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O/T need help fixing a newish Craftsman push mower...

W

Will Herring

Well-known Member
It's one of those craptastic machines with a Briggs & Stratton 6.0 HP engine on it (which runs like it is weaker than my old 5 HP Craftsman "Eager-1" push mower that runs like a champ). Anyway, buying the mower wasn't my decision, but I'd hate to have to go out and buy another new one after a few years.

Was out running it this morning and it started making weird noises. I shut it off, and now I can't pull the rope to start it. It pulls forward just a little bit, then it locks up. I can pull it hard enough that the mower deck starts to raise off the ground.

Could I have mucked up my recoil starter? Something be jamming internally? The blade doesn't seem to spin very freely, but it rocks back and forth alright...

I'm just unsure where to start tearing into it to try and make it run again, though I think I'd feel the best if I just threw it in a ditch somewhere. I've hated this damn thing since the day we got it... Seems like it always broke some little thing every other time we'd mow with it.
 
Will:

Verify that the dead man cable is properly adjusted and not damaged.

All recently manufactured mowers have nanny state mandated blade brakes to protect us from ourselves.

The blade brake is controlled by the dead man control on the handle. Snagging the cable on a branch or other obstacle can upset the mechanism.

Dean
 
Did the cable snap that is actually the engine brake?

That would make it hard to pull.

The Idea that you can rock blade back and forth, but not easy tells me that the bar to hold down isn't held to let engine turn over.

If it makes a hard contact metal sound The cap came off the rod. or it broke. ( May have to pull head to see if piston is moving )

If you cant turn it a complete revolution and imposable to turn anymore... Junk It, or find another engine
 
Cable adjustment is likely the answer. (pointed out below)
The cable end attaches to the side of the briggs with a cast on L shaped piece that goes through a hole in a lever. The lever is easily moved with a groove joint pliers to its full travel. If the lever is not being pulled to its limit, it will need to be repaired. The most likely issue is a collapsed outer cable (housing), or a broken end restraint for the housing. Sometimes there is a way to make the housing longer with little effort, sometimes it just must bew replaced. Jim
 
the kill cable-- thats what i call it- tho
probably not correct-- is possible-- also its
possible the recoil is bad or if u hit something
it could be completely out of time-- the kill
cable connection is pretty easyto check generally-
- then try removing the recoil housing-- and
lastly get to the keyway for timing. all this is
based on the blade turning somewhat freely when u
turn it on its side-- dont forget to check the oil
--ive seen them with that as the problem also (low
0r no oil)
try also this site
http://www.smallengineadvisor.com/members/membersh
iphome.htm

good luck--
 
Take the spark plug out and see if it will pull easier. I had that problem once and it flooded out so bad it wouldn't pull. Just an idea.
 
I haven't had a chance to really dig into it, but I went out and turned the mower on its side and was able to turn the blade completely around multiple times in both directions. It hit some spots of resistance, but it still did spin just with some good hand/arm pulling and pushing power. The pull rope just pulls out about 6 inches and stops abruptly and nothing happens. Will start tearing into it more and get back to you. Thanks for the replies; keep 'em coming!
 
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