Is My Lawnmower Dead?
April 14, 2014 4:32 PM Subscribe
I have a Craftsman mower with a 6.5 HP 4-cycle engine. Last weekend I changed the oil, put on a new blade, cleaned it up and generally got it ready for the new season. It started right up when I tested it.
Fast forward to today and my son goes to mow the yard. He reported that it blew a little white smoke, but since it seemed to be running normally he didn't worry about it. About 30 minutes into mowing it started clunking or grinding a metal on metal sound, and start blowing a lot of white smoke. That's when he shut it down. My inspection of it has revealed oil on the deck where none existed Saturday, and when I pulled the spark plug to check it was covered in oil. I can't get it to start at all.
Worn rings and time for a new mower? I got 10 years of service out of a $300 mower, so I don't really have any complaints.
Fast forward to today and my son goes to mow the yard. He reported that it blew a little white smoke, but since it seemed to be running normally he didn't worry about it. About 30 minutes into mowing it started clunking or grinding a metal on metal sound, and start blowing a lot of white smoke. That's when he shut it down. My inspection of it has revealed oil on the deck where none existed Saturday, and when I pulled the spark plug to check it was covered in oil. I can't get it to start at all.
Worn rings and time for a new mower? I got 10 years of service out of a $300 mower, so I don't really have any complaints.
Or broken piston or rod. And a new mower. I had a similar experience with a mower that threw a rod right through the crankcase.
posted by Makwa at 5:22 PM on April 14, 2014
posted by Makwa at 5:22 PM on April 14, 2014
I just went through this last year. The oil leak is Satan.
I would rather go gnaw my lawn dog shit and all, than to have to deal with my RIP mower
Get rid of that thing as fast as you can.
posted by timsteil at 7:59 PM on April 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would rather go gnaw my lawn dog shit and all, than to have to deal with my RIP mower
Get rid of that thing as fast as you can.
posted by timsteil at 7:59 PM on April 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
Time to resubscribe on that $30 a year lawnmower deal.
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:09 AM on April 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:09 AM on April 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It's not often we get a unanimous decision on Ask MeFi!
posted by COD at 7:13 AM on April 15, 2014
posted by COD at 7:13 AM on April 15, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gnossos at 4:49 PM on April 14, 2014