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Product ID number and serial number is needed. This is not a machine you just start bypassing thing on blindly experimenting. Is this a fuel injected model?

That is a catastrophic failure of the connecting rod. I do not recommend any attempt and rebuilding this engine. Time for an engine. This mower was built in the late 90's according to online information.

A picture would be most helpful My imagination recall has the memory bank overloaded at the moment. Wild guess is that the voltage regulator has been removed and forgotten about before you purchased the mower, or it was sold because the previous owner could not figure it out.

Glad it was something simple.

Hi Star Tech, The head with plastic blades is an optional head that Stihl offers. It comes with hardware for different models or adapters can be purchased.

Make sure the disengage rod has not been set for the side that is not working. Each drive motor has a pull rod usually at the rear under the unit.

2-strokes like this Stihl FS38 are designed to run wide open throttle for cooling and to keep the centrifugal clutch fully engaged. Putting a wider cutting head on it puts too much stress on the components. An FS38 is a light duty DIY trimmer. If you want commercial results, consider a larger...

An engineer once told me if it isn't broke, don't break it trying to figure it out.

I would not expect anything immediate, but I have seen it work. Run it and get the fuel mix down in the carburetor well, then let it set and see if it works its magic.

Mix it according to instructions in the fuel can/jug being used, then gently shake the fuel/jug around to mix it (churn it). Sometimes my Southern vocabulary is not quite understood. LOL

Hi slomo, If I believed everything You Tube shows us, there would not much else in life to do but be a pessimist. Those shows tend to be very biased and flip flop opinions based on conjecture. Alcohol does not "remove" water; it breaks it down and encapsulates it so it can pass through with...

Hi macdoesit, Using HEET is not a bad suggestion in my opinion. Honestly, I forgot about that. HEET is basically a bottle of Methanol fuel solvent (petrol) (Not to be confused with Ethanol (corn). It has to be churned in a fuel can, not just poured in the tank to be effective.

Hello macdoesit, The local JD dealer is who uncrates and performs the make ready for sale on new riders for the big box stores (It's in their JD sales contract to carry the JD products.) They get minimal fuel put in them for a quick test run and then they set on display for months before being...

That wheel assembly was installed with very little grease and has not seen any new grease in a long time. Bearing failures are often sudden in cases like this. The small ball bearing come out and the wheel suddenly cocks sideways and wobbles. That appears to be an aftermarket "universal rim...

Bad gas is usually from them leaving fuel in them while on the sale line. Fuel left sitting degrades especially with heat and sudden changes in the weather. Most likely, they need to pull the carburetor and give it a proper cleaning. This machine likely sat on display for months with old fuel...

What is the off chance there is a little diesel fuel mixed in with the gas? That would reduce power and make the grey smoke you described. I've seen it happen a couple of times on customer equipment.

The manual says change oil every 5 hours. Use SAE 10W-30. Synthetic should not be an issue if that is your preference. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2074088/Honda-Hrn216-Series.html?page=45#manual

We need the product label information. A couple of pictures might also help. By brain is having trouble focusing by using my imagination to "paint a picture" of this problem. Pick one: https://www.partstree.com/models/1330-cub-cadet-garden-tractor-parts

You miss the point. What setting are you using on your meter? Providing a picture of the meter dial setting you are using would help. Amps and Volts are not the same setting.

Thanks for the update picture. Now, I think that picture better confirms the exhaust valve guide has moved up in the casting due to an overheat condition. (Poor B&S design) I can see that the exhaust valve guide is not sticking very far at all on the combustion chamber side. At the moment, I...

Trash in the fuel can like bugs and old cut grass clippings is usually the cause. Any trash will get stuck at an angle fitting or a shutoff valve. Why? Because they have a restriction designed into them. I've cleaned fittings, shutoff valves and lines many times that had wads of fine trash...

Seems like lately I have had quite a few B&S V-twin engines that run erratically especially under load. These come to me usually after plugs, coils, fuel pump and a carburetor have been replaced. Sure enough, someone did not realize that if the valve cover vacuum pulse hose is cracked or has...

Yep, it's too heavy. The idea is to apply a vacuum (negative pressure) effect to the crankcase.

Hi Slomo, I used that trick years ago when I worked in an automotive shop. We occasionally would have a vehicle that the drain plug would not seal properly on. Applying a vacuum to the filler and then quickly switching the drain plug worked pretty slick. Not sure how that would work with an...

Looks like the connector pins got ripped off of the diode possibly. Maybe the diode got ripped out of the harness.

