I've got a two yr old, cheapy WE mower I bought from Kmart. Won't start. I made sure gas lines etc are clear and open. Mower will start if I spray gas into the carb while cranking. The big clue seems to be that it will leak an entire tank of gas out through the little hole in the primer bulb. The engine may or may not be the Husqvarna OHV. Tried finding parts on line but the WE site doesn't show my engine only the Briggs Statton. Any thoughts?
Weed Eater mower
- Thread starter cuffs054
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I wouldn't waste much time or money:
On a mower that even if you did find the parts and fix it would only give you a couple more seasons at best. It does sound like the float in the carb is not rising as it should or the needle not seating of which neither are too hard to fix. Unless of course it has a non-serviceable carb, which I know nothing about. At which time I would call the machine done.
I would recommend replacement with a much more substantial unit that should last decades.
WK78
Link to said Toro machine
On a mower that even if you did find the parts and fix it would only give you a couple more seasons at best. It does sound like the float in the carb is not rising as it should or the needle not seating of which neither are too hard to fix. Unless of course it has a non-serviceable carb, which I know nothing about. At which time I would call the machine done.
I would recommend replacement with a much more substantial unit that should last decades.
WK78
Link to said Toro machine
WK, I am leaning in that direction.
New Lawn Mowers
Consider a battery electric, mine is 19 years old now and other than replacing the battery every 8-10 years at a cost of less than a hundred and oiling the wheels and sharpening the blade it has always worked great, I always joke that it starts and runs on the first click of the on-off switch.
They are also so much cheaper to run and maintain you essentially have a free mower in less than ten years, they are much better for the environment safer to use as well.
Consider a battery electric, mine is 19 years old now and other than replacing the battery every 8-10 years at a cost of less than a hundred and oiling the wheels and sharpening the blade it has always worked great, I always joke that it starts and runs on the first click of the on-off switch.
They are also so much cheaper to run and maintain you essentially have a free mower in less than ten years, they are much better for the environment safer to use as well.
Like John,I went to cordless battery mowers-so much better and easier to deal with.The last Toro gas mower I had I HATED it!!!Cheaply made deck was falling apart,newer B&S motor was hard to start and ran slow-so I had to go over an area TWICE to cut it.If the yard care guy I hire didn't want that Toro I was going to take it to the range and give it a perm "tune Up" with my new AR 15.Then I bought a JD gas mower to replace the Toro-it has a B&S motor-The JD mower worked well-but when I hit a stump and sheared a pin--the pin was INSIDE the motor and you couldn't replace it yourself easily.Sold it too a neighbor.That is when I went to BD,Greeworks,and Homelite cordless mowers.Will never go back to gas.Greenworks is going to announce a cordless ride mower soon-I would be VERY interested!!!
I own a Toro and the Craftsman that I gave to my brother was a dream to use!
Key start is nice but motor shuts off when hand grab is released and if you have low branches, key start wires may get pulled and must be replaced if disconnected, PITA!
If you have kids doing your lawn, stick with the Toro for that safety feature!
Replacement parts for the Toro is a little pricey, the battery may needs to be replaced within three years because of wire corrosion. Not sure if the newer models has a better battery protection cage so beware....
Key start is nice but motor shuts off when hand grab is released and if you have low branches, key start wires may get pulled and must be replaced if disconnected, PITA!
If you have kids doing your lawn, stick with the Toro for that safety feature!
Replacement parts for the Toro is a little pricey, the battery may needs to be replaced within three years because of wire corrosion. Not sure if the newer models has a better battery protection cage so beware....
ALL current,new, walk mowers have the start stop handle bail that stops the engine-motor when its released-or some mowers with a blade-brake clutch-releasing the handle bail stops the blade rotation-but the motor will still run.Those mowers are nice if you must get a gas one.Also if the mower is self propelled releasing the handle bail will stop the self propel mechanism.
