I bought a non-running Craftsman mower today, where to begin?

[SAWYER]

It is about 3 years old and is in excellent shape and came with a 3 bin bagger. The guy I got it from said he thinks the engine is locked up or so his neighbor told him anyway. The battery was dead so I left it on the charger all day. When I try turning it over it acts like the starter isn't fully engaging. Any suggestions(assuming the starter isn't the issue)?

 

[dawp]

is there a way to turn over the engine manually?

 

[Tsavo]

I recognize that vehicle. Lawn & Garden Magazine used it in their 2007 Nürburgring Shootout.

It clocked the second fastest 'Ring time of 2:47:58 behind a similarly equipped Husqvarna, which beat it to the checkers by a mere two minutes and change.

Your mower even beat the vaunted Cub Cadet and all four models from John Deere.

I believe Juan Pablo Montoya drove this vehicle in the same event to a Best-In-Class record.

It's a keeper, for keen-eyed collectors of 'Ring times, fans of Juan Pablo Montoya and mowers of lawn everywhere.

 

[PottedMeat]

make sure there's oil in it?
clean the carb?
check the spark plug?
see if starter gear spins up to engage the flywheel?
make sure the drive/blades are disengaged?
try turning the flywheel with your hand?

 

[slag]

There might be a plastic shroud on top of the engine -- maybe not. Open the hood and show us the ponies and we can better help you out.

 

[JCH13]

Chinese engine I'd bet. Good luck, you probably need a new engine as they're not cost-effective to fix. Ask me how I know...

 

[SAWYER]

I will get some pics of the engine

 

[slag]

I've successfully freed a stuck engine on a 10 hp briggs and stratton. I'm 90% sure this is a chinese B&S as JCH13 said and who knows, it may not be stuck. We'll find out here after a bit.

 

[SAWYER]

I only payed 50 for the mower and bagger so I dont mind dumping some money into this to get it going

 

[slag]

You should be able to turn (with your hands), the black mesh circular thing (top of the flywheel) If it won't turn at all, then either the starter is stuck on it, the belt on the bottom of the motor is stuck, or internally the engine is stuck. Take the spark plug out first and it will be easier to turn. When I freed my engine up, I removed the plastic shroud, the mesh on top of the flywheel, and got down to the flywheel bolt. I then sprayed some pb blaster in the cylinder and using a flex handle and appropriate socket, started working the flywheel back and forth until I could go around in a complete circle easily. Took me about 30 minutes and probably a hundred complete revolutions to get it to where it felt normal again. Drained the oil, refilled it, put the plug back in, and its still running to this day. I had ran it very low on oil which is why it seized. Hopefully your engine is not stuck and is just something simple. Well worth the $50.00 you have in it so far.

 

[Tristicus]

Sawyer

Stop buying stuff.

 

[SAWYER]

I can't!^


I removed the plug and it will not turn

 

[PottedMeat]

I can't!^


I removed the plug and it will not turn

are you sure all the belts are disengaged from the crank pulley(s)?

 

[bruceb]

Shoot some penetrating oil into the cylinders, let it sit a few hours and try again. If the piston is stuck that will sometimes free it up. Also check the engine oil level. If it is low, I would expect to find a seized crankshaft. If you do need an engine, this may fit ... 21HP Briggs Intek Vertical Shaft $570 plus shipping

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200354783_200354783

 

[SAWYER]

I removed the small drain cap(assuming it is for the engine oil) and nothing came out

 

[JCH13]

I removed the small drain cap(assuming it is for the engine oil) and nothing came out

:awe:

Fill that sucker up with some ATF and some penetrating oil, let it sit, then try cranking it by hand again.

Why ATF you ask? It has lots of nice detergents that will help de-sludge everything. With the penetrating oil mixed in, it shouldn't be too viscous either.

 

[SAWYER]

That must not be the drain plug because when I pull the dipstick it shows to be almost full.

 

[Kaervak]

I'd start by disconnecting the belts from the crankshaft pulley to the blades and removing the electric starter. Then try turning it over by hand. It's entirely possible that the starter is hiding a broken connecting rod/hole in the block. Take a look around here and see if anything helps: http://www.youtube.com/user/donyboy73

 

[Bartman39]

That must not be the drain plug because when I pull the dipstick it shows to be almost full.

No thats the drain plug but the little yellow cap is nothing more than a dust cap... Right behind where that cap goes is a larger black plastic piece that your turn counter clockwise and pull out about 1/4 inch or so... But be sure to have a pan under it so when the oil comes out...

If you cannot turn the top screen area as suggested earlier then most likely its locked up but just a note that series of Craftsman mowers with that engine had a bad issue of a screw in the carb choke or throttle plate coming out and going inside and causing all kinds of damage... Might consider another engine also as suggested...

 

[Gillbot]

Listen to bart, he knows his stuff.

Anyway, pull the plug and shoot some WD40 down there and try to turn it by hand using the pulley from underneath. After that, you can try to put some WD40 on the starter to make sure the sprocket is engaging the flywheel properly. It's common for the starter and/or sprocket to seize if the tractor has been left out in the weather.

 

[skyking]

I have one here that does not turn either, but we know why. The connecting rod is trying to burst out of the crankcase Ala 'Alien'

 

[MAG1969]

I had to replace the starter and flywheel on my dads craftsman. One of the gears is plastic and all the teeth had broken off. It would allow the starter to engage the flywheel. Not sure of thats your problem or not. But its a common problem.

 

[SAWYER]

I had the guy who does my mower work look at it and he said it is the rod and he can rebuild it pretty cheap.

 

[Thegonagle]

Chinese engine I'd bet. Good luck, you probably need a new engine as they're not cost-effective to fix. Ask me how I know...

LOL.

I paid more for fewer features just to get an old-school, side valve Briggs and Stratton on my walk behind. They're not fuel efficient or very clean burning, but they're reliable as long as they don't run out of oil, and the blade doesn't hit a city water shut-off that's not buried deeply enough. Ask me how I know...

I wouldn't pay more than a dime for a no-name Chinese OHV, except at gun point... Unless it was an old silver dime. In that case, just pull the trigger.