Tis the season

Good Morning all,
As the holiday approaches, finding that perfect gift, the parties and preparing the great feast are first and foremost in our minds. Please, however, take a moment to remember what is really important. It is not the price of the gift that makes it special, it is the love in which it is wrapped, not the gourmet quality of the meal, but with whom you break bread that makes it a memorable event.

If you are blessed with family and friends, please let them know how much they mean to you, this season and all seasons. The worth of a man or woman is not measured by the money in their pocket but by the love in their heart, shared freely, without expectation, that measures their true wealth.

Let's share this wealth of love with those close to us and the new friends who we have not yet met.

CHUCK IS BACK!!!

Chuck is back!!!

Chuck Russell, my friend and fellow Hospital Commissioner, is on the mend and had one of his first public outings today at the Valley Tavern, the business he owns.  It was good to see the spark back in his eyes again.  He told us all how badly he feels that someone lost their life in the accident, something he says he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

I am looking forward to working again with Chuck on the Hospital Board for the rest of his current term and THE NEXT 6 YEAR TERM!!  We have missed his wisdom, his quick wit and the way he quickly glean through the mass of information presented to find the correct course to of action to take.

He still has much to offer our Hospital Board and to those he serves, the residents of Eastern Jefferson County.  His common sense approach and honest willingness to serve his community has been a great asset to Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 during his term as OUR Hospital Commissioner.

I would hope that you would VOTE to allow Chuck Russell to continue to serve our community as OUR HOSPITAL COMMISSIONER, but, what really matters is that you VOTE, make your voice heard!!!

Welcome Back Chuck!!

Good Evening

Hi there,

Not much time to work in the shop, have a few projects pending but, right now, a bit short on time.  I have been rather busy between my new part -time job at Arrow Lumber & Hardware and helping on the campaign committee for Chuck Russell, Hospital Commisioner.

I really love my new job with Arrow, great place to work, a company that reflects my commitment to exceptional customer service while offering great value for the dollar spent.

I have had the opportunity to work with Chuck Russell for 18 years as a fellow Commissioner on the Board for Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 dba Jefferson Healthcare.  He has contributed so much to making our hospital, clinics and related medical and health service the success they are today.  He has always worked to improve the quality and safety of the services delivered by the district.  His efforts have been rewarded by the District receiving numerous awards and certifications for excellence.  With all this, he has never wavered from his commitment that the services are available to ALL residents of Eastern Jefferson County.

Chuck Russell still has much to offer our county and its residents.  Please vote to keep his experience, wisdom and talent on the Board for another term!!!

Thank you

Even economy equipment can be saved

Hand truck issues: 

I worked on an econo handtruck, you know the type, Harbor Freight special.  The tires would not hold air.  Good thing about these is that the wheel rims split apart by removing 4 bolts. 

I removed the inner tubes, inflated and tested each for leaks, none found.  The apparent cause was the really awful Schrader valves (those little things with the pin head in the tire stem).  I replaced the valves in each stem and they now hold air.  Good thing I have so many replacement parts for all facets of small engine repair.

Back to my “day job” tomorrow!!

It's a Honda!!

This machine took a bit of digging. This is a Honda walk-behind mower a customer brought in for routine service and assessment. Compression was great but could not get a good ignition spark. I tracked the problem down to a little momentary contact "kill" switch. Most engines of this type just use a small bit of spring steel to short out the high voltage to the spark plug stopping the engine. With these, you usually just clean the contacts.

Leave it to Honda to make it complicated. The little black plastic switch shown in the pictures is the culprit. I have a replacement on order but, again, as is Honda's way, you can only buy the OEM switch and it runs around $25.00. I checked all my usual sources as well as new ones, but same answer from all of them.

Now that I know what is wrong, I can do the work on the rest of the mower, then set it aside, waiting for the part.

Another challange

Project for a customer. He brought this in for service and asked about why he was not able to see the oil in the window on the pump. During the work-up on it, I found the pump portion to be nearly empty of lub oil, usually the kiss of death for a piston pump of this type. The other issue is that the engine compression is a bit below 60 PSI, too low to operate.
I contacted the manufacture of the pressure washer and was told to contact the pump manufacturer. Finally got a response. I will now do a deeper dive into the issues with the engine and pump. As with all jobs like this, I do not charge for basic diagnosing of the problems and this unit may turn out to be too far gone, but haven't given up yet, love a challange

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

This was a curb-side free find. It definitely had some issues. I did a complete workup on it, diagnosing its problems. Now, after a valve job, honing the cylinder walls and a complete tune-up and service, it runs great and I can sell this for a low price to someone who needs one but cannot afford a new one. This was saved from the dumpster and brought back to life!

A new way to spend a day

Good Evening all,

Today was my first day at my new job at Arrow Lumber here.  I will be working Thursday through Saturday on the counter and customer service.

Great company, great bunch to work for, and with.  I enjoyed my first day, lots to learn but I have many good, patient teachers.

I will continue to work on small engine equipment, so keep bringing in your lawn mowers, it may take a bit longer as I will be doing it in my "spare" time, but I enjoy working on these machines, wouldn't give it up.