Hadn't thought about a batt mower. I had an electric that literally went up in smoke after awhile. Is a batt mower strong as a similar gas mower?
Toro mower
Im a small engine tech by trade and can echo whats been said about todays stuff mostly being garbage. The ethanol in the fuel isnt helping any either. It destroys the carbs in short order. I would advise buying a Toro with cast deck and blade clutch so the engine doesnt have to be shut down to empty the bag. Go with the Briggs engine and not the Toro engine, its a bit better made. Most new mowers have automatic chokes on them that seem to give trouble after a few years.The higher priced Hondas are a good choice also. Myself, I use late 1920's Locke power reel mowers that will prob outlive me. Heavy and all iron and they just putt along and stir up no dust. Only trouble is they wont cut tall grass but I have a 2011 Toro for that if it gets too long. Deff dont buy one of the MTD made box store junks like Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, Yard machines, White, Bolens, etc because they are real garbage. Best advice I can give mower owners is run them on small engine fuel it has no ethanol to give troubles. I run the antiques on Coleman camping fuel and they love it.
Im a small engine tech by trade and can echo whats been said about todays stuff mostly being garbage. The ethanol in the fuel isnt helping any either. It destroys the carbs in short order. I would advise buying a Toro with cast deck and blade clutch so the engine doesnt have to be shut down to empty the bag. Go with the Briggs engine and not the Toro engine, its a bit better made. Most new mowers have automatic chokes on them that seem to give trouble after a few years.The higher priced Hondas are a good choice also. Myself, I use late 1920's Locke power reel mowers that will prob outlive me. Heavy and all iron and they just putt along and stir up no dust. Only trouble is they wont cut tall grass but I have a 2011 Toro for that if it gets too long. Deff dont buy one of the MTD made box store junks like Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, Yard machines, White, Bolens, etc because they are real garbage. Best advice I can give mower owners is run them on small engine fuel it has no ethanol to give troubles. I run the antiques on Coleman camping fuel and they love it.
cfz2882
Well-known member
Stihl RMA 370
I have a little stihl rechargeable I use for light duty mowing:was expensive,but quality and performance great-made in Austria,uses 36v Li Ion batteries to power the Domel brand neodymium magnet BLDC motor.Mine is from 2012,and no problems yet,but I have heard the cogbelt from the motor to blade can strip on heavy-usage mowers-easy repair
For heavier duty mowing,a 1987 ring-ding Lawnboy goes into action.
I have a little stihl rechargeable I use for light duty mowing:was expensive,but quality and performance great-made in Austria,uses 36v Li Ion batteries to power the Domel brand neodymium magnet BLDC motor.Mine is from 2012,and no problems yet,but I have heard the cogbelt from the motor to blade can strip on heavy-usage mowers-easy repair
For heavier duty mowing,a 1987 ring-ding Lawnboy goes into action.
Do you have any pictures of the Locke power reel mowers, John? I'm sure they'd be interesting to see.
I've kind of wanted one of the ones Reo built in the Fifties with their own make of gas engine.
I've kind of wanted one of the ones Reo built in the Fifties with their own make of gas engine.
I have a Black & Decker battery mower, but havent't used it in nearly 10 years. I bought it about 20 years ago, and the battery went bad, so is unusable.
I liked it, but since my yard is somewhat large, I was never able to get the entire job done in one day. Even fully charged, it would run down before I was finished. I bought it when I still had a riding mower, and it was fine to do the trimming. I didn't get a new battery as I wanted to be able to do all the mowing in one day, so I bought a John Deere push mower at that time. I like it fine, and it's very powerfull; little if any problem with high grass, which the B&D didn't like at all. For a small to medium size lawn, the battery mowers are ideal.
I liked it, but since my yard is somewhat large, I was never able to get the entire job done in one day. Even fully charged, it would run down before I was finished. I bought it when I still had a riding mower, and it was fine to do the trimming. I didn't get a new battery as I wanted to be able to do all the mowing in one day, so I bought a John Deere push mower at that time. I like it fine, and it's very powerfull; little if any problem with high grass, which the B&D didn't like at all. For a small to medium size lawn, the battery mowers are ideal.
