Recent content by Tiger Small Engine

Changing oil and filter on any small engine that is brand new after 5 hours makes good sense. Oil changes are cheap and engines, parts, and labor, not so much.

What does “running rough” mean specifically? How many hours? Regular oil changes? Checked the cooling fins and engine for debris by removing shroud and tins? How did you check the ignition coils? Also, need to do a leak down test. 120 plus psi on cylinder should be plenty to run well.

No, I did not miss your first sentence. You could not find model number and I gave you my suggestion.

A Nikki (single cylinder) carburetor is like a Kohler Courage (single cylinder) engine, problems. Nikki carburetors are prone to leaking and hydro locking the engine, more difficult to clean and rebuild, and just generally a pain. I have had good results with aftermarket Nikki carburetors when...

Take a flashlight and look everywhere on mower frame for model number. Do the same for engine. Without the correct model numbers you are shooting in the dark.

That slight slope is nothing for a zero turn. Run it.

Clean OEM carburetors again correctly. If you don’t know how to, then take them to a shop. Always want to keep OEM carburetor unless it is too far gone. Also, need to check for air intake leaks.

Try looking up filter on oil filter cross reference sites online. There are normally several good substitute filters that will work.

I sharpen well over 100 blades per year, not really sure. My main issue is the grinding wheels glazing up and becoming way less effective. I am going to try a grinding wheel dresser tool and see if that helps. I appreciate everyone’s input on this topic!

For a thousand bucks it should work well. That is about 650 cheap 4.5” grinding wheels. The problem for me is less than half the blades I sharpen for customers are straight and need to be sharpened with an angle grinder. I wish there were a catch all great solution. You should see how beat up...

You can light the spark plugs with a torch and blow it out with a blow gun. Doesn’t mean the plugs need to be tossed in the garbage.

Rarely does the flywheel key shear. I mean almost never.

Replacing spark plugs is usually unnecessary. You can clean, gap, and blow them out with an air compressor blow gun. Spark plugs in small engines usually last for several years.

I appreciate all the replies and interest in this thread on blade sharpening. Most of my blade sharpening comes from a complete tune up and sharpening the blades being a part of the service. It takes lots of practice to get good at consistently getting a nice sharp blade with an angle grinder...

The flap wheels would have taken all day on blades that are very dull. I tried them and they didn’t work. I have been reading up on grinding wheels getting glazed. The harder the wheel, the easier it is to glaze up. These are cheap wheels I am buying in bulk from online. I will try dressing...

It depends, upon a lot of things. How good is the engine to begin with? How is the equipment used and how often? How is the equipment maintained? Sometimes equipment will have a sticker on it with an hour rating. That is how long it is rated to stay within EPA standards. Lucky to get 3-5 years...

I have tried a flap wheel and did a horrible job. Would be good for touch ups, not sharpening dull blades. I switch out grinding wheels frequently. How do you clean a glazed grinding wheel? You may be onto to something here.

Maybe you should point out the misdiagnosis to the dealer on the clogged cooling fins. Most people do not know how important checking and cleaning the top of engine and cooling fins, on an AIR COOLED engine is. It is good to not be completely dependent on a shop to check things out yourself.

How you can sharpen a blade that is very dull and beat to hell in less than a minute is beyond me. It sometimes takes 10 plus minutes per blade for ones that are really bad. Believe me I do not like spending this much time. Which is why I posted the topic. Surely I can’t be the only shop...

If you are saying that fuel trickled out of fuel pump with line removed going to carburetor, when you cranked engine, then you need a new fuel pump. Fuel should shoot out with a nice steady pulse.

If all I did was sharpen straight blades, then I would not have to use an angle grinder. That is why I use an angle grinder on everything. When a blade is bent you can get it close with a sledge hammer and a pair of safety glasses while smacking it on concrete. Of course you can’t get it...

Fish- We don’t see you on here that much. How have things been going?

