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