Mechanical sympathy

[andyBeaker]

got an 'emergency call' from 'someone' "my lawn mower won't start. It runs for a few seconds then stalls.".

So I turned up, "how long have you had this?"

"Oooooh, must be over twenty years now"

"When was it last serviced?"

"Never been serviced"

"When did you last clean the air filter?"

"Eh?"

"When did you last clean the spark plug"

"ummmm"

""Where's the air filter cover?"

"Oh, its in the garage somewhere, it fell off"

On the positive side, what a thing of joy a Briggs and Stratton engine is to work on. Carburettor came off with two nuts for a clean, carburettor bowl off with one nut (even has a drain bolt in it) and air filter came up as good as new with a good swill around in petrol.

Sometimes simple is best.

Purring like a kitten now.

Just had a thought....probably ought to give mine a service, got to be fifteen years old now.........

 

[Squag1]

Don't forget to change the oil filter

 

[Jaws]

Aint it grand working on old engines.. Sort of cathartic... very soul cleansing

 

[slim63]

Aint it grand working on old engines.. Sort of cathartic... very soul cleansing

I agree, its fun to just switch off & potter along with old simple stuff occasionally

 

[andyBeaker]

Don't forget to change the oil filter

Amazingly the oil level,was,in tolerance and actually quite clean,despite never having received any attention whatsoever.

Probably not surprising as there can't be more than about four moving parts inside the 'Engine'!

 

[ianrobbo1]

Probably not surprising as there can't be more than about four moving parts inside the 'Engine'!

Which is probably why you succeded in sorting it out then!!!

 

[Squag1]

But what about the oil filter

 

[andyBeaker]

But what about the oil filter

I changed both of them, and added an external oil cooler and cooling fan while I was at it.

 

[Squag1]

I changed both of them, and added an external oil cooler and cooling fan while I was at it.

 

[carler]

But what about the oil filter

What oil filter?? Where??

 

[andyBeaker]

What oil filter?? Where??

It's just behind the flux capacitor.

 

[Jaws]

It's just behind the flux capacitor.

Ohhhh.. You HAVE been working on an early one then !
Later models had them under the Mr Fusion fuel collector .. Stupid idea and a sod to change

 

[Quiney]

Recently bought a new mower with a Honda engine. Came with a 5 year warranty, thought Brilliant!
Then read the small print, had to be serviced every year by the dealer.
Fuck that. I passed my last mower on to my stepson. Had a Briggs and Stratton engine, 15 years old. As Andy said 10 mins to do air filter & plug.