Search results

On older 2-stroke handheld equipment, such as a trimmer, before anything else, you should check the condition of the piston, rings, and cylinder. Is there scoring? Only experience can help you determine whether it is an “acceptable” amount of scoring for trimmer to run right or not. Otherwise...

Or bend the tabs out carefully, install belt, and tap tabs back into position.

You need to reset static governor setting. There are many pages of service manuals, forums, and videos showing you how to do this correctly. Then once that is set correctly, the dynamic governor setting should be set to about 3600 RPM without blades on (no load). There are springs, slots, tabs...

Remove valve cover and visually check valves for any problems such as push rod bent, etc. Start engine and hold the governor arm so it doesn’t over speed and see if governor is fighting back or not. I have to go in deep on my Vanguard 35 hp next week for a bad governor.

Always try to keep OEM carburetor if possible, in this case a Zama. The muffler is not usually what clogs, it is the spark arrestor on the muffler.

140 CC engine is about 3.5 to 4 horsepower.

General troubleshooting on a specific engine is not needed. That is why it is called general troubleshooting and not Honda GCV160 troubleshooting (for example). This information can be found online at the touch of a finger, however the experience comes from years of hands on learning.

I replaced a blown head gasket on a Cub Cadet with shaft drive about four years ago. Huge Pita and won’t do it again on one of these with shaft drive.

They are not solid rubber, they are about an inch thick. Very little shock absorption is achieved with front tires with air on a zero turn. That is where a suspension seat really helps. In my opinion, flat free, run flat tires, whatever you want to call them, are they way to go, especially if...

Dusting down an engine is what you are talking about. I don’t think it happens that much. If air filter seal were that critical, manufacturers would have been doing it for years now. A good air filter and checking/changing the oil are very important to a small engine’s longevity as well as...

It is true that as a one person small engine repair shop, you can make a living and that is it. The money is only one aspect of why I have a small engine repair shop. The challenge, helping people, learning, not working for someone are also important.

Milwaukee battery tools are overrated and overpriced. The Hart and Harbor Freight battery tools are most likely made in China (like many products). I would say for the money, they are decent tools.

You can do a simple google search and get pictures and wiring diagrams. I did just now, but did not find anything with a picture of harness on the mower.

Pressure wash the entire mower and look for where the engine is leaking. You need to locate and fix the leak. If you can’t fix it, take it to a shop. If it were using that much oil in that short of time, it would be smoking like a freight train. Just a matter of time before you forget to add oil...

How much can a 5 horsepower rear wheel drive self-propelled mower really pull a person to the left and right when mowing? Never heard of this.

Just know if you replace rings only, and piston and cylinder are scored enough, it will do no good. Not sufficient compression to start and run engine with power.

Clean all terminals and visually inspect and see if this helps.

What is the condition of the piston, rings, and cylinder? Is there scoring? How much? If there is significant scoring, then new piston, rings, and cylinder will be needed. OEM Echo parts will be expensive. This is why it is rare to rebuild a $300 (new) trimmer.

I mowed commercially for 10 years running and owning a lawn care business, so it isn’t my opinion, it is personal experience and talking with many other people in the field. It is true that some zero turn mowers do not do as well on hills as others. Ferris and Scag hold a hill very well.

Zero turn mowers work great on hills versus a riding mower or zero turn with steering wheel. When using a zero turn there is obviously a learning curve to get good at it. The farther apart your hands are on steering arms, the more control you have. I do not like the Cub Cadet steering wheel...

Unfortunately you have to sort through the garbage to get to the gold on YouTube.

The steering sector gear and steering wheel gear are probably worn to the point of causing this issue. Lower the deck and look underneath the mower and follow the steering wheel rod down to locate gears.

If DL Carson has been self-employed for many years working on small engines, how does he not know how to approach and solve this problem?

Some solenoids are difficult to get to, as well as fuses. You need to spend the time to access both. It is about eliminating the good parts to get to the problem.

Dicksonm- It seems a bit odd that you suddenly start responding to all these recent posts. Although help is appreciated, your advice seems a bit general and wordy, rather than specific and practical.

Doing what you did could not have been inexpensive, unless you really discounted your labor rate. Hope it works out and sounds like the mower needs a lot more help. It would be throwing good money after bad though.

Anyone that would run a mower with no muffler hooked up for 280 hours is either deaf or dumb. It is very loud.

