Hi,
I am new to the forum. I just acquired an old garden tractor that is in need of some work.
It is a 1989 Craftsman II garden tractor, with an 18 hp. twin cylinder Briggs and Stratton Engine.
The tractor model # is 917.255919
The engine model # is 422437
The story behind this tractor is my boss's friend's father bought it new in 1989. He used it trouble free for 20 years before he passed away. Then they gave it to my boss. My boss only used it a couple of times before he ran something over cutting through deep grass and bent the spindle on the deck. After that he purchased a new garden tractor and this one sat in his backyard. Now after sitting for a couple years he gave it to me, to hopefully fix up and use.
The first thing I did after I got it was open up the air box, where I found a mouse giving birth to a couple little tiny mice at the same time I took the cover off. I jumped back startled at first, while the mama mouse dragged her babies into the hole on the bottom of the air box. Later I sprayed some brake cleaner around there and let it sit to encourage these mice to find a new home. I found they built a nest right on top off the starter. I took the covers off the motor and hosed it down to clean the nest away.
Once I got a good battery hooked up and tried to start the engine, it wouldn't turn over. I took the starter out and ran jumper cables from my car directly to it to find that it doesn't do anything. I purchased and installed a new starter, which brings me to where I am at now.
When I turn the key I can see the starter move and try to turn the flywheel. However the flywheel won't move. The engine seems to be stuck from sitting for so long. The oil level is good and the color looks normal. I know it never ran low on oil and ran good the last time it was used. I took the spark plugs out and poured a small amount of oil in each spark plug hole.
I tried to use a pry bar to move the flywheel but it felt like that would just damage the teeth on the flywheel.
On the front of the engine there is a pulley which the belt for the deck attaches too (my second picture). It has a 9/16 bolt holding the pulley on, I tried to move this bolt with a ratchet thinking that might rotate the engine but all that is doing is tightening the bolt. Should I keep tightening it with a big breaker bar?
There is another pulley on the back of the engine with a belt attached (my third picture). I unsuccessfully tried to turn this pulley with my hands. It doesn't have a bolt to put any tools on.
How can I rotate the stuck engine to free it?
I am new to the forum. I just acquired an old garden tractor that is in need of some work.
It is a 1989 Craftsman II garden tractor, with an 18 hp. twin cylinder Briggs and Stratton Engine.
The tractor model # is 917.255919
The engine model # is 422437
The story behind this tractor is my boss's friend's father bought it new in 1989. He used it trouble free for 20 years before he passed away. Then they gave it to my boss. My boss only used it a couple of times before he ran something over cutting through deep grass and bent the spindle on the deck. After that he purchased a new garden tractor and this one sat in his backyard. Now after sitting for a couple years he gave it to me, to hopefully fix up and use.
The first thing I did after I got it was open up the air box, where I found a mouse giving birth to a couple little tiny mice at the same time I took the cover off. I jumped back startled at first, while the mama mouse dragged her babies into the hole on the bottom of the air box. Later I sprayed some brake cleaner around there and let it sit to encourage these mice to find a new home. I found they built a nest right on top off the starter. I took the covers off the motor and hosed it down to clean the nest away.
Once I got a good battery hooked up and tried to start the engine, it wouldn't turn over. I took the starter out and ran jumper cables from my car directly to it to find that it doesn't do anything. I purchased and installed a new starter, which brings me to where I am at now.
When I turn the key I can see the starter move and try to turn the flywheel. However the flywheel won't move. The engine seems to be stuck from sitting for so long. The oil level is good and the color looks normal. I know it never ran low on oil and ran good the last time it was used. I took the spark plugs out and poured a small amount of oil in each spark plug hole.
I tried to use a pry bar to move the flywheel but it felt like that would just damage the teeth on the flywheel.
On the front of the engine there is a pulley which the belt for the deck attaches too (my second picture). It has a 9/16 bolt holding the pulley on, I tried to move this bolt with a ratchet thinking that might rotate the engine but all that is doing is tightening the bolt. Should I keep tightening it with a big breaker bar?
There is another pulley on the back of the engine with a belt attached (my third picture). I unsuccessfully tried to turn this pulley with my hands. It doesn't have a bolt to put any tools on.
How can I rotate the stuck engine to free it?
