Broken Piston Rod

[ksgillyfish]

Hello,

My Poulan 175G42 lawn tractor with a vertical Briggs and Stratton Single Piston Engine just broke a piston rod. The crank shaft where the rod connects feels very rough and maybe chipped. Does that crank shaft need to be replaced? Can I just sand out the roughness. Replacement price for the crank shaft is more than the mower cost me and I'm deciding whether to scrap it or not.

Thanks, Kevin

 

[StarTech]

No you do not sand the aluminum transfer from the crankshaft. Instead you use Muriatic Acid to remove the transfer. Available pool supplies stores like TSC.

Apparently you had a bad head gasket and ran the engine without oil. Also check for other internal damages before ordering parts.

 

[ksgillyfish]

No you do not sand the aluminum transfer from the crankshaft. Instead you use Muriatic Acid to remove the transfer. Available pool supplies stores like TSC.

Apparently you had a bad head gasket and ran the engine without oil. Also check for other internal damages before ordering parts.

Thank you. There was oil in it. I'm not familiar what the parts are. This is the only other part that was damaged. Do you know what it is?

 

[ksgillyfish]

I have another question. Should the crankshaft just lift out? Or how does it come out? Thanks Kevin

 

[ksgillyfish]

Ok. I figured out how to get the crankshaft out by removing the flywheel. Now that it is out, it looks like it got damaged. Does this mean that the crankshaft is no good?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[ksgillyfish]

I have confirmed that the crankshaft is toast. Thanks for your help.

Kevin

 

[StarTech]

Thank you. There was oil in it. I'm not familiar what the parts are. This is the only other part that was damaged. Do you know what it is?

Governor/Oil Slinger

 

[StarTech]

Ok. I figured out how to get the crankshaft out by removing the flywheel. Now that it is out, it looks like it got damaged. Does this mean that the crankshaft is no good?

Thanks, Kevin

Doesn't look too bad should clean up nicely with Muriatic Acid.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

clean the crank up with muriatic acid as Star said, then determine the integrity of it.

 

[sgkent]

just be aware that someone else did that recently on the forum and it lasted about 15 minutes before it chucked a rod again. You also need to inspect the cylinder bore to see if it was damaged or the piston got whacked. generally in machine work if you can feel it with your fingernail it is bad.

If you get the engine model and serial you might get the exact part number and see if there are any used ones around. Lots of good quality used ones go for under $100. Just know the sellers ratings, and make sure you are up to rebuilding the engine. There can be other things wrong with it where it makes more sense to just buy a modern replacement engine that fits.