Several weeks ago my riding lawn mower which I bought brand new around 1997-1998, lost all of its oil out the air filter.
At first, as I watched the oil gush out of the engine, I thought BP had done blown another oil rig. After some internet research that theory proved wrong. What really happened was my engine seals are gone. Not a mechanic, just what I read.
So I told my son to mow until it blows up completely as I don't exactly have the funds to run out and buy a new one.
My son is outside right now mowing with it. No oil in it and we have mowed with it several times over the last several weeks. I have 0.75 Acres of land to mow.
It is a 'WIZARD' so maybe that has something to do with it.:-)
I'm beginning to think it will last the rest of the mowing season. It amazes me it's still going strong. You can't even tell by the way it runs that the motor is shot.
Maybe if you threw some oil in it, it would last a little longer, might also help keep the grass from growing back as fast or as thick.;-)
Oil coming out of the carb? Sounds like oil is making it's way past the rings or valve guides. Keep checking the gas and filling up the oil and you may be surprised how long it'll last - if you can stand the smoke...
I'm with Dan, keep putting oil in it. Might just keep ticking. No sense in killing a workhorse.
Valves could have been sticking due to carbon build up or rust. In that case burn it out the carbon, go to Farm Supply and get a can of "Blaster", small engine tuneup, spray some in the fuel tank and with the air cleaner off directly into the carburetor of a running engine. It has all kinds of high strength chemicals that can clean the engine out in a hurry. You should hear the engine smoothing out after a few minutes. BTW, do put oil in the crankcase. After it is running smooth spray CRC into the carburetor to help lubricate the valve guides, not too much at a time or it will stall.
You may not really be low on oil. Gas can be leaking past the rings and diluting the oil. too much of the thin stuff and it blows out. Drain the thin stuff out and refill with 30 ND (non detergent) which can be sometimes hard to find.
I have several lawn mowers that have been on their last legs for 10 years. I consider them not broken in until somebody else is ready to throw them away. The last new mowers I bought were at a Hechingers going out of business sale, about 20 years ago. Bought 2, one for me, one for my mom. 10 years ago one of my siblings bent the crankshaft on my mom's. It still worked but gave you a full body massage at the same time. For the last 5 years I have been stripping parts to keep mine going. I was amazed the other night how easy it is to pull start a 20 year engine. My mom's 10 year old mower is outside for todays project, I ripped the starter cord. Replace that and some weed whacking, todays "do it slow" chores in the 90º heat.
Paul in PA
> Valves could have been sticking due to carbon build up or rust. In that case burn it out the carbon, go to Farm Supply and get a can of "Blaster", small engine tuneup, spray some in the fuel tank and with the air cleaner off directly into the carburetor of a running engine. It has all kinds of high strength chemicals that can clean the engine out in a hurry. You should hear the engine smoothing out after a few minutes. BTW, do put oil in the crankcase. After it is running smooth spray CRC into the carburetor to help lubricate the valve guides, not too much at a time or it will stall.
>
> You may not really be low on oil. Gas can be leaking past the rings and diluting the oil. too much of the thin stuff and it blows out. Drain the thin stuff out and refill with 30 ND (non detergent) which can be sometimes hard to find.
>
> I have several lawn mowers that have been on their last legs for 10 years. I consider them not broken in until somebody else is ready to throw them away. The last new mowers I bought were at a Hechingers going out of business sale, about 20 years ago. Bought 2, one for me, one for my mom. 10 years ago one of my siblings bent the crankshaft on my mom's. It still worked but gave you a full body massage at the same time. For the last 5 years I have been stripping parts to keep mine going. I was amazed the other night how easy it is to pull start a 20 year engine. My mom's 10 year old mower is outside for todays project, I ripped the starter cord. Replace that and some weed whacking, todays "do it slow" chores in the 90º heat.
>
> Paul in PA
Agree with Paul in PA, on this.
