My Lawn Mower Repair Thread (56k warning)

[Lee614]

Well I the Ariens is officially for sale, here's some glamor shots.

Hanyoukimura, First off--you are a lawn mower god.
I never seen someone so dedicated and passionate about fixing lawnmowers.
I come back to the forum just to read the latest update from you. you need to start a blog.:thumbsup: Plus amazing job on the car too!!

With that said. I have a similar lawn mower to the Ariens you repaired.
Mine is a 1999 re-badged as Scotts. It has zero radius front wheels but lacks the electric start.
The mower is a tank. It weighs around 90lbs.
It has fully adjustable self propelled (as you have noticed). It will pull you up the hill. Back wheel drive is wayyyy better than front wheel drive.
I expect you should get around $400.
here is my eye candy. I will own her until the engine blows up. (then I'll need to contact you :laughing: )
.

 

[hanyoukimura]

So I acquired another Ariens, same model. Paint's in rough shape, or what's left of it after pressure washing. I'll probably strip most of the paint off and then just repaint it, after I get it running. For now I borrowed one of its good height adjuster levers for the other Ariens, since that is being picked up this weekend and my ordered parts aren't coming until Monday.

Meanwhile, I finally broke down and tore down a Quantum to use its parts for the other Brute. A shame, its probably a good engine, but 2 of the three mounting bolts are sheared and stuck in it, so that's as good of an excuse as any to pillage it for parts. And so it was, I took its flywheel and ignition coil for the Brute, cleaned up the Brute's carburetor and put it all together. Four pulls later and it fired right up. I only let it run for a couple seconds because the oil in it was crap. This mower sat outside with the other one, but the dipstick was off it, so snow and rain and whatever was free to enter. However the engine turned over no problem so that's why I end ahead and worked on it. Draining the oil revealed a nasty gray liquid living in the motor, so I flushed it a few times until the oil drained out looking like, oil.

So it runs great now and the drive wheels are freeing up. Tomorrow it should be all finished, save for the hub caps...and the broken wheel. While putting it away the cracked back wheel finally committed suicide and broke right off. Fortunately, I have wheels in waiting for it, which I'll go into more detail about tomorrow.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Hanyoukimura, First off--you are a lawn mower god.
I never seen someone so dedicated and passionate about fixing lawnmowers.
I come back to the forum just to read the latest update from you. you need to start a blog.:thumbsup: Plus amazing job on the car too!!

With that said. I have a similar lawn mower to the Ariens you repaired.
Mine is a 1999 re-badged as Scotts. It has zero radius front wheels but lacks the electric start.
The mower is a tank. It weighs around 90lbs.
It has fully adjustable self propelled (as you have noticed). It will pull you up the hill. Back wheel drive is wayyyy better than front wheel drive.
I expect you should get around $400.
here is my eye candy. I will own her until the engine blows up. (then I'll need to contact you :laughing: )
.

Nice mower! There is one of those decks (in good shape actually), behind the small engine shop for $20. No engine, I may get it though. These Ariens are real tanks, mow really well too.

Glad you enjoy the thread. A blog eh? Hadn't considered, but that's an interesting idea...

 

[hanyoukimura]

Well it's been a log time coming, but the other Brute is finally done and ready for a new home. This was the one with a cracked flywheel and sat outside all winter like you see it here:

And here it is all done. "New" flywheel, new key, starter rope, dipstick (the original had rust on it), new hubcaps, new rear wheel, new blade, and some serious cleaning inside and out. She's come a long way.

I also got this MTD as part trade for the other Brute. Needed a cable but starts right up. Going to give it a tune up and a cleaning and off she goes!

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Well it's been a log time coming, but the other Brute is finally done and ready for a new home. This was the one with a cracked flywheel and sat outside all winter like you see it here:

...

And here it is all done. "New" flywheel, new key, starter rope, dipstick (the original had rust on it), new hubcaps, new rear wheel, new blade, and some serious cleaning inside and out. She's come a long way

....

You do some nice work! :thumbsup:

 

[afoulk]

I check your thread for a new post everyday I was beginning to go through withdrawl

 

[hanyoukimura]

You do some nice work! :thumbsup:

Thanks!

I check your thread for a new post everyday I was beginning to go through withdrawl

Don't worry, there's more to come! :thumbsup:

 

[hanyoukimura]

The MTD is all done. Since it was already running when I got it, I just had to replace the zone control cable, and gave it a carburetor and tank cleaning, replaced the diaphragm as preventative maintenance, and gave it a tune up and cleaning.

The biggest problem I had with this mower was the cable itself. i ordered based on the part number I got via parts look up for this model, however it is completely different than the one I have. It doesn't attach to the plastic plate that MTD uses but seems to hook into the handlebar, and the sheath of the cable is shorter than the original, so it had to be mounted further down. I solved this problem by flipped the upper handlebar and using the hole reserved for the starter rope handle hook, and moved the hook to one of the upper holes near the bail. I then recycled a cable bracket that had broken where the cable attacked to, but was intact otherwise, so the bail wouldn't tip to far forward. Works perfectly and you'd never know unless I told you!

I also started work on one of my Ariens acquisitions. It's in pretty rough shape right now, but hopefully we can fix that.

After I finished the MTD, I worked for a bit on removing loose paint and wire brushing the rust off.

Finally, I squired yet another Ariens, model 911052. This one sees to be in good shape, needs cables and probably a fuel system cleaning.

 

[Lee614]

...Finally, I squired yet another Ariens, model 911052. This one sees to be in good shape, needs cables and probably a fuel system cleaning.

This one looks in great shape. I am amazed how you find several of them.
Did you ever sell the one with the electric start?
Looks like it is missing the locking pins to keep the wheels from spinning.
Did it come with a side chute? and the plug to keep the grass from heading to the bag.
Sadly the engine looks a tad boring and plain.

 

[hanyoukimura]

This one looks in great shape. I am amazed how you find several of them.
Did you ever sell the one with the electric start?
Looks like it is missing the locking pins to keep the wheels from spinning.
Did it come with a side chute? and the plug to keep the grass from heading to the bag.
Sadly the engine looks a tad boring and plain.

I know, 3 in a few week! This one is in a lot better shape than the other one I have right now, but both cables are broken and apparently Ariens wasn't nearly $100 each...for cables! That's ridiculous.

Yep, sold for a not too shabby $250.

Didn't come with the side chute or mulch plug, but I have a lead on a acquiring some.

Looks like a Tecumseh Vector engine. I've only dealt with one and by that I mean I took it off the mower and replaced it with a Briggs because the connecting rod had blown up. This one does run though.