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SO here is my problem, my Simplicity mower will not turn over. Bought it used and it ran great for a few hours, no issues except that the clutch/brake did not seem to engage, brakes didnt work and the really hard to shift gears. SO I parked the mower and tightened the nut around the spring like the manual told me too so my brakes would work. I turned the mower back on and the motor was loud and high pitched and sounded fast, so I dropped the throttle all the way down and turned off the mower, when I did this a big ploom of smoke came out of the exhaust. I backed off the nut some and noticed that now my parking brake was firm, the brakes worked and that it was really easy to move through the gears, (mower is off), when before it was very stiff to move through the gears even when off. I tried to turn over the engine, it tried and got nothing. DId it again and it made a louder "whirring/whining" type sound. I took out the spark plug and noticed oil on it and also oil on air filter. I let it sit overnight and this morning, same thing. Doesnt start, just sounds like something is spinning and goes "whirrrrr". There were no leaks anywhere. I figured being an older mower, a head gasket or something will need to be replaced at some point and have no qualms fixing it, just not sure where to start. Is it a head gasket? Is it a starter? Battery is new and belts are newish. Good gas and oil is at right level. Any ideas where to start? Thanks for the help.

Talked to simplicity repairman and he told me that head gasket probably fine, check for gas in oil and if it is probably a carb issue. Bore stuck open or something like that? Also said starting problem is issue with starter. Anyone help me with replacing a starter on a Simplicity mower or point me towards somewhere/someone/a link that can help me replace that. Also, do I need a new carburetor? Thanks

Before I get into a drawn out explanation on how to proceed, I need to know how handy you feel you are and if you can handle a medium or hard problem. This will make it easier for me to tell you how to proceed.

I follow directions real well. I have worked on a car quite a bit. Medium I should be fine, hard, probably will send to the shop. 4-6 hour job, I can handle, 2 day job will probably let the specialists handle. I have changed starters on my cars in the past, replaced the entire cooling system in a jeep grand Cherokee by myself, have done all the maintenance on my mowers in the past. Took apart and fixed the pump on my buddies pressure washer before. Not an expert but do have some skill. Guy on phone said that starter and starter/flywheel were 2 different levels of difficulty, and I took apart and put together a carb on an old moped I had, and it ran for 2 years with no issues afterwards. Brand new mower and I would probably not try, but a used mower, why not. If I get in over my head, I'll call the shop to come get it.

Ok, let's start with the simple and then work the hard. First I would like to start with the starter. Take a battery or battery charger and jump the starter. Positive to the terminal on the starter and negative to ground. If it just spins and doesn't engage you will have to replace the bendix gear. We talk about that later. If it does engage, then we have to go to the next problem. Let me know.

My simplicity regent hydro 14hp has oil coming out of the muffler, oil in the air cleaner, and gas in the oil, and over revs. I took the fuel solenoid off and put a regular carb bowl bolt in. It has the vacuum powered fuel pump. How do you test those fuel solenoids? And any solutions to the gas in oil and everything else?

It also sends out a big plume of smoke

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0428 you have two problems. First, you cannot replaces the solenoid with a carb bolt. It will not run properly. Test the solenoid by attaching a positive lead to the wire and negative lead to the case. It should click and the shut off will pull in. Second, you have a sticking float needle valve (open) allowing the fuel to keep running filling the crankcase a other parts of the engine. Rebuild the carb and change the oil. Take out the spark plug and turn the engine over (with a rag in front of the plug hole) to remove excess fuel in the cylinder. When you have done all this, start the engine outside, it is going to smoke like a chimney for awhile. Good luck.

Rivets said:

Ok, let's start with the simple and then work the hard. First I would like to start with the starter. Take a battery or battery charger and jump the starter. Positive to the terminal on the starter and negative to ground. If it just spins and doesn't engage you will have to replace the bendix gear. We talk about that later. If it does engage, then we have to go to the next problem. Let me know.

Click to expand...

Ok, ill try that, but wont be til Fri morning. Thanks for the help and the time. Now if it the bendix gear, is that a good thing or bad thing, in terms of difficulty. If it does engage ( meaning fire up right?) than what does that point too? Thanks

Very common that gasoline is getting past the carb and into the oil crankcase . The oil will ignite if it gets hot and gives white smoke . Since the crankcase is overfilled with gas oil mix it has to come out some place and the muffler is IT if it doesn't ignite first - smell the oil . Might stink like gasoline .
Hope you didn't burn up the motor .

Rivets
Thanks for the help I will try that in the next week or two do you have any tips on what to check when rebuilding the carb?

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Just go slow and take your time. It's not that hard. I'v been told there are some utubes which might help, but I'v net looked. Bad bendix gear isn't bad just need to replace the gear.

Mwh0428 said:

My simplicity regent hydro 14hp has oil coming out of the muffler, oil in the air cleaner, and gas in the oil, and over revs. I took the fuel solenoid off and put a regular carb bowl bolt in. It has the vacuum powered fuel pump. How do you test those fuel solenoids? And any solutions to the gas in oil and everything else?

It also sends out a big plume of smoke

Sent from my iPod touch using LMF

Click to expand...

oil in the air cleaner sounds like a head gasket to me, a lot of OHV motors have a weak spot next to where the push rods go thru the head, the gasket blows and puts pressure into the crank case, the only crank case vent is the hose that goes to the air cleaner, the gasket is cheap, $5-10, the only hard part is adjusting the valves and there are videos on utube how to do that.