Should you call, feel free to leave a message and I will get back to you.
360 385-6335  home / shop
360 531-3239  cell (I actually carry it, just sometimes have trouble figuring which button to push.

Have a great evening!!!
Tony

Another generator, that last windstorm has brought them out

A customer brought this generator in to me to work on.  He said initially that the engine ran but surged. He replaced some of its carburetor internals but, when he put it back together, the float bowl wouldn't seal so he used some gasket goop.  When I got it, when you turned the fuel on, it came out of the air filter.

A note on using gasket goop.  This is probably the same thing I would have done a few years ago.  The hard part was scrubbing the inside of the bowl (middle picture) and the carburetor (bottom picture) with alcohol to clean up the sealant that, apparently, softened and ran when exposed to gasoline.

Once cleaned, I installed a new needle, seat and bowl gasket.  While it was here, I changed the oil, cleaned the air filter, installed an new spark plug and did a complete set of diagnostics.  I now starts first pull and purrs like a kitten.

Another project for a customer

A customer called me, said that when they turn the on gas valve for their generator, gas comes out of the carburetor.  I picked it up and brought it to my shop.  I opened the valve and gas did come out of the area of the carb.  I pulled this apart and found that the float need valve was corroded to the housing preventing it from shutting off the gas flow to the float bowl.

Due to the  accumulation of water that frequently results from the alcohol in regular gasoline, the float bowl was both rusted and corroded.  (see photos).  Unfortunately, this is one of those machines shipped in from the far east so getting parts, even a parts list is a challenge.

I have the carb in my new ultrasonic cleaner and have cleaned the rust and corrosion from the float bowl.  Normally, in a case like this, you would replace the float bowl, but could not find the parts anywhere.  I have sent an inquiry to my best supplier, Tulsa Engine Warehouse requesting they research the parts.  I will get this back up and running!!

This is a good reminder to use only E-0 (no alcohol) gas in your small engines to assure the longest, trouble free service from them.
Back to the bench!

Latest addition to my arsenal of shop tools

As you can probably tell, instead of a boat or motorcycle, my "spare" cash goes into my shop.  This latest addition is an Oregon model 42-047 precision blade balancer.  This not only checks the blade balance (something like you would a tire) but also has a gauge to check if the blade is bent or warped.

Balancing the mower blade is very important.  When blades are no properly balanced, they cause vibration, noise, and can even damage the bearings and oil seal on walk behind mowers.

This is also important for riding mowers.  An out of balance blade can cause damage to the shaft and bearings in the mandrel, the part between the drive belt pulley and blade.

This was not cheap, but worth it to assure that my customers have get the best service possible.
Thanks for your business and confidence.
Tony

I just may have that part you need

I took a moment this evening to count up the number of different, distinct parts I have in stock for mowers and small engines.  The number is 435!!  I normally keep more than one of each in stock, sometimes several to make sure that I will have what I need to work on your machinery.

Guess what, nearly every week I need to add a new part or two because something comes in and I do not have the critical part in stock, so I place a priority order.

That number, 435, does not count the many generic parts, nuts, bolts, wire terminals, wire, grommets, a whole array of new parts.

Then there is the salvage parts department, including fully functional used wheels, fuel tanks, mufflers, on an on.  These came from machines given to me that were past hope  of repair.  I only use these with he prior permission of the customer, sometimes these are all we can get when it comes to older, machines for which parts are no longer available.

So, if you need a mower or other piece of gas powered equipment repaired, I have the tools, knowledge and probably the part needed to fix it.

If you are a do-it-yourself type, give me a call and I will set you up with the parts you need for your project.
Thanks and enjoy the sunshine!!
Tony

Catching up on my backlog of "personal" projects

This is that little red Honda Harmony riding mower that someone gave me. Finally got to work on it, finding that it is a bit older than I had first thought, have been told may be hard to get parts. Has a flat front tire, won't hold air, so will have to put in an inner tube. This may be a a challenge, but that is what I live for.

Rescued from the recycler's grasp

Old school walk behind mower. Was in tough shape when I got it. Runs great now, waiting for a replacement blade.

Keeping busy at it in the shop. This is an MTD rototiller that had been sitting for a while. Carburetor was gummed up and it had very weak spark. I removed and cleaned carb, new spark plug, oil change and replaced ignition module (top photo). Runs great now, another success.

New "toy" for the shop

Latest addition to the shop, a basic ultrasonic cleaner. This is not an industrial duty model, but will do the job for some time to come. I use this to clean ...

Projects in process around the shop

Another project on the bench, a vintage Honda EX 650 generator from back in the mid 80's. Runs but leaks gas from the float bowl vent, will pull the carb, clean and rebuild, should do the trick.

The latest addition to my collection of projects.  A very nice person saw my ad in Craigslist and contacted me.  I told him that I loved a challenge and he gave me this mower and two walk behind mowers.  All needed considerable work, but this rider looks cool and I am really looking forward to catching up on other projects so I can get this up on the lift and start working on it.

