. Sorry, cleaning does not work.

Oh! One important thing that I forgot is to pull the muffler off and cook it with a propane torch to remove carbon deposits. I have saved quite a few just by getting the carbon out of the muffler. If exhaust cannot get out, fresh air cannot get in to run the engine. This problem happens when...

Sounds like the carburetor needs to be replaced. Carbs are cheap enough that it cost too much to attempt a rebuild these days. Also be sure the fuel lines are all good and the primer bulb is not cracked.

Some people are just accustomed to a steering wheel. They don't jerk an operator around like the lever models do. I saved a Cub Cadet RZT-S 50" cut zero turn with a steering wheel last year. I had a blown engine. I replaced the engine with a spare that I had. The guy wanted to junk it, and I...

If you want good results doing precision work, invest in your tools. Even a used one on Ebay that can be verified by an actual owner is much better than buying a mass-produced piece of junk. I have many tools from Harbor Freight, but I will not use their torque wrenches. Most parts stores have...

Go on Ebay and look around. They have lots of B&S manuals in CD and paperback form. This is a little older than 25 years. It's an older horizontal design "flat head" engine, ereplacement. com parts and Jack's small engine.com should have any parts you need for the engine. If it run well, don't...

How did you determine the alternator is good? Where is the main charge wire from the alternator connected, the large one? The basic system requires, the switch completes the charge excite circuit, and the voltage regulator works. Ideally, you need a manual to troubleshoot these kinds of...

Most common is a head gasket due to heat warpage. The heads need to be removed and resurface them with 220 grit wet/dry paper on a good flat surface like tempered glass, then reinstalled with new head gaskets. Likely the cooling fins have a bunch (years) of grass and chaff all packed up in...

I undo the valve rockers on the dead cylinder and apply shop air pressure to the cylinder. There will be some air escaping out of the crankcase, but not past the intake or exhaust valve. This engine should run even with the difference in compression on that side, but I have had a leaky valve...

First thing I would try is run your jumper negative to the battery negative and then touch the jumper positive to the starter power post. If the starter does not spin, the starter has failed. If the starter spins, you have a safety switch or wire issue. Unbolt the right-side plastic panel and...

What are you calling a headmaster? Is that the cylinder head? A regional term I have never heard of? Did you resurface the head with fine sandpaper on a good flat surface like a glass tabletop before installing it? Was the gasket replaced and the head bolts torqued properly? In each cylinder...