Small Engine Help...

[PassTheDutchie]

So, I have inherited a push lawn mower that has been "up on blocks" (sitting in a garage) for probably 5-6 years. I am pretty sure it ran fine and was winterized--i.e. drained of gas and perhaps oil--prior to its respite. What would one typically need to do to get this thing running? Just throw in some gas and oil? Spark plugs maybe? I am a mechanical jong (obv).

[fatnslow]

Yes to all 3 then shoot some starting fluid in the carb to start. It that doesn't do it hire a landscaper(no white guys-they will be meth heads) or rebuild/replace the carb.

[Timberridge]

Also open the box where the air filter is and make sure there's one in there or mice did not chew it up. Check the oil and put some fresh gas in there and hope for the best. If it runs then put a new plug, oil and air filter in there and you are good for another 10,000 miles.

[Buster Highmen]

Clean the carb with a wire brush, make sure of no corrosion, then the usual fresh plug, fresh gas

[k2skier112]

Clean the carb with a wire brush, make sure of no corrosion, then the usual fresh plug, fresh gas

Huh? The outside of the carb?

Unless someone ran racing gas, or white gas with a fuel stabilizer in it, it will need to have the carb removed, disassembled, cleaned out, and kitted. Running an engine out of gas still leaves a small amount of fuel in the bottom of the bowl.

Add a small amount of gas and see if it leaks, then try to start it on starting fluid, very small shot of starter fluid.

If it's a Briggs or Tecumseh, the issue isn't just cleaning, it's setting the proper float level. With a Briggs, the only way to do that is with a new needle and seat, as the float is plastic and non adjustable

[Ted Striker]

^^^ yeah, half the carb is plastic. Newer machines closer to all plastic. No wire brushes.

I'd just put some gas in and try to start it.

[highangle]

Take it to the dealer OP, tell them you want it "Balanced & Blueprinted". They'll understand, and may be able to recommend someone to "Port and Polish" the head for you, if they don't have a head specialist on staff.

[single]

^x2

see if they can stroke it for you too.

[Buster Highmen]

Huh? The outside of the carb?

no

need to have the carb removed, disassembled, cleaned out, and kitted.

yes.

[bodywhomper]

^^^ yeah, half the carb is plastic. Newer machines closer to all plastic. No wire brushes.

I'd just put some gas in and try to start it.

The carbs on my small engines (Honda genie, chainsaws, and string trimmer) are mostly metal except for baffles and rings. just putting gas in some of the older used ones that I bought, most notably the genie, was basically the death of the carbs.

[irul&ublo]

I'd throw a twin turbo on it and put it in a Sonata.

[goldengatestinx]

^^^ yeah, half the carb is plastic. Newer machines closer to all plastic. No wire brushes.

I'd just put some gas in and try to start it.

And if it doesn't start and you really need a mower, go to a used equipment place and buy one that works for $30. Use it till it dies. Repeat.

[XXX-er]

So, I have inherited a push lawn mower that has been "up on blocks" (sitting in a garage) for probably 5-6 years. I am pretty sure it ran fine and was winterized--i.e. drained of gas and perhaps oil--prior to its respite. What would one typically need to do to get this thing running? Just throw in some gas and oil? Spark plugs maybe? I am a mechanical jong (obv).

yup, gas oil pull the rope, if it doesn't run after that get it serviced

GF's lawnmower was running poorly surging/black smoke so I figured fuel, opened the airfilter housing and it was full of dirt grass leaves, cleaned out all the shit and it ran pretty good, eventualy washed/dryed the paper filter and it ran even better.

[Ted Striker]

The carbs on my small engines (Honda genie, chainsaws, and string trimmer) are mostly metal except for baffles and rings.

Sure, but I've seen plastic floats, float bowls, choke plates, and even throttle bodies. I suppose it's all pricepoint.

just putting gas in some of the older used ones that I bought, most notably the genie, was basically the death of the carbs.

Then they were dead anyway.

[fatnslow]

And if it doesn't start and you really need a mower, go to a used equipment place and buy one that works for $30. Use it till it dies. Repeat.

winning right here !!!

[bodywhomper]

Then they were dead anyway.

Quite possible. Though I've wondered to myself how different things would have been if I had flushed out the fuel tank before fill and seeing if the engines fired up. They're good now and it was a useful learning process.

[Dantheman]

OP - How much grass do you have? What kind of terrain? Do you tend to let it go or stay on top of it? If it's less than ~4,000 ft2, relatively flat, and you don't typically let it get wild strongly consider a quality reel mower. I have one and love it. I have about 2,000 ft2 and I'd have to have at least twice as much to consider going gas. You're going to be pushing the one you have anyway, and the reel never runs out of gas, never won't "start", doesn't need winterizing, takes up way less space, etc.

Flat is important though, on any real grade you can only cut while going downhill. So is not letting it go too far. Beyond a certain length the blades just fold under instead of getting pulled into the cutting wheel.

[El Chupacabra]

Take it to the dealer OP, tell them you want it "Balanced & Blueprinted". They'll understand, and may be able to recommend someone to "Port and Polish" the head for you, if they don't have a head specialist on staff.

^x2

see if they can stroke it for you too.

I'd throw a twin turbo on it.

All of the above, and don't forget the NOS.

Be sure to equip the mower with a laptop that monitors the manifold. You don't want that getting damaged.

[El Chupacabra]

If none of the above helps, you'll need to do an engine swap.

The two Jay-Z swap is quite popular.

[Ted Striker]

Though I've wondered to myself how different things would have been if I had flushed out the fuel tank before fill and seeing if the engines fired up.

Yeah, there are some sort of micro-organisms that can live in fuel and over time turn it into a gel-like mess, so keeping that out of the carb is a good idea. But even if it hasn't gelled, old fuel that's left in the carb too long will varnish the inside, and then you're taking it apart anyway.

Plus, the ethanol in fuel will separate within a few months. It's a losing battle!

[XXX-er]

the last 2 lawnmowers have cost me several hundred thousand $ and the houses got thrown in the deal for nothing

If buddy won't budge on price get him to thro some stuff in ...the lawnmower, the dog , the wife

last time i even got the gas powered weedeater

edit: these^^ are all wonderful idea BTW but the 1st thing would be to see if it runs

[goldengatestinx]

winning right here !!!

I did that when I had a house with a lawn. I may have checked the oil, at least every other spring, I know I never changed it. Sharpened the blade with old edge files. No self propelled. No plastic parts to break. No mulching blade or bag.

Cut the lawn. Let the clippings go. And drove the neighbors pissy since I didn't pull the dandelions. Man I hated living in suburbia.

I think I sold it for about $30 when I sold the house.

[GeezerSteve]

Turn the mower such that the spark plug is facing up. Unscrew spark plug and squirt some oil in the spark plug hole. Let it sit for a couple hours. Screw in new spark plug, change the oil, turn it upright, fill with fresh gas and give it a tug.

Squirting oil in spark plug holes and allowing oil to seep around piston is SOP for any gasoline engine that has not been started for a few years.