If you have any dead or dying machines you no longer want, please let me know, I will gladly haul them to my shop.

Better yet, if you have a mower, trimmer, or other outdoor power equipment that you would like repaired, I am your person.  My hourly rate is quite low ($35.00) and I will give you a free diagnosis of its ills.  I can come and pick up and return your equipment for a small fee.

Latest project

This is what I currently have on my "bench", a Husqvarna riding mower.  It was not running until I worked it over.  I took it out for a test drive and the engine kept  running at too high an RPM which could damage the engine.  I quickly turned it off and started my research.

It turned out that the issue was a stripped governor gear located in the crankcase of the engine.  In the midst of all of those wonderfully machined metal gears, crankshaft, connecting rod and piston was this little "plastic" gear (small beige reat, top photo) that controls the engine speed, much like the cruise control on your car.  In the middle photo, sitting in the remaining oil, is the governor regulator pin that once sat between the gear and the governor lever.  Fortunately, this small piece of metal did not get tangled up in the gears.

I have the parts, will install in the morning, reseal up the crankcase, remount on the tractor and, according to my calculations, it will run as designed.
Tomorrow will be an interesting day.
Stay cool, if possible.
Tony

Tip of the Day #3 Bungee

Bungee cords, those wonderful stretchy cord with a hook on each end, ranks up there with duct tape as the solution to many problems.  They can, however, occasionally be the source of much frustration.

They are either too long (we can fix that) or too short.

When you buy Bungee cords, buy them a bit longer than you will need and put a half hitch around the hook as shown in the photos and pull it tight.  It is surprising how well this holds.

When the task is completed, just flick the loop up with your thumb and release the knot, ready to go again.

In case you were wondering, the black on my thumb nail is not the latest in nail fashion, but rather the result of hammer "A" striking thumb "B".
Hope you find this useful.
Tony

New Porduct Line

Sorry, not a Tip, but just a chat about parts for small engine repair.

I am occasionally disappointed in the quality of replacement parts, both those offered by the OEM (original equipment manufactures) and aftermarket offerings.  Because of this, I am always on the hunt for better and, sometimes, less expensive items.

Many riding mowers and small lawn tractors use electric PTO (power take-off) clutches to run accessories such as mower decks.  These take a beating and the heat from the electric coils that create the magnetic pull to engage the clutch create a great deal of heat, sometimes frying the marginal quality bearings within them. 

I found a company, Xtreme Outdoor Power Equipment, that makes what, from my research, is a much better and less expensive replacement PTO clutch.  I checked with my trusted parts supplier and they, much to their credit, said these were great clutches and that they were working on switching over to carrying Xtreme. 

These have solid aluminum billet CNC machined pulleys, The same type used on race cars, a cooler running electrical coil unit, and replaceable high temperature bearings.  This also comes with a one year warranty.  Best of all, these are ASSEMBLED IN THE USA.  More jobs here, at home.

I now have one in stock and will try on the next mower in need of a replacement.

I have attached pictures of the standard clutch I removed from a machine I was repairing and the Xtreme unit.

I will let you know how it works once installed.

Have a wonderful week
Tony

Tomorrow??

Sorry I fell behind on posting tips, I have been busy out in the shop.  Will try to put up something tomorrow.
Thanks
Tony

Tip of the Day #2

Even if your walk behind or riding mower has one of those fancy cleaning fitting that you attach to your hose, from time to time, take a look underneath (disconnect the spark plug wire first!!!).  You will be surprised how much grass and other debris accumulates under there.

If you have a walk behind mower, check the owner's manual to find which way to tip the mower to prevent issues.  If you do not have the manual and cannot find the info on line, remember, tip it in a way that the carburetor (the part between the motor and the air cleaner) is above the the rest of the of the motor to prevent engine oil from fouling it.

The problem is that this accumulation of organic material attracts and holds moisture and, if you have a steel mower deck, you know what that means, buying a new one.

I have attached a photo* of an example of lack of maintenance and allowing that material to accumulate under the deck.  So, clean under that deck, a putty knife works great and, when finished, remember to re attach the spark plug cable or great frustration and some %@!&* words will be the result.

*That is if I can figure out how to squeeze it our of that little plastic thumb thingy!!
How about that, I did it, technology is our friend (yeah, RIGHT!)

 Thanks for stopping by.
Tony

Tip of the day #1

Gasoline with ethanol (alcohol) (listed as E-10, E-15 or contains ethanol not to exceed 15%) is the enemy of small engines, particularly 2 cycle (mixed gas engines such as string trimmer).  The alcohol speeds the breakdown of gaskets and diaphragms and can cause water issues in your fuel tank.  When getting fuel for your outdoor equipment, go for the alcohol free (listed as E-0), available locally at the Cenex farm store, 9315 Rhody Drive, next to the Post office and Chimacum School.

Thanks for viewing

My business card, looks really official??

One of my many repair projects

Good Afternoon all,

My new adventure begins.  I have been setting up a part-time small engine repair business and this blog will be part of it.  I will try to add something each day, be it a tip or just an update on what is happening in the shop or around our yard.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Tony