Locke mower
Here is my oldest Locke mower. Its ser# 227 which would make it the 36th mower they built. They started at ser# 101 in 1928 and made 10 pre production prototypes put out in the field that they took back to the factory after the season was over to tear down and analyze wear issues and correct as needed. Then in 1929 started at # 201 and made 125 mowers. Its a very historical machine. These were $330.00 in 1929 so if you owned one you had plenty of cash to throw around lol. I used to have a REO Royale mower 20 years ago that had their own engine on it. Ran great.
Here is my oldest Locke mower. Its ser# 227 which would make it the 36th mower they built. They started at ser# 101 in 1928 and made 10 pre production prototypes put out in the field that they took back to the factory after the season was over to tear down and analyze wear issues and correct as needed. Then in 1929 started at # 201 and made 125 mowers. Its a very historical machine. These were $330.00 in 1929 so if you owned one you had plenty of cash to throw around lol. I used to have a REO Royale mower 20 years ago that had their own engine on it. Ran great.
Thanks
Fantastic contraption. How many chains does it have altogether? It looks like at least 3.
Fantastic contraption. How many chains does it have altogether? It looks like at least 3.
ilovewindex
Well-known member
I just bought this Friday, when I got my dishwasher... Roommate loves it and I concur, its a sturdy, mid priced, powerful Mower.. Finally the yeard looks decent
I had a Toro Mow and Stow for 2 years and it was Medicore at best... I had a cheap craftsman prior and it was worse...My first lawn mower was a generic thing from Lowes from circa 2000 I took from DAD in 2002 with a slightly bent shaft... 4 moves, lots of abuse and neglect and it still ran fine when I left it behind in one of my moves... Last I knew it was still mowing my friends 8x10 yard.... But barely....
I had a Toro Mow and Stow for 2 years and it was Medicore at best... I had a cheap craftsman prior and it was worse...My first lawn mower was a generic thing from Lowes from circa 2000 I took from DAD in 2002 with a slightly bent shaft... 4 moves, lots of abuse and neglect and it still ran fine when I left it behind in one of my moves... Last I knew it was still mowing my friends 8x10 yard.... But barely....
ilovewindex
Well-known member
Supersuds
Sorry for the delay. Havent been on much with work going full tilt. Yes it has three chains. PTO to clutch shaft, Cutting unit chain, tractor chain. The tractor chain has a manual tensioner while the reel chain has a spring loaded tensioner. No tensioner or idler on the PTO chain.
Sorry for the delay. Havent been on much with work going full tilt. Yes it has three chains. PTO to clutch shaft, Cutting unit chain, tractor chain. The tractor chain has a manual tensioner while the reel chain has a spring loaded tensioner. No tensioner or idler on the PTO chain.
Thanks, very interesting. It's a real piece of industrial history, like horse powered threshing machines...fascinating to see in action.
OSHA would have a collective coronary if they caught a lawn service using one!
OSHA would have a collective coronary if they caught a lawn service using one!
firedome
Well-known member
Bought a Troy-Bilt mower, no power wheels
7 years ago and it still starts every time on the 1st pull. It has the Honda engine, and I'd never buy a gas mower again unless it had a Honda, they make an outstanding product, I still have a '76 Honda 250 motorcycle that runs perfecty, but the next lawn mower will be a Neuton battery-electric. A neighbor in VT has had one for 5 yrs and absolutely loves it.
7 years ago and it still starts every time on the 1st pull. It has the Honda engine, and I'd never buy a gas mower again unless it had a Honda, they make an outstanding product, I still have a '76 Honda 250 motorcycle that runs perfecty, but the next lawn mower will be a Neuton battery-electric. A neighbor in VT has had one for 5 yrs and absolutely loves it.
