I'm fairly novice to mower repair so bare with me. I have a 9 year old craftsman model 917287050 riding mower. The engine is an Intek OHV 18 HP B&S 031H77-0605-E3 (also found 5BSXS.5012.VP on the engine but I don't know if this would help). After not mowing for a week the engine wouldn't start, no sound at all. I replaced the battery and switch, but nothing. So I check the voltage and traced the problem to the solenoid, replaced that and it started up. I ran the mower for a few minutes, turned it off and it wouldn't start again, except this time the engine just whined. I checked the flywheel and couldn't turn it by hand. I took the spark plug out, took off the cover and the main bolt, use some penetrating oil around the engine and through the spark plug hole and eventually got it to turn fairly easily using a pipe wrench to turn the bolt on the flywheel. It was a little low on oil so I topped that off. Started it up and it sounded good. The next day I went out to mower and ran it again for a few minutes. It idled a little rough but always has. Then I heard a new loud "clunk, clunk" sound. I shut the engine off and now I am back to the squeal sound of the flywheel. Is my mower toast?
#2
BlazNT
From what you said I would think it a broken rod. But im just thinking out loud.
