Help identifying Lawn Boy

[ka9j]

I've got a LB with a blank model/serial number tag that I need help identifying. I need a shop manual for it, but it's way different than my other LB (F). It's got a problem where the only way the manual starter will engage is when you pull briskly. If you ease it out, it never engages. If any other pictures would help, please let me know.

Thank you,

Frank--KA9J

 

[jp1961]

Frank,

It definitely has the F engine. Looks like somebody added a Briggs and Stratton starter to the top, that doesn't look stock.

Jeff

 

[turfboy1997]

Either 8240ae or 8241ae. Battery studs and primer up top on the handle make it one of those two models. They are essentially the same machine with slightly different carburation. F engine 4 hp.

 

[ka9j]

Jeff & Turfboy,

Thanks for your information. I looked at the parts fische for the 8240ae and both years of the 8241ae, and they both have what looks like the regular LB recoil starter. I went out and looked over mine again and the deeper I looked the more I agree that the current recoil starter was retro-fitted. Somebody did a real good job, but you can see places that have been adjusted to fit. I also have an 8237 and when I measure from where the pull up starter cord comes out of the cover to the center of the crankshaft I measure about 3 5/8". When I measure the same on the mystery mower, the plastic cover around the flywheel has no provisions for the cord to come out of the mower. The mounting hole and pinch bolt are there. Did LB have a recoil starter that had the clutch and cord reel above the flywheel? Did this starter have the cord come out horizontally or are they all vertical pull?

Any idea of which Briggs & Stratton engine used this starter? I looked at hundreds of recoil starters on salesy.net but I didn't find anything close.

Here are some more detailed pictures of the mower/starter. The problem that I have with the starter is that the piece that engages the flywheel doesn't come out and engage it unless I pull it hard and fast. I've taken it apart and if I get it adjusted by turning the phillips screw that you can see it'll either engage or retract properly, but not both at the same time.

I think the electric starter used the normal recoil starter's mounting hole and pinch bolt and the back of the electric starter motor mounted to the bracket that's below the mounting hole.

 

[ka9j]

Another question....

My 8237 is listed as having the f140 engine. The 8240ae is listed as a 'f' engine. What is the difference? Both are from 1983.

Frank

 

[turfboy1997]

No stock recoil on either of those units. If it has the rope and electric it is a top cup start from a 90's model f. The engines should be identical if they are both self propelled. If one is push and the other is self propelled then they are different blocks. The only real difference between a f 100/200 and 300 is the little hole at the top vent hole in the block of the 300 where the walbro carb mounts.

 

[Phototone]

That "era" of "F" engine lawnboys generally had the starter rope (for the conventional lawnboy pull-start mechanism) coming out underneath, down near the deck, under the motor, going to a eye-bolt near the back right wheel (looking from mowing position) then the rope, thru this eye-bolt up the handlebar to another eye-bolt, thru this and to the pull-handle and its mount. The ONLY "F" engine models of this era that have the pull start handle coming up out of the top of the shroud are the ones with a blade-brake clutch. Normally the top of the flywheel is covered with a plastic cover piece that is perforated for air. It spins with the flywheel in the opening in the shroud. It should be no effort to find salvage parts to restore the original function of this mower.

 

[turfboy1997]

I might also mention that the time in which the 200 came out was about the time zone and bbc blade systems came to stop the blade in 3 seconds. So they were probably fitted with the brackets or the flat inner threaded crank for the clutch on the bbc. The only difference between a bbc engine and a regular f is how the blade is attached. The clutch attaches to the crank on bbc and it attaches directly to the blade adapter on a zone or non compliant model.