Thanks, Okiepc. I just bought the SRX75 Saturday. The ad said "$175, needs some work." Today I tinkered with it a little. You are right --- it is the Kawasaki engine, 9hp (code FC290V-CS10). I drained the oil. It had lots of gasoline in it. I figured the needle and seat failed causing that. Can I just get a new needle and seat? Or, do I have to get the expensive carburetor rebuild kit from JD? Another question: I'm puzzled why I can't see the oil level on the dipstick to come up to normal. I put in one fresh quart, then kept adding and checking. After two quarts were put in, the dipstick still showed only about a quarter inch. Could the previous owner have badly damaged something by running it with gas in the oil?
He said it started smoking, and he turned it off immediately. I know nothing about this mower. :confused2: I need an owners manual and a factory service manual --- was hoping I could download them in the form of a pdf online, but I haven't been able to find them. ..... Found hundreds of pages of Lawn Boy data, though. Old two cycle Lawn Boys are fantastic little machines that last a long, long time.