My lawnmower is vibrating more than usual

[Qacer]

I noticed today that my lawn mower was vibrating a lot more, and it was producing smoke more than usual. It also seems to be lacking in power. It almost sounds like it is puttering. The gas tank is full, so I don't think that's the issue.

Any ideas on which part of the lawn mower I should examine?

 

[deadlyapp]

air filter

 

[Kaervak]

Spark plug, ignition coil, magneto also. Check the blade too, make sure it's balanced and properly tightened. Your carb is probably a fixed jet carb, so adjusting that might not be possible, but check your manual anyway and see if there's any info on adjusting it in there.

 

[Nik]

I think the wheels may not be round. Better check.

 

[BoomerD]

Bad gas...dirty air filter, worn spark plug...all can cause most of the effects you're talking about.

Also, as already mentioned, check your blade. Doesn't take much to knock it out of balance.

I usually sharpen and balance mine twice per year. My wife LOVES the big river rock borders...and I always manage to hit a couple of them every year...really fucks up the blade. :roll:

 

[Qacer]

Thanks.. I was just going thru Troybilt's support page. They have unbalanced blade under excessive vibration. Also, regarding white smoke, they seem to indicate that this is normal for machines that are of age. If not an old machine, then too much oil or the wrong type of oil is in the canister. That's not an issue since I have not put any new oil, yet.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Qacer
Thanks.. I was just going thru Troybilt's support page. They have unbalanced blade under excessive vibration. Also, regarding white smoke, they seem to indicate that this is normal for machines that are of age. If not an old machine, then too much oil or the wrong type of oil is in the canister. That's not an issue since I have not put any new oil, yet.

See, next time google the answer instead of posting the question and then searching for the answer anyway.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Qacer
Thanks.. I was just going thru Troybilt's support page. They have unbalanced blade under excessive vibration. Also, regarding white smoke, they seem to indicate that this is normal for machines that are of age. If not an old machine, then too much oil or the wrong type of oil is in the canister. That's not an issue since I have not put any new oil, yet.

See, next time google the answer instead of posting the question and then searching for the answer anyway.

Damn Nik...if everyone did that, the forums would have an average of 6 new threads per day...

 

[Qacer]

Google does not have all the answers.

Okay... so I have this oil chart for the mower:

For any four cycle engine (engines with separate oil and fuel fill locations) use high quality detergents in the following viscosity.

For Briggs & Stratton engines use an SAE30 oil above 40 degrees F (4 C) and below this temperature use 5W-30.

For Tecumseh engines use an SAE30 oil above 32 degrees F (0 C) and below this temperature use 5W-30.

For Kohler L-Head engines use an SAE30 oil above 32 degrees F (0 C) and below this temperature use 5W-30. For Kohler Overhead Valve engines use a 10W-30 above 0 degree F (-18 C), and below this temperature use a 5W-30.

For Honda engines,10W-30 is recommended for general use, and above 55 degrees F (10 C) you can use an SAE 30.

For MTD Brand engines, SAE 10W-30 is recommended for general, all-temperature use.

My local ACE store does not seem to have SAE30. The car store a few blocks down does not seem to have this also. The FAQ seems to indicate that SAE 30 and 10W-30 are different. So what can I substitute for SAE30?

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Qacer
Thanks.. I was just going thru Troybilt's support page. They have unbalanced blade under excessive vibration. Also, regarding white smoke, they seem to indicate that this is normal for machines that are of age. If not an old machine, then too much oil or the wrong type of oil is in the canister. That's not an issue since I have not put any new oil, yet.

See, next time google the answer instead of posting the question and then searching for the answer anyway.

Damn Nik...if everyone did that, the forums would have an average of 6 new threads per day...

Yes, and those 6 threads would be BRILLIANT.

 

[Qacer]

Where else will Google get its answers? ATOT pages are already indexed almost instantly.

 

[lxskllr]

use 10W30 or 10W40

 

[BoomerD]

SAE 30 is available at almost every auto parts store.

I buy a couple of quarts every year to do the oil change and top-off for my aging mower.

 

[Demo24]

just plain SAE 30 is hard stuff to find. The only places I know that carry it are big hardware stores (HD and Lowes) and power equipment stores. I went all over looking for SAE30 that's also a detergent oil, impossible to find anywhere else.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
just plain SAE 30 is hard stuff to find. The only places I know that carry it are big hardware stores (HD and Lowes) and power equipment stores. I went all over looking for SAE30 that's also a detergent oil, impossible to find anywhere else.

What backwater do you live in?

I can get SAE 30, SAE 30HD at Kragen, Autozone, Walmart, and almost any other place that sells motor oil.

 

[ivan2]

more reasons to sit on it.