Ebay

The labor will be as much as the mower is worth to remove transaxle, drain, replace oil, and replace transaxle. Consider using an extractor to get most of the oil out versus removing. Common oil to use is 20W-50 synthetic, however, you need to find out for your specific application.

New OEM carburetor is hunting and surging, so that means you are running lean and need more fuel, or less air. Check for intake air leak around gaskets. Was old OEM Walbro carburetor hunting and surging? Have you tried checking temperature of exhaust? Have you sprayed water on exhaust pipes?

Have you checked exhaust with an infrared thermometer or sprayed water on exhaust with engine running? Compression from one cylinder to other cylinder is a 17% difference, which is a bit higher than the ideal 10% differential, but not alarming. If you have good strong spark and compression...

I have a great idea. Clean the OEM (probably Nikki double barrel) carburetor that you hopefully didn’t not throw away. Install on mower and see how it runs. If you don’t know how to properly and thoroughly clean a carburetor, take it to a shop that can. These carburetors have to be dead on to...

Sometimes good enough is good enough. Good luck.

Carbon fouling plug can also be a weak ignition coil(s). Going two plus heat ranges hotter on spark plug may not be the answer in a mower. More something that is done in an older two stroke quad or dirt bike.

There are 9 pages of posts about this mower that is worth about $100 bucks. If it is running good e Nine pages on a push mower. Isn’t it good enough at this point?

Ariens is the residential side and Gravely is the commercial side, same company. Ariens, like Gravely, are good solid machines. If you actually got 3000-4000 hours out of a Briggs and Stratton 8 horsepower engine, prior to or around rebuild, that is amazing.

Most zero turn mowers ride like a lumber wagon, rough as a corn cob. Best upgrade is a suspension seat. Always test a mower’s ride before buying.

I know I will get push back on this one. I have used 87 ethanol gas for 20 years and have seen no problems or issues and no power and performance difference. Also not a fan of fuel stabilizer, or True Fuel pre-mix in the gallon can. Keep your gas in a good secured container, keep it fresh and...

It must have been the board of directors for Kohler that wanted to rebrand and change the long standing name. Keep an eye on the quality and parts availability and how warranty is handled on the new Rehlko name. Hopefully no major problems occur.

The return to neutral is not correct on side that is moving while sitting, and needs to be adjusted. Why the dealer didn’t set this correctly while it was there does not make sense. I say bring it back again and get it adjusted or you will be dealing with this for years to come.

Some customers have unrealistic expectations. Some customers have gone through several shops, and now it is our turn. Some customers cannot be pleased. I really enjoy the vast majority of my customers. That said, this year is a record and have fired 5 customers so far and the year is not over.

I have never heard of Hyundai making mowers. Anyway, before removing cylinder head, remove recoil assembly and check it and lubricate it. Make sure pawls that engage flywheel cup are working. Remove spark plug and see if blade and pull start are working smoothly.

What is a Kohler aegis engine? Need the model number of engine please. First thing to do is loosen gas cap and run it and see if it makes it longer that 5-10 minutes.

That will do it.

If it has an exit chute cover with spring on it now, install an exit chute and problem is solved. Many of the “newer” mowers 15 years or newer do not have an exit chute cover and can only mulch. The cut quality suffers as a result. Some people love mulching in general, I am not a fan.

If you buy it, it will last many years only mowing 3 acres. It will cut your mowing time in half. This is a lot of mower for only three acres. Is it carburetor or EFI engine and how big is the deck?

If you spend the time, it has been my experience that you can get the tracking pretty darn close on zero turns steering. When you pick it up, and you are not satisfied, take it to another dealer for adjustment, or try it yourself. Remember, tracking straight in forward direction is much more...

If it is only 5 months old, is it under warranty. If so, take it in to shop for warranty work. When the belt was off before replacing it, did you check pulleys and tensioner pulley for smooth movement, play, and sharp edges? Is the spring in place correctly and belt tension is good? Is there...

Excess oil initially, with metallic residue in oil is not good. As suggested, if available, do compression and leak down test, despite the engine only being 3-4 years old. Also, maybe pull valve cover and check valve clearance.

Some of these rods, many actually, on riding mowers are very thin. Over time, debris will build up, along with the fact these bypass levers on trans axle rarely get moved. Get a flashlight and see if you can locate where the bypass rod hooks into on transaxle. Try to get your hand on the lever...