u/Inhalationofnewtion

I'm not here trying to start shit. I genuinely don't understand this though. If you are charged with a thing, you aren't going to convince them that it doesn't apply to you. And isn't showing up in itself recognizing some kind of jurisdiction? You're showing up to talk to them at the least and that means they're someone worth talking to. If they hold no jurisdiction over you, then they are beneath talking to, right?

Another one, the traveling thing, nah I'm not going with that but whatever. If you have a cop behind you trying to pull you over and you actually pull over you're admitting his jurisdiction. You are yielding to his blinking lights and siren. You are obeying his command to move your vehicle to the side of the road and stop. Why? Why not continue on your way? You aren't going to convince the cop that he has no authority over you. Why even bother? Proceed on your way just as you were before. If whatever guide you follow is actually correct then when they pit your vehicle and cause damage you'll get a huge windfall of money. If you have every right to travel in a motor vehicle with no papers or license, why even pull over?

I have a customer who is really having a run of luck with a push mower. I want to help the guy out. Not for free of course but cheap as I can. His mower is Briggs equipped, thermo choke. At first it wouldn't re-start when hot. Spark looked really weak to me when cold, same when hot. Now it won't run at all. I have a Tecumseh engine with low hours and ought to run. Think it would bolt up? The guy won't object to drilling some extra holes in the deck if we have to, dude just needs a mower.

Also are the blade hubs the same from one to the other? If the blade would fit the Tecumseh engine that would be nice.

He's pricing a coil but that's sort of a guess and I'm considering other options. The Tecumseh is more or less in my way and I'd give him that even if he wants to mount it himself. If he wants me to mount it I'd charge probably $60.

Also told him to ask at the small engine shop about other machines that might be in the back lot.

Push mower. Plastic carb, no primer bulb. It's a thermostatic choke. 3-4 pulