Spun the drive while attaching the blade

[rrozzi]

Hello,

I have a 2012 Murray push mower with a 140CC Briggs & Stratton 550 e series engine.

While putting the blade back on the mower, the bolt would engage with the drive with more force than it would engage with the blade. I got some vice-grips eventually to keep the drive from turning while I tightened the bolt, but the drive did get turned quite a few times - it was turned counter-clockwise, while the engine turns the drive clock-wise.

Now when I start the engine there is a scraping sound within the engine. I can sometimes get it to start up but it still sounds very labored and when I let the throttle off for just an instant the engine dies IMMEDIATELY with no response to immediately putting the throttle back on. As with most mowers, the blade would typically keep spinning after killing the engine, but this feels like when a car engine is killed in 1st gear and the engine itself brakes the car really hard.

I haven't yet opened the engine up, I don't want to until I know what I'm looking for!

Thanks so much for any ideas you have, and any directions you could give me!
Roger Rozzi

P.S. The thing ran perfectly until I goofed when putting the blade back on so gas, oil, spark plug, pull-cord spool etc. are all fine.

 

[gfp55]

Take the spark plug off the engine before you do anything else. After the plug is out try to turn the blade be hand clockwise and listen for any noises. If you hear any try to find out where the noise is coming from. The blade brake may be on, so maybe have someone hold the engagement handle while you turn the blade. Make sure you take the plug out first. The engine should turn pretty easy so you can tell where the noise is coming from. If the noise is coming from inside the engine you may have done something to it. It just may be the blade is hitting on the deck or the blade brake may be jammed. Let us know what you find after you check things out.

 

[rrozzi]

Thanks for the advice.

So I detached the spark plug and held the throttle down, then a turned the drive clockwise and this is what I found:

I heard no sounds but the valve(s) opening and closing on the inside - no grinding, no friction, no clicking. The only clue I may have is that it turned very easily except that, on every other rotation, I met blunt resistance at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock (from bird's eye, 12 is the front of the mower, 6 is the walk-behind handle).

 

[Fish]

I would check and make sure you didn't booger up something in the starter/top area. Post your model/type/code numbers, and take that top off and have a peek....

 

[rrozzi]

I would check and make sure you didn't booger up something in the starter/top area. Post your model/type/code numbers, and take that top off and have a peek....

I've had the top off and everything looks well with the starter mechanisms. Everything appears just fine, and it still starts pretty easily with a little resistance coming from inside the engine. The engine just brakes really hard when I kill it.