Fuel Check your floats

[Mwh0428]

In my 1974 lawn boy self propelled mower the float wound up getting a hole in it and would not float so all the gas was going strait into the chamber. After a bit it threw the connecting rod out the side of the crankcase. So just be aware that the plastic floats get holes in them every now and then. But 30 years is pretty good for mowing an acre every week. and the mower was still good almost like new.

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[Two-Stroke]

I can see how a bad float would make it run WAY too rich -- to the point that it wouldn't run at all. I can't see how that would cause it to throw a rod.

I'd guess the engine was worn out. An acre a week for 30+ years is a lot of wear -- even for a Lawn-Boy.