I found a lawn mower for free on craigslist yesterday. after talking to the guy on the phone, I found out he was giving away a briggs and stratton 5hp Murry push mower. He told me that the engine had siezed, he was moving and needed to get rid of it. I drove over after work to look at it, after looking, I rolled it to the back of my station wagon and hoisted it in.
Man, this thing is going to need a lot of work. It was sitting by the side of his garage, the handle folded up and bag sitting beside damp and in a puddle. I brought it home, unloaded it. looked at and have made a 15 minute assessment, on where it is at and what needs to be done. I don't know if it will run or not, and if it does how well. bare metal parts such as screws and bolts show some rust from exposure to the outside elements. The first action I took was to check the oil. the dipstick showed a clear brown colour and showed to be slippery. At least it has oil and it is not coal black. Next I checked the gas tank. bone dry. I think I saw spiders inside getting high of the remaining surface odors. He said it has been sitting for about 2 years, so I guess that may explain some things.
after changing clothes I went back out to the garage, lifted the handle and straighten it out. I did not dare pull the rip cord. Its siezed, we all know that. My next probing went to the air filter. hmm fairly clean for a lawn mower that has been sitting for so long. a black layer of crud has formed on the bottom of the filter case. also below it on the blade deck a thick sludge of goo resides there that matches. Oil? Gas? Grass? Water? all three I suspect. a lovely concoction. How did it get there, and why is it there? I inspect both sides of the filter to find dry dust and spider webs on one side, and an oily film around the rubber seal on the other side. looks typical enough. Not much sign of abuse, which is good. next I pull off the plastic case surrounding the flywheel. lots more dust, and some signs of rust on the sheet metal parts surrounding the cylinder. not a good sign but still a workable engine. The spark plug comes off with a pair of locking pliers since I don't have a socket that fits. the tip is black, and a little oily. I don't know what this means.
Finally I play with the blade deck. there is a lot of goo around the engine on top, a leak somewhere maybe? but he says all that is wrong is that it has siezed.
its just dirty and needs to be cleaned up, and it shows. The wheels, the flip out side chute and the case all are in need of a bath. I pull off the protective case of the drive train. This thing has power assist! Sweet! maybe I'll turn it into a go-Kart. the belt is crusty and it slips past the drive shaft. hmm. it looks useable though. I bet I can make it do at least 8 MPH.
Time to flip it over and inspect the buisness side of things. ah the bottom side of a lawn mower, the smell of fresh cut blades of grass, a green pulp that coats the inside is like Cud from a dairy cow. Here though is some rust, a little red paint and moldy black silage. the blade is actually kind of sharp, rusty but sharp. An attempt to turn it reveals something. I hear the sound of a bilage pump and water and gas issue from the exhaust pipe onto the driveway. Its clear that that I am the proud owner of a mower with an identity crisis. more turning back and forth, more compression sounds and water on the pavement. Oh lawn mower tell me about your past life, who or what brought you to this?
I flip the mower back on four wheels and remove the exhaust pipe. draining it of all its contents I look at the mower. It has potential. I just need to clean it up a bit. I am really excited to see if I can get it running. If I do, maybe I will but some flames on it, and some ground effects, or hydrolics and a rear spoiler.
that would be sweet.
I put everything back in its place and rolled it to the side of my car. this project will have to wait. I am hungry and want to eat. a pan of lasagna is waiting for me.
till next time.... Joel
No comments:
Post a Comment