My mower repair thread

[Vervepipes]

Looks like all 3 I have ready will be sold. I got a lot of calls and emails, one guy said he'd call back to see if I had anything later, so after work today I took a good 6HP Quantum, replaced the primer gasket and set the engine on a green Craftsman deck. Did a test mow and called the guy back, quickest $80 I ever made I think.

 

[Vervepipes]

This guy was given to me by my boss. He bought it in 1990 or so and has used it until last year when the gas tank started leaking from the seam. I had a spare tank, but the engine faces backwards on this deck, so the shroud doesn't fit due to the pull cord. Not the prettiest but even listed at $50 I got hits minutes after listing with a viewer in the morning. It doesn't have a primer so it doesn't start on the first pull, but once it's going it's very smooth running. The handle shape is very nice to mow with and the throttle control is a feature that I like.




The guy who wants the Bolens was supposed to come today, then tomorrow, now he isn't sure if he's coming tomorrow. I think I may go to the next guy on the email list for that one, and the made to order Craftsman is going to it's new home tomorrow. I just did my standard 1/4 acre mow with it today to make sure it's good to go. I don't have many usable engines or decks left, or ones that would work with each other for that matter like incompatible output shaft/self propel pulley situations. I can work on my own collection I guess, but there isn't anything I can really do that doesn't require ordering from the web.

 

[Vervepipes]

The Bolens just went this morning which leaves only the old green one left for sale. I figure it will go this weekend for sure, it's nice out. The guy who bought the bolens just threw out a 2 year old self propelled mower because it stopped working. I felt a little sick inside to be honest that it's such a throw away society, 2 years old!!

 

[Vervepipes]

I just picked up a nice 2 year old Ariens with Kohler XT7 engine for $40. I'm usually not wanting to buy mowers, especially at this price when they arent running but this one seemed worth the investment risk. As soon as I got it home I saw a twig in the throttle linkage, so I removed it not thinking twice about it, then pulled the starter and it started on the first pull. I deceded to push down where the twig was and the engine died. Wow, what a simple fix for such a nice mower. It is however missing the drive belt and the lower belt cover, but that isn't the end of the world. I'll call to see if he still has them somewhere but a belt isn't too expensive, and if needed it CAN run without the cover, it just means the driveline area will get full of grass. I'll grab pics after lunch. I'm not sure what to list this one at as there is only one more on Kijiji with a broken drive wheel and also not running for $100. Maybe $200 is a good starting point once I get a belt on? If I remember right, these were around $400 new around here

 

[exotion]

Is it disc drive?

 

[Vervepipes]

I only had a quick look but it definitely looks like a belt drive

 

[Vervepipes]

I just looked at an exploded parts diagram of the mower and it doesn't show the lower cover, only a top cover which seems odd to me. In any case, it's a model A173K22 and here she is. Going to try to acquire a belt today for it.








I'm torn, it's a nice mower, but I can't have TOO large of a personal collection. I already have the Sunbeam Lawn Champ twin blade, Honda HR194 in almost perfect shape, a 2 stroke and 4 stroke Lawn Boy, although the 4 stroke may get sold when I weld the deck cracks. I can't let myself get too attached to these things! Better sell it quick before I change my mind. This one in particular sure could buy me a lot of summer beer...

 

[exotion]

Front drive belt drive only one belt cover. Briggs 5.5? Probably could get $150 here

 

[Vervepipes]

It's actually a Kohler XT7 (7 Ft Lb), I think it's a Honda clone.

 

[Vervepipes]

Well the closest Ariens dealer in on the other side of the city, about a 30 minute drive so I did a bit of research, I need a 3/8X32.5" belt. I should be able to find that at a hardware store. Maybe I'll check tonight, maybe tomorrow. In any case, that's been set aside and I built a good mower out of a hodgepodge of parts. Good MTD deck, put on a 4.5HP Craftsman Tecumseh that needed a magneto from another parts motor and replaced the primer bulb. Now I have a very ugly mower that works, but I'll swap over another MTD shroud. The one that came with the deck was torn right off. I need to match some wheels for it too, maybe I'll put adjusters on it since I have so many spares laying around. Like I said, definitely a hodgepodge.