Seized engine

So this may not be a forum for craftsman engines, but I figure a lot of you fellas are knowledgeable about small engine repair.

I was happily shredding a sh@t ton of oak leaves all day yesterday and then was starting again this morning. About 5 min after I started the shredder it slowed down and stopped. No weird screeching noises. I thought maybe some wet stuff had clogged the thing up. But when I felt for a big wad of leaves at the end of the chute there was nothing. While down there i could see wispy smoke rising up. I then thought to myself.... hey dummy when was the last time you checked the oil. I took off the cap and there was none to be seen and wispy smoke came out to the fill hole too. I took of the head and reel and was able to break the thing loose and cycle it with some channel locks. No clanking or grinding. Valves going up and down.

And that's where I stopped. Not sure how to proceed from there. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. I'll see about draining and new oil. And give it a shot.

DodgyNomad said:

I'd do the same. But before adding the fresh oil, I'd also pull the spark plug and squirt in a couple of oz of tranny fluid, or just some motor oil while the drain plug is out and pull it over several times, let it sit, pull it over again. Help lube and clean everything on the top end of the motor before firing again. Then add your fresh oil and hope for the best..... Be curious how this one turns out.

If it fails, as mentioned, grab a predator from HF.

Click to expand...

That was a concern of mine. Getting some lubricant up top before trying to fire.

Shiny. I don't know how severe scoring needs to be for it to be a problem. I ran my finger tips over the score marks. Barely perceivable.

Ok. Drained old oil. No apparent metal pieces. I put in new oil. And a bit in the cylinder. Manually cycled the engine. Put it back together. Gave it a few pulls and it stated. Idled up and stopped dead. Couldn't pull the cord. Took it apart again and budged it with channel locks. A little more oil in the cylinder and as you can see in the video I can freely turn the engine over. What would be causing it to stick? Oil not circulating?

Ok. I put it back together again. Tried it again. It ran and slowed and stopped. It stuck a bit but was able budge it with the cord. And then she fired up. Ran it for 10 min and I stopped the engine. I feel lucky to get it running again!!

Ok. I should put in new rings before running. Must be a rebuild kit fit this thing I'd imagine?

Ha! Yes it does that. I want to fix it. I've not really any experience tearing any kind of engines apart. Sort of excited at the thought of taking this on. Looking a piston ring kit right now. I did the carb kit a couple years back.

Gotcha. I have since run it for ten minutes at a time and not had it stop. Could I be out of the woods?