We need your product label information off of the machine. They have serial number differences and harnesses are usually different among them.

That is a good idea, but many mower oil filters are barely accessible, much less drill a hole.

I've seen a lead acid car battery blow apart on a cold Winter morning and bend the entire front corner of the hood on a '69 Pontiac Bonneville.... They had some heavy steel in those hoods. Arcing sparks or flame around any lead acid battery is very dangerous. Hydrogen gas is present in wet cell...

A basic rule is to never throw away any parts until you are absolutely sure the job is done. Cannot really see anything wrong with the valves except the one on the left of the picture has been getting hot on the stem portion. How did you determine a valve was bent?

I prefer the ones with rusty bolts holding the cables on a new battery. The customer has had hours (or days) trying to figure out what happened. 2-minutes with a meter and a new set of bolts seems to be a miracle cure. Don't forget the terminal spray unless you just want the practice doing...

Cannot even see down into the one valve guide hole, it's shadowed. Can you lay out the "bent" parts and take a picture for us to help you evaluate the entire problem, not just bits of it? This is turning into a "Where's Waldo" story.

Here is an example I found on line stating the difference between the two: Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are both types of alcohol commonly used for disinfecting and cleaning purposes. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a renewable and biodegradable alcohol derived from plants such as...

Amazon?

In the video it is hard to distinguish the exact noise. Audio is tricky at times. I will say that the top cover can magnify noise when it is in place. Any signs of rub marks on any of the pull start components? You may have to disassembly the center pull rope area and see it the starter dog...

Have you checked Ebay or Jack's small engine? Here is another source: https://chainsawlawnmower.com/product/honda-hr194-blade

Sounds like a worn connecting rod all throughout the audio with a little kit of piston slap every now and then. Where are you hold the mic when recording? Are you moving around? A quick listening device is a 3-foot section of 3/4 hose. Hold one end against your ear while you move the other end...

We need the full model and serial number to reference the correct parts catalogues. This is what typically happens when a coil stops working under stress (load). The engine does not rock or shake, a coil just quits. A quick test: Run at high RPM, use a spray bottle and hit each exhaust head...

If you ground the positive clamp and you get a crash course in welding.

The engine information is computer dot etched on the flat side section of the engine block; you may need to clean the block really well to see the tiny digits.

Hi Tooler, I happen to have one of these among my collection of riders. They have always been a popular model. I've never understood the dispute/preference between the "yellow deck" and the 'black deck models". Maybe it is a color scheme thing. Disconnect the PTO clutch and measure the Ohms...

Hi, Zero turns are not very good on hills usually unless going straight up and down them. That is not always possible. Wider tires also means slightly taller profile. They may actually be worse. The deck height would have to be adjusted slightly to compensate for the pitch of the mowing deck...

Hello Piney, I recommend a non-serviceable trans for that small of a property. I do not recommend pulling any heavily loaded through. A 48" deck is also a good comfortable size without making the machine too bulky. Stay away from anything loaded with electronics or displays except for a basic...

Hi Breton Lion, Are you using an adjustable gap spark tester? Did you remove the top cover an disconnect the coil kill wire? Did you watch the video that was sent? Missing some diagnostics on your end. A sheared flywheel key on a rider is very uncommon unless the flywheel was left loose. Even...

These engines have an aluminum tag riveted to the very top of the metal fan shroud. Pretty easy to find the model and type numbers.

StarTech, They are going to have to peen lightly with a center punch them in the center to lock them in.

The full model number got left out of your picture,

You read Amps or Volts? Wire diagrams are not always 100% inclusive on some models. Other mowers may have had the same harness with additions. Verify the 15A inline fuse is good and all connections are clean and tight. Parts tree...

Hello BAM66, Have you tried running a power and ground directly to the clutch connector wires to confirm it has failed? These were some tough clutches, and a switch or wire problem was most common. They show to be available on Ebay, but the link gets all garbled when I try to link it. Amazon...

Hi ljb, Pull the plug wires and crank the engine a few times while the drain plug is out, then let it sit and drain a little longer. Most oil filters have an anti-drain back valve made into them, so they are difficult to get emptied. Next option would be to fashion a trough drain out of...

Hello R Williams, For the welch plug, you can fashion one out of a tiny piece of aluminum that will fit the hole, then put little bit JB Weld over it to hold it. Be sure to clean the hole out well before sealing it. Those tiny welch plug are available, but hard to match up. As for the spark...