You need a new dealer. Apparently they can’t take ten minutes to remove engine shroud and check cooling fins for dirt and debris.

If a person has the time, tools, inclination, and experience, then doing an engine autopsy is really cool and interesting. On the other hand, if you are busy and doing it for a living, it doesn’t pay usually. I am a one person shop and do not offer rebuilds on engines and hydraulic pumps. You...

Simply fabricate a small metal bracket and mount to engine for safety.

Normally connecting rods break from lack of lubrication. Because engine has never “run dry” doesn’t mean it was not run low on oil amount. Good probability that pistons, rings, cylinders, crankshaft and cam have some scoring due to being run with low oil. Also, low oil causes overheating and...

If you have actually gotten around 2000 hours in 3 years out of a Stihl trimmer, consider buying a new, or low hour replacement, and keeping the older one for backup. That’s a lot of use in a short time. Lots of commercial guys will change out trimmers every 3-4 years. Vibration should have...

My question refers to customer mower blades. Many of the blades I see on customer equipment are really dull and beat up. It is not uncommon that I have to reestablish the angle and depth on cutting edge the blade is so bad. It can take 15-20 minutes per blade to sharpen correctly. I am not...

Also, hopefully you didn’t throw out OEM carburetor. Clean it and install preferably over cheap Chinese carburetor. If linkage adjustment doesn’t solve choke butterfly closing all the way, very occasionally the choke needs to be removed and sanded to get free movement so it will fully close. I...

You need to drain, syphon, and blow out fuel tank. Water will be all the way at bottom if present. Look for fuel pump coming off of fuel line, if no pump then it is gravity feed. If it will start when giving it a bit of fuel in carburetor, but not stay running, probably has a dirty carburetor...

We miss him. Was just thinking about Bertsmobile the other day.

Please eliminate the penny. I think all change should be eliminated too. I round all labor and parts costs in $5.00 increments. Keep it simple.

So because the carbon monoxide sensor was bad, Dewalt told you to bring back the generator and get a refund. Now the store has a used generator to sell, instead of having a shop replace the CO sensor under warranty. Seems like a poor decision on Dewalt’s part.

With electrical issues, the first place to check is the battery. Make sure the battery is charged and load tested. Make sure terminals are clean and tight. After battery checks out, keep testing. In this case, before replacing the wiring harness, take it to a shop to get it repaired.

A PTO deck belt should last a minimum of 3-4 years if everything is correct. You need to go through every single pulley, etc. until you find the problem. Also, try calling the manufacturer or other people you know in the business for suggestion. Plan B is tell the customer to take it to another...

The great oil debate. Change it at regular intervals. Check oil and keep it at correct level. It isn’t a motorcycle revving out at 13,000 rpms.

Carburetor still not clean enough or air leak on intake, or both.

Video would not load. The pulley should never hit the tensioner spring. If the belt tension is not tight enough, consider buying and installing a new spring. You will damage the spring and pulley if you run it like this long term.

When the tensioner pulley rattles against the frame, I have added a piece of hose split and wrapped around the spring and zip tied in the past. May be able to do this for your rattle. Relocating the spring connection point is also an option. Just use common sense on amount of tension on spring...

In the words of Rodney King, “can’t we all just get along?” Let’s don’t take things personally on this or any other forum. We are ultimately here to help each other. When you help someone in life, you make a difference. Everyone needs some help and kindness and guidance in life from time to time.

We have been a throw away society for many years now.

I have never seen a mowing business running a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel on any hills, NEVER. There has got to be something more to that then my own personal experience.

Same with limiter caps on handheld equipment, low and high adjustments. Occasionally these caps need to be removed to get the air/fuel mixture just right as the equipment ages.

Ten years of mowing residential and commercial properties running my own business. Some of it you have to be very careful on and have the right equipment and experience. I would NEVER attempt mowing hills on a riding mower or Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel.