Re-Power riding mower or replace? Augh...

[Soundchasm]

Well, sorry if you've been holding your breath. ;-)

I DID get the new engine installed, though probably on the 4th try... The Honda is a nice power plant. The engine "hunts" while warming up, but settles in nicely. Found a cheap hour meter that only needs to be wrapped around the spark plug wire. That'll be nice. When thats unit battery dies, I'll make a note of total hours and install a new meter. I'll finally know how many hours the unit runs each year.

Am so happy to keep good steel out of a landfill.

Just had the steering break. Found a brand new young kid to make/weld a repair tonight. He did a great job. The steering column was missing a cotter pin that would have kept the weight off the break point. There SHOULD have been a cotter pin to keep the load off the steering column. But since there was never one that I saw, how could I have known it was missing??

The repair has been made, and the cotter pin installed. I'm still in business w/o missing a mowing cycle.

 

[SpaceBus]

This was a fun read, I'm glad you got it going. My parents had the same mower when I was a kid and it was awesome!

 

[Soundchasm]

Just realized I never posted the finished product! It almost looks like it grew there. And there was a side bonus. The Snapper tank bumped into the Honda tank, so I took the Honda tank and replaced a leaky gas tank that would have cost $75 to buy.

I need to put that exhaust deflector on there. ;-)

 

[SpaceBus]

That thing is probably a rocket ship now!

 

[Soundchasm]

That thing is probably a rocket ship now!

I've got a hill out back. You can hear it start to dig in going up but you just keep going. HP ratings changed over the years, I find out. The 25 YO B&S was rated at 14HP (gross?) and probably started dropping on the 2nd ignition. ;-)

I think the Honda is rated at 10HP (net), and the displacement is the same, so the ponies are all real now...

 

[SpaceBus]

I've got a hill out back. You can hear it start to dig in going up but you just keep going. HP ratings changed over the years, I find out. The 25 YO B&S was rated at 14HP (gross?) and probably started dropping on the 2nd ignition. ;-)

I think the Honda is rated at 10HP (net), and the displacement is the same, so the ponies are all real now...

The Honda just looks so big in there. Many folks don't really care for Honda engines, but I don't know why. They are quiet and make great power. I'd take a Honda any day of the week and I actually picked my splitter because it has a Honda engine.

 

[Soundchasm]

The Honda just looks so big in there. Many folks don't really care for Honda engines, but I don't know why. They are quiet and make great power. I'd take a Honda any day of the week and I actually picked my splitter because it has a Honda engine.

I bought a second hand Honda mower 10+ years back. The drive mechanism got pretty anemic, so I started to look for parts. I can't remember exactly, but the thing is close to 20 years old or some such.

I'm a believer. ;-)

 

[Ashful]

I bought a second hand Honda mower 10+ years back. The drive mechanism got pretty anemic, so I started to look for parts. I can't remember exactly, but the thing is close to 20 years old or some such.

I'm a believer. ;-)

I'm a fan of Honda, but I also have nothing against Subaru. Honda always seems to be the most quiet, at any displacement and horsepower, of anything I've owned. I like that.

Funny enough though, your story reminds me of the 46 year old (mfg. 1973) Toro mower in my shed. I still use it several times per year, and it's wearing the original B&S engine. I'm no big fan of Briggs, but damn... that's a long life without any rebuilds or repairs.

 

[Soundchasm]

I'm a fan of Honda, but I also have nothing against Subaru. Honda always seems to be the most quiet, at any displacement and horsepower, of anything I've owned. I like that.

Funny enough though, your story reminds me of the 46 year old (mfg. 1973) Toro mower in my shed. I still use it several times per year, and it's wearing the original B&S engine. I'm no big fan of Briggs, but damn... that's a long life without any rebuilds or repairs.

I am stupefied. This indicates there clearly was a B&S of the past and of the present. I am no fan of the "present". Good on you if you have a piece that represents what we used to be about. Totally worth saving. It makes a statement about who we were and who we have become.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

The Honda just looks so big in there. Many folks don't really care for Honda engines, but I don't know why. They are quiet and make great power. I'd take a Honda any day of the week and I actually picked my splitter because it has a Honda engine.

I have 3 or 4 mowers with B&S engines and 1 with a honda engine. Didnt notice any difference at all with the honda engine, No quieter than the others, nor any more power. Not any easier to start. I also have a 40 yr old tiller with a B&S engine, use it once a yr. Just keeps going and going. Starts right up after setting for a yr. Plenty of power. At this point i have no preference to either one.

 

[Ashful]

Plenty of power. At this point i have no preference to either one.

I definitely have a preference, the Briggs on my logsplitter is so ear-splitting loud it hurts to stand near it for several hours, even with ear plugs. My old generator (Briggs) was also ridiculously loud, but the new Honda generator of similar displacement so so quiet I can’t hear it running from inside the house. Of course, both have multiple lines of varying quality (eg. Briggs e-series vs. Intek vs. Vanguard).

There’s no doubt in my mind, Honda puts more effort into their small engine engineering. But at the same time, I’ve never had a Briggs fail me. Ironically, the only small flat-head engine I’ve ever had self-destruct on me was a Kohler K301, a good engine by most accounts. Any individual’s experience with a few small engines is really insufficient to develop a trend or opinion on the statistical reliability of one, versus another.

 

[Soundchasm]

I have 3 or 4 mowers with B&S engines and 1 with a Honda engine. Didn't notice any difference at all with the Honda engine, No quieter than the others, nor any more power. Not any easier to start. I also have a 40 yr old tiller with a B&S engine, use it once a yr. Just keeps going and going. Starts right up after setting for a yr. Plenty of power. At this point i have no preference to either one.

I've got an old Poulan tiller with a B&S 5.1HP engine that just keeps going a few times a year. I probably got it from Dad in 2005 or before, and I recall it from a long time before. The engine "hunts" constantly, but that's only an annoyance in principle.

But at the same time, I’ve never had a Briggs fail me.

I bought a fairly expensive Billy Goat yard vac. It had a Quantum I/C engine. The guy who helped me load it onto my truck made me check the oil. It was full. Maybe the second or third start I had ignition and the damn thing blew up and shot engine casing like shrapnel. I raised Cain with Billy Goat and the dealer, and they wanted to throw the guy who loaded it under the bus. I was having none of it and told them so. That guy DID his job. They eventually replaced the unit. I change the oil every season, and after just a few hours, it's full of crushed pearl (engine filings). That engine is a piece of junk. At least now I think I can change an engine. Honda for me when the time comes.

 

[SpaceBus]

I've got an old Poulan tiller with a B&S 5.1HP engine that just keeps going a few times a year. I probably got it from Dad in 2005 or before, and I recall it from a long time before. The engine "hunts" constantly, but that's only an annoyance in principle.



I bought a fairly expensive Billy Goat yard vac. It had a Quantum I/C engine. The guy who helped me load it onto my truck made me check the oil. It was full. Maybe the second or third start I had ignition and the damn thing blew up and shot engine casing like shrapnel. I raised Cain with Billy Goat and the dealer, and they wanted to throw the guy who loaded it under the bus. I was having none of it and told them so. That guy DID his job. They eventually replaced the unit. I change the oil every season, and after just a few hours, it's full of crushed pearl (engine filings). That engine is a piece of junk. At least now I think I can change an engine. Honda for me when the time comes.

How do you like the yard vac? I they look pretty rad.

Edit: aside from the engine eating itself

 

[Ashful]

I've got an old Poulan tiller with a B&S 5.1HP engine that just keeps going a few times a year. I probably got it from Dad in 2005 or before, and I recall it from a long time before. The engine "hunts" constantly, but that's only an annoyance in principle.

Assuming carb is adjusted (not too lean, where it’s just fighting against governor), you may just need to adjust the governor. That not only sets max rpm, but also the time constant that causes that hunting behavior.

More easily said than done, but you should find the directions in the service manual, and some guidance via YouTube. Photograph or mark all settings before you start, so you have a reference. It would be good to have a tach, but some folks just set max rpm by ear.

1. Check carb adjustments (YouTube is your friend).
2. Adjust governor.

 

[SpaceBus]

Assuming carb is adjusted (not too lean, where it’s just fighting against governor), you may just need to adjust the governor. That not only sets max rpm, but also the time constant that causes that hunting behavior.

More easily said than done, but you should find the directions in the service manual, and some guidance via YouTube. Photograph or mark all settings before you start, so you have a reference. It would be good to have a tach, but some folks just set max rpm by ear.

1. Check carb adjustments (YouTube is your friend).
2. Adjust governor.

I think the valves will float before any high RPM damage occurs. These things are pretty self limiting.

 

[Soundchasm]

How do you like the yard vac? I they look pretty rad.

Edit: aside from the engine eating itself

You made me laugh... So you'se gets a reply!

Wish I could give a short answer, but that would be incomplete and contrary to my nature. When we first moved to this acre, we had a ton of trees. By my count, 13 have come down one way or another. Eight were substantial. So there were a lot of leaves.

Yard vac puns intended, the job sucks no matter how you slice it. The vac is great for leaves on a flat plane, but you still have to empty the bag. Switchbacks on a hill become tougher as the bag fills. Silicone spray on the zipper is a must. They have an option (purchase) that chops the leaves up smaller, but there's no point in it. When the bag is full the balance point changes and the front wheels want to go up in the air, so the limit is weight and not volume.

The thing is LOUD! I think I measured 106 dB at the operator position once, so hearing protection is mandatory. Oddly, it doesn't seem as loud these days, but that might be MY hearing loss.

