In this thread knowledgeable people have responded. Years ago I read wide eyed the report from inside Porsche where the newly built AC engines were started, warmed up and pegged @ 7000 rpm. That after very old wives' and folk wisdom suggesting various remedies. Like sprinkling Bon Ami in each cylinder to seat the rings, ouch. Assuming round bores, proper rings, etc I guess such initial loading will not hurt, in fact help........if you have Porsche precision. Perhaps the middle ground and making sure there is adequate oil. Oh... and my favorite. Why don't mfgrs install an oil pressure gauge on every dash of every AC powered rig? Even if only some glanced now and then at the readings many failures could be avoided. Or at least BIG,RED idiot lights? (Perhaps some do).
engine break in on new mowers
- Thread starter mikeb1982
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bertsmobile1
Lawn Royalty
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I bought some 2 1/2 " dia key rings and had some promotional key tags made.
I hang these around the dip stick on mowers when I return them & suggest that for safety reasons ( kids can't accidentally start the mower ) the owners should leave them there.
Logic behind this is if you take the keys from around the dip stick there is a better than average chance you will check the oil before you start the mower.
Best one was a customer who say a big oil puddle under the mower so they started it to move it out of the way to see where the oil was coming from.
Exit piston crankcase left.
For many years I used to flood rings with oil when reringing engines however some long conversation with John Heaney ( Triumph race tuner ) soon had ne doing dry ring installs. no idle after first start and on the road strait away, adjust the carboy when you get back.
Rings generally bed in strait away and have never had a failure since.
I hang these around the dip stick on mowers when I return them & suggest that for safety reasons ( kids can't accidentally start the mower ) the owners should leave them there.
Logic behind this is if you take the keys from around the dip stick there is a better than average chance you will check the oil before you start the mower.
Best one was a customer who say a big oil puddle under the mower so they started it to move it out of the way to see where the oil was coming from.
Exit piston crankcase left.
For many years I used to flood rings with oil when reringing engines however some long conversation with John Heaney ( Triumph race tuner ) soon had ne doing dry ring installs. no idle after first start and on the road strait away, adjust the carboy when you get back.
Rings generally bed in strait away and have never had a failure since.
jekjr
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A lawn mower cuts grass wide open. An air cooled engine cools wide open. Very seldom and momentarily at that do we run them any other way. Changing the oil and filter at the first interval mentioned in the book in my opinion is he most critical thing one can do for a new engine.
tigercat
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I never had valve or ring issues in any of my engines by following this method. I'm 53 so I've been running engines for a few years now.
Snow blowers, lawn mowers, tillers, tractors and my cars are all done the same way. I don't follow a special break in procedure on anything I own. When the machine is brand new, I respect the machine a bit so I run them 80% throttle for the first hour or so. Just take it easy.
A slight warm up is done always when they are first fired up to get the oil flowing. Don't beat them to death when you first run them if they are not up to full temperature. Listen to the motor, if it's laboring some, back it off a little.
Most importantly, change the oil and filter when you should.
Snow blowers, lawn mowers, tillers, tractors and my cars are all done the same way. I don't follow a special break in procedure on anything I own. When the machine is brand new, I respect the machine a bit so I run them 80% throttle for the first hour or so. Just take it easy.
A slight warm up is done always when they are first fired up to get the oil flowing. Don't beat them to death when you first run them if they are not up to full temperature. Listen to the motor, if it's laboring some, back it off a little.
Most importantly, change the oil and filter when you should.
B&S says don't put engine under full load for 50 hours..
There is also "Break In Oil"
I'm trying it in my new engine..
High Zinc Engine Break-In Oil
There is also "Break In Oil"
I'm trying it in my new engine..
High Zinc Engine Break-In Oil