My Lawn Mower Repair Thread (56k warning)

[Two-Stroke]

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I have to say, I've never seen such a fast mower. If it were any faster I would have to run to keep up with it!

That makes me think the governor may be set wrong. Is there any way to adjust it? I can't believe it was designed that way.

Anyway -- keep up the good work as this thread inches toward 20k views. :thumbsup:

 

[hanyoukimura]

I spent most of the day working on the Ariens' appearance. I was hoping to just do a bit of touching up, but it turned into quite a project because large amounts of paint had separated from the metal, which had rusted underneath. Of course, this thing is built like a tank, so all of it was just surface rust. I stripped the loose paint and cleaned the rust off then repainted various areas. It's not perfect, up close you can see where the edge of the old and new paint, but from a few feet away its hard to tell, and makes a big difference in curb appeal I think. Everything seems to be working well, except the starter. I need a battery to find out if it actually works, shame it costs nearly $80 for one!

I'll get finished photos tomorrow, but here's some WIP photos.

 

[hanyoukimura]

That makes me think the governor may be set wrong. Is there any way to adjust it? I can't believe it was designed that way.

Anyway -- keep up the good work as this thread inches toward 20k views. :thumbsup:

I dunno, when you adjust the speed control all the way down it's nice and slow, I guess it just has dreams of being a race car.

And now for my favorite part: the before and after!

Only thing left to do is sharpen and repaint the blade, and it'll almost look new. :biggrin:

I'm wondering what I could realistically get for it. I think it's worth $450 all day long, especially since it'll come with a new battery and a trickle charger, assuming the starter works once I get the battery and hook it up. Especially considering a new one of these sells for over $800, but would it sell for $450? I wonder.

 

[hanyoukimura]

I managed to apprehend a batter from a Lawn Boy that was sitting outside of a shop I know. He let me have it, and amazingly it took a charge. It cranked slow, maybe that's why the starter didn't always engage? However it did catch eventually and had enough power to start the engine. I was pretty pleased by that. I wonder if a new battery with a full charge would crank faster and make the starter engage more easily? Will the starter not engage if it's cranking to slow? First time dealing with electric start so I'm unfamiliar with them. However, the fact that it did manage to start is a good sign I think.

He also had a push Ariens out back and let me have the front wheels and one of the front height adjusters, which is great since the fronts are bald and one of the adjusters is broken.

Only issue now is that it strangely died after running for a couple minutes. This happened once before and I'm not sure why. Any thoughts?

 

[natenkiki2004]

Gotta say I love following your thread

As for the electric start, it could be the starter or the battery or the wiring. See about jumping from a car battery. If it behaves no different then it's not the battery. The starter can engage but not turn over the engine if it's not pushing the amps through (weak battery, shorting armature in the starter, partial short or weak connections in the wiring). After jumping from a car battery, clean all the battery connections and if that fails, you probably need a new starter.

On the running and stopping after a while, could be it's draining the carb bowl faster than the needle is letting gas in?

 

[hanyoukimura]

Gotta say I love following your thread

As for the electric start, it could be the starter or the battery or the wiring. See about jumping from a car battery. If it behaves no different then it's not the battery. The starter can engage but not turn over the engine if it's not pushing the amps through (weak battery, shorting armature in the starter, partial short or weak connections in the wiring). After jumping from a car battery, clean all the battery connections and if that fails, you probably need a new starter.

On the running and stopping after a while, could be it's draining the carb bowl faster than the needle is letting gas in?

I tried with a car battery before I got this little one, but it blew the inline fuse, so I haven't tried since.

Good thinking on the fuel delivery, perhaps the float needs to be adjusted.

Glad you enjoy the thread!

 

[natenkiki2004]

I tried with a car battery before I got this little one, but it blew the inline fuse, so I haven't tried since.

Good thinking on the fuel delivery, perhaps the float needs to be adjusted.

Glad you enjoy the thread!

It's probably the starter then if it blew a fuse. Either someone replaced it with a lower amp fuse or the starter is drawing too many amps (shorted armature or dirty contacts/brushes). I had the same exact thing in a opposed twin tractor. Used an ammeter and saw the starter drawing 80+ amps when the engine repair manual said like 20 amps. Replaced the starter and it's a night & day difference.

Float might need to be adjusted, could be dirty seat or slow-flowing fuel line or even a vent in the gas cap not working right.

 

[hanyoukimura]

It's probably the starter then if it blew a fuse. Either someone replaced it with a lower amp fuse or the starter is drawing too many amps (shorted armature or dirty contacts/brushes). I had the same exact thing in a opposed twin tractor. Used an ammeter and saw the starter drawing 80+ amps when the engine repair manual said like 20 amps. Replaced the starter and it's a night & day difference.

Float might need to be adjusted, could be dirty seat or slow-flowing fuel line or even a vent in the gas cap not working right.

The fuse that was in there was a 2 amp fuse, that's what I replaced it with. I've no idea what it should be.

 

[natenkiki2004]

The fuse that was in there was a 2 amp fuse, that's what I replaced it with. I've no idea what it should be.

Maybe try and find a manual for it? Maybe PartsTree has a diagram with the wiring and fuse. I have a Cub Cadet push mower with electric start and it has a 40 amp fuse in it but that seems excessive.

 

[hanyoukimura]

More before and after photos, this time of the Craftsman 917.388400.

Before:

After:

Also fixed its wobbly front wheels. That drill press was so worth getting.