Strange problem, the oil seal on the crankshaft blew out and covered the belts on a Grasshopper 220 with oil so bad it quit moving. I thought no big problem just a seal. But now no oil pressure and it's full of oil. Removed the oil pressure sender for the light to make sure and nothing. So pulled the crankcase pan and found this. The answer as to why no oil pressure! What puzzles me is why the seal blew out at the same time it lost oil pressure. Second thing is if the rods and crankshaft are ok, how do I keep a new pickup tube from falling off like this one? THANKS for all the help in advance!
ILENGINE
Lawn Royalty
- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Threads
- 51
- Messages
- 11,213
Just below the ring that inserts into the oil pump there is a bent finger protrusion that is suppose to lock the pickup to the pump. The hook is broke off of your pickup which is the reason it fell out.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2024
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 767
Another fine design made from plastic to save the cost of a 5-cent washer head screw.
First, Thanks for the replies! Yes indeed mine is missing that "little" clip on the end. So, is this a once in a lifetime thing or something common? Maybe epoxy the new one in addition to that small clip? Next the rods and crankshaft look just fine so I must have shut it off in time. What I found is the torque for the rod caps is only 100 in lbs. Seems pretty low compared to how tight they were when I took them off. Last question, why would that make the crankshaft oil seal blow out? I'm glad it did, it's what let me know there was a problem. Maybe the two things are not related, sure seems strange timing to me. Again, Thanks for the help!
First, Thanks for the replies! Yes indeed mine is missing that "little" clip on the end. So, is this a once in a lifetime thing or something common? Maybe epoxy the new one in addition to that small clip? Next the rods and crankshaft look just fine so I must have shut it off in time. What I found is the torque for the rod caps is only 100 in lbs. Seems pretty low compared to how tight they were when I took them off. Last question, why would that make the crankshaft oil seal blow out? I'm glad it did, it's what let me know there was a problem. Maybe the two things are not related, sure seems strange timing to me. Again, Thanks for the help!
ILENGINE
Lawn Royalty
- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Threads
- 51
- Messages
- 11,213
The 2 things may not be related. I have seen the seals on the Command series engines just get loose and fall out. Usually happens after a few hundred hours.. Even the new seal going in doesn't fit all the tight sometimes.
VegetiveSteam
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2022
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 466
The clip breaking off the pickup tube was a rare occurrence and almost unheard of. If you can get a new tube and install it carefully you shouldn't have any issues IMO.
VegetiveSteam
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2022
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 466
Yeah, depending on how you look at it. It really shouldn't have happened on a commercial grade engine. For a lot of professional lawn folks, 494 hours is only about half a cutting season.
Looked at a parts breakout.....is there perhaps an opportunity to safety wire the tube to the body of the pump? There is the nice lip on the tube but can't tell if there is an opening above to slip the wire thru. I'd avoid any kind of chemical restraint such as epoxy, unknown how long that would last. Mechanical would be better.