governor issue?

[wwjr]

After a long day of rough cutting, my old Craftsman 19hp I/C gold twin lawn tractor made a "freaky" noise and then started "screaming" with the engine at beyond full blast. I tried to lower the throttle, and idle the engine, but nothing worked. After turning it off, I was able to restart, but it still screams and feels like it is going to blow apart. Now, it turns over, but doesn't start. Probably not a good idea to restart it anyway if is what I think it may be (based on very limited knowledge, a bit of common sense, and a bit of research). Does this sound like a governor gear inside the engine coming apart? If so, what kind of repair bill am I looking at? The mower has/had great power, but it was/is missing a gear. Still, was doing a good job cutting my rough property which is a bit over an acre. What other issues could this be if not a governor?

I appreciate everyone's help. I basically need help deciding if this is fixable, or if I am looking at a new mower. Thanks.

 

[ILENGINE]

Could be a governor gear failure, but lets first check to make sure that the linkage to the carb isn't binding up , or one of the screws came out of the throttle butterfly and is jamming the throttle open.

 

[wwjr]

No, all of the linkage seems to be working. I have checked it a dozen times over the last few weeks hoping to find something, but all seems well. Moves well, and no springs that look odd/bent, or anything. Nice and tight when the throttle is in full, and a bit looser with it off. I removed the carb cover, and air cleaner, and looked thru the choke and moved the throttle lever and the only thing weird was that it didn't quite completely close with the throttle all the way off. When I moved it up (by that I mean giving it gas) the butterfly opened fine. To see if it would close completely, I took a screwdriver and pushed it completely closed. There was about 1/8 " gap until I did that. Seems like that would only come into play when shutting it off though.

This thing sounds like having the throttle on full and more. I had never heard it that loud. Plus, it wouldn't throttle down. Now that I think of it, the only way to shut it down was by turning off the key! A governor is supposed to work at high rpm, right? ...and actually keep the engine at a steady rpm when under stress? If one is broken, does it cause all engine idle control to be lost?

 

[ILENGINE]

From your latest description it does sound like the governor gear came apart. the governor spring opens the throttle to give it more gas. the job of the governor gear is to slow the engine down. those two have to work together.

 

[wwjr]

is this an expensive repair? this is an old mower, although it has been doing the job pretty well. the transmission is missing 4th gear, so that is also a consideration and not something I would want to have to replace. should I consider a repair? new engine? or new mower? if you saw this in your shop, what estimate would you give to go into the engine and repair the gear?

I appreciate the help, and advice. I don't want to throw good money after bad on an old mower, but I don't want to buy a new one until I have to.

 

[ILENGINE]

A lot of the price comes down to how hard it is to get the engine pulleys off, If everything goes right I could see a repair going in the $150-200 range, depending on problems encountered. Price could be slightly less, or slightly more.

 

[wwjr]

Thanks, I appreciate the help! There is a shop here in town I can talk to and see if his estimate sounds about the same. I wouldn't mind spending that much to get it back up and running.

 

[reynoldston]

I don't know what engine you have in the mower but if it came into my shop and I work on the cheaper side I wouldn't be giving you a price till I knew what was wrong with it. If the engine has to come all apart to install a governor gear I really don't think that 200 dollars is going very far with the price of parts. If you do take it to a shop be very clear as to what you want to spend and have done because I can see you getting a 100 dollar bill just to tell you what it needs. I have seen these prices on this forum and really don't understand where they get them from??? The mower already have a transmission going bad, now (If) it only cost 200 dollars to fix the engine and the first time you use it the transmission go's out your mower just turned into a money pit. Just saying CAUTION

 

[JD is best]

No, all of the linkage seems to be working. I have checked it a dozen times over the last few weeks hoping to find something, but all seems well. Moves well, and no springs that look odd/bent, or anything. Nice and tight when the throttle is in full, and a bit looser with it off. I removed the carb cover, and air cleaner, and looked thru the choke and moved the throttle lever and the only thing weird was that it didn't quite completely close with the throttle all the way off. When I moved it up (by that I mean giving it gas) the butterfly opened fine. To see if it would close completely, I took a screwdriver and pushed it completely closed. There was about 1/8 " gap until I did that. Seems like that would only come into play when shutting it off though.

This thing sounds like having the throttle on full and more. I had never heard it that loud. Plus, it wouldn't throttle down. Now that I think of it, the only way to shut it down was by turning off the key! A governor is supposed to work at high rpm, right? ...and actually keep the engine at a steady rpm when under stress? If one is broken, does it cause all engine idle control to be lost?

That is exactly what my newest project does. Sorry I can't help you

 

[wwjr]

reynoldston...I hear what you say. I have a lot to think about, but I will certainly speak to the repair guy before anything other than an estimate is begun. They said they would charge me $50. to "check it out", but I'm sure that if he got into the engine and found more than one issue, it wouldn't be worth spending more than a couple hundred on. The transmission thing is just a bit annoying and it doesn't shift flawlessly from one gear to another like it should. The engine is Briggs/Stratton 19 hp twin. I will have to decide whether I go any further than an estimate because of the age of the mower. When I got it, it had broken spindles, etc., but once repaired, it cut really well...until it didn't!

Happy new year and thanks to everyone for the help!