A mask is also mandatory because of the particulates when emptying the bag. Emptying the bag is a skill set unto itself. Lift the bag off the main connection. Then push down on the control handle (front wheels off the ground) to remove the straps hanging on the handle. Now muscle the bag to the dump point. Unzip right, top and left. Lift, dump and shake. Attach main connection. Now pray that the zipper doesn't snag as you zip back up. Go back to work no matter how far your dump point is from the job.

The pine trees (both gone) were a real PITA. It does not pick up needles, pine cones or dog logs. A disappointment in the first two cases.

The hose attachment for flower beds might be really useful, but I never got it. BTW, works really well on concrete.

A crazy benefit for those inclined for lush yards is that the vacuum stands the grass up like vacuumed shag carpet. When the yard is in great shape, the vacuumed grass looks amazing.

I park the leaves in a strip of dirt I leave open for that purpose. Then I get my ancient tiller out twice a year and make that look nice. It's also where all my splitting debris is, so I reckon I am amending that patch of soil.

I'm not sure it makes anything easier. It does make a consistent mulch that breaks down faster since it's smaller, I suppose. And a vac'd yard does look great for a day or two. I think I did need it when I had so many trees. I use it maybe twice a year these days.

But the engine having stomach cancer makes me pretty cranky@!@!

 

[Soundchasm]

Assuming carb is adjusted (not too lean, where it’s just fighting against governor), you may just need to adjust the governor. That not only sets max rpm, but also the time constant that causes that hunting behavior.

More easily said than done, but you should find the directions in the service manual, and some guidance via YouTube. Photograph or mark all settings before you start, so you have a reference. It would be good to have a tach, but some folks just set max rpm by ear.

1. Check carb adjustments (YouTube is your friend).
2. Adjust governor.

I'll assume RPMs are Hertz, so that won't be a problem. Audio RTA will suss that out. I'll try to figure out what a governor is. Heard of it, but never touched one, I suppose.

Never touched the carb on this either. 1.5 turns seems to be a universal starting point.

When things dry out, I'll take a few extra minutes (I mean hours) to investigate during the spring tilling. Thanks for the tip. I do love keeping old stuff out of a landfill.

 

[SpaceBus]

You made me laugh... So you'se gets a reply!

Wish I could give a short answer, but that would be incomplete and contrary to my nature. When we first moved to this acre, we had a ton of trees. By my count, 13 have come down one way or another. Eight were substantial. So there were a lot of leaves.

Yard vac puns intended, the job sucks no matter how you slice it. The vac is great for leaves on a flat plane, but you still have to empty the bag. Switchbacks on a hill become tougher as the bag fills. Silicone spray on the zipper is a must. They have an option (purchase) that chops the leaves up smaller, but there's no point in it. When the bag is full the balance point changes and the front wheels want to go up in the air, so the limit is weight and not volume.

The thing is LOUD! I think I measured 106 dB at the operator position once, so hearing protection is mandatory. Oddly, it doesn't seem as loud these days, but that might be MY hearing loss.

A mask is also mandatory because of the particulates when emptying the bag. Emptying the bag is a skill set unto itself. Lift the bag off the main connection. Then push down on the control handle (front wheels off the ground) to remove the straps hanging on the handle. Now muscle the bag to the dump point. Unzip right, top and left. Lift, dump and shake. Attach main connection. Now pray that the zipper doesn't snag as you zip back up. Go back to work no matter how far your dump point is from the job.

The pine trees (both gone) were a real PITA. It does not pick up needles, pine cones or dog logs. A disappointment in the first two cases.

The hose attachment for flower beds might be really useful, but I never got it. BTW, works really well on concrete.

A crazy benefit for those inclined for lush yards is that the vacuum stands the grass up like vacuumed shag carpet. When the yard is in great shape, the vacuumed grass looks amazing.

I park the leaves in a strip of dirt I leave open for that purpose. Then I get my ancient tiller out twice a year and make that look nice. It's also where all my splitting debris is, so I reckon I am amending that patch of soil.

I'm not sure it makes anything easier. It does make a consistent mulch that breaks down faster since it's smaller, I suppose. And a vac'd yard does look great for a day or two. I think I did need it when I had so many trees. I use it maybe twice a year these days.

But the engine having stomach cancer makes me pretty cranky@!@!

Sounds like a real pain. I'll just rake the stuff up and feed it into my chipper shredder and make mulch. We have a ton of debris and an uneven yard, so I had hoped a tool like that would make it easier.

 

[rowerwet]

Instead of dumping the yard vac bag, I just back up to the pile, unzip the bag, crank up the engine and blow the leaves out

 

[Soundchasm]

Instead of dumping the yard vac bag, I just back up to the pile, unzip the bag, crank up the engine and blow the leaves out

OMG, there's an epiphany Great!!