how many of you repair small engines as a hobby? $$

[ILENGINE]

I have a 20hp Briggs twin would not start so took plug out and grounded it at the plug hole and the engine started put plug back in and no start. I have had this happen on a Briggs 5hp a few years ago.

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Had a Briggs opposed twin a few years back that would only run if one cylinder was disconnected and not grounded, short in the ignition armature. The opposed twin single module uses both ends of the secondary winding to fire the plugs. The single cylinder engine problem may be related to rust on the flywheel, even though briggs says it won't effect igntion, or low induction of the igntion module but somethings just can't be explained.

I have a customer that farms and has a honda engine on a hopper wagon to fill the planter. he will replace the plug, clean the carb, replace the fuel and still won't start. He will drive it the 8 miles to my shop and i will start it on the first pull every time. Has happened 3 times in the last year.

 

[reynoldston]

I have a customer that farms and has a honda engine on a hopper wagon to fill the planter. he will replace the plug, clean the carb, replace the fuel and still won't start. He will drive it the 8 miles to my shop and i will start it on the first pull every time. Has happened 3 times in the last year.

I would say you just had a little better pulling arm them him:smile: Unless the bumps and the ride to your shop did something? If that is the case he should give it a trip around his field a few times before he trys to start it.

 

[Carscw]

Years ago a very old gentlemen told me it was a bad spark plug Who knows for sure but I do know if you put a new plug in it will fire right up

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[ILENGINE]

I would say you just had a little better pulling arm them him:smile: Unless the bumps and the ride to your shop did something? If that is the case he should give it a trip around his field a few times before he trys to start it.

I told him is was problably the trip over to the shop. I started it last spring, last fall, and this spring already. I may also have a better pulling arm but this guy is not out of shape by any means. The thing that gets me is the look on his face everytime that I start it. Makes him feel like an idiot. sometime in the future the real problem will present itself and get repaired, but for now can't fix a no start problem when it starts on the first pull.

 

[reynoldston]

I told him is was problably the trip over to the shop. I started it last spring, last fall, and this spring already. I may also have a better pulling arm but this guy is not out of shape by any means. The thing that gets me is the look on his face everytime that I start it. Makes him feel like an idiot. sometime in the future the real problem will present itself and get repaired, but for now can't fix a no start problem when it starts on the first pull.

I know what you mean, I have been there. Repair because it stops running. comes to my shop and I mow my whole lawn with over a hour of running plus run it for another period of time and just keeps running and never skips one time. Customer takes it home and it quits after 5 minutes or less. Come to find out the customer wasn't holding the dead man switch with her foot good enough. This mower had a dead man switch and not a seat switch. Now what do you charge this person for time spent and trips to her house watching her mow .

 

[Edwards saw service]

I know what you mean, I have been there. Repair because it stops running. comes to my shop and I mow my whole lawn with over a hour of running plus run it for another period of time and just keeps running and never skips one time. Customer takes it home and it quits after 5 minutes or less. Come to find out the customer wasn't holding the dead man switch with her foot good enough. This mower had a dead man switch and not a seat switch. Now what do you charge this person for time spent and trips to her house watching her mow .

A $40 service call fee? Haha.

Edwards Saw Service in Glen Mills PA

 

[ILENGINE]

two years ago had a customer with a Toro that would quit after about 30 minutes. He would call and I would go and it would start by the time I got there. Kept this up for about a month and One day he dropped the mower off with a full tank of gas and said start it up and run the deck and when it quits you will know what is wrong. It ran out of gas first. About a week later he called me again and I jumped in the truck and took off to his house, when i got there put a spark checker on it and no fire, Replaced the ignition module and problem solved.

Now if you are wondering why I didn't just replace the igntion module even though I suspected that was the problem. the module is $114.00 and didn't feel right spending that much of the customers money chasing demons.

 

[reynoldston]

A $40 service call fee? Haha.

Edwards Saw Service in Glen Mills PA

That is one of the many reasons I don't make any money in my repair business, if I don't fix it I don't charge. A person out to make a living couldn't afford to do that or they would be out of business quick which I can understand. As I said before this is just a hobby to me to make a little spending money. Also I couldn't afford to spend hours on this forum.

 

[pugaltitude]

Also I couldn't afford to spend hours on this forum.

I think most people in business will only come on when its lunch or tea break.
Im on right now but it is 11.18 at night.

 

[reynoldston]

I think most people in business will only come on when its lunch or tea break.
Im on right now but it is 11.18 at night.

I sure got you beat on that one because I am on a 24 hr. tea break seeing I am retired, also this will be my 1000 post so I now be in the 1000 club now:smile: