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Picked up a 6216 with a 48" mower deck from a neighbor who didn't know much about it. I've worked on cars, trucks and locomotives for years but I'm new to this critter.

1. In the course of cleaning and twiddling, I mis-routed the drive belt or something. I now have 3 speeds reverse and only one forward. :laughing: Anybody got a quick answer or a diagram which I can consult to see what I did wrong?

2. Second problem is the real headache. The tractor itself runs fine but when I engage the mower, the motor bogs down and slowly dies. There is no belt squeal and all three blades are turning, it cuts well until it dies. The moment I disengage the mower it revs back up. FWIW, the motor does not quit dead when the deck is engaged, it takes a few moments and gradually slows down.

I have taken the deck off and checked every blade assembly for binding. Cleaned the bearings as best I could, and submerged them in heavy oil overnight and then re-assembled. The idler pulleys all seem to be spinning freely, I lubricated them as well.

I also replaced the fuel filter, thinking there might be an issue there. No dice.

Is it possible when the mower is engaged, something is shifting enough that it binds up? If that's the case, why don't I get belt slippage noise or smoke? It must be something real tight to drag the motor down. Or is the motor itself somehow so wimpy it can't handle the load?

Thanks for any advice!

Railroadman said:

1. In the course of cleaning and twiddling, I mis-routed the drive belt or something. I now have 3 speeds reverse and only one forward. :laughing: Anybody got a quick answer or a diagram which I can consult to see what I did wrong?

Click to expand...

Parts and Diagrams for Simplicity 1691065 - 6216, 16HP Gear and 48" Mower Deck
Whooo man, I can see how this would be confusing.
Real belt spaghetti here :confused2:

2. Second problem is the real headache. The tractor itself runs fine but when I engage the mower, the motor bogs down and slowly dies. There is no belt squeal and all three blades are turning, it cuts well until it dies.

Click to expand...

Here's the deck parts diagram if that will help (but it looks like you have already addressed those items).
Parts and Diagrams for Simplicity 1691064 - 6216, 16HP Gear and 42" Mower Deck

Malfunctioning vent on the gas cap.
Clean spark plugs.
Dirty air cleaner, maladjusted carb, stuck choke would make run rich and would not perform well under load.
-->Malfuncting governor.

Thanks enigma-2. Here's an update.

Following Red's advice I did a compression check and found one of the two cylinders had no compression. Pulled it apart and found the valve seat had come off and was just flopping around. Most likely the block is toast - by the time I get a new seat, have it welded in and get a new valve properly lapped to it, the cost would probably be more than the mower is worth. That motor is such a dinosaur it's unlikely I'll find another in decent shape on flea-bay or elsewhere.

It's amazing that the engine runs on only one cylinder, sounds fine, but just does not have enough power to both move the tractor and spin the mower deck at the same time.

With the above problem identified I have not bothered to see what I routed wrong on the drive belt but thanks for the diagram, I may try to fix that and sell the whole thing to someone ambitious enough to install a new motor. I imagine it could be done fairly easily, but making sure I had the right shaft length and diameter, re-routing the fuel line, adapting the wires etc.....probably not worth it.

Thanks for the input though!

So I still have the Simplicity in the garage, bought an Ariens to use but there's something about this one that makes me want to save it. Tried putting the loose valve seat in with plastic metal but still no compression.

Anybody know of a motor which will drop in more or less directly on place of the old Briggs? Better yet, anybody sell a rebuilt original which would go in this machine?

If not, what demand, if any, is there for the remaining parts? Is it worth parting out, or just take the thing to the local scrap yard?

Thanks!

Hi there Railroader. I am new to this site. I was just browsin and seen your problem. What is the status on your 6216? I have a 6211,which has the same frame as 6216. Might be interested in your 6216 if you still have it. The valves are repairable by a machine shop. they usally put oversize seats in them.

Railroadman said:

So I still have the Simplicity in the garage, bought an Ariens to use but there's something about this one that makes me want to save it. Tried putting the loose valve seat in with plastic metal but still no compression.
Anybody know of a motor which will drop in more or less directly on place of the old Briggs? Better yet, anybody sell a rebuilt original which would go in this machine?

Click to expand...

Just seen where a fella another forum had the same machine and needed to replace the engine. He found that a 18.5 hp Briggs 42A707 type 2238 Vanguard "appeared to be identical to the 402707 under the engine covers. The mounting hole are a little off." Don't know if the crank is the same length and diameter as the old engine however. Could be worth more trouble than it's worth. (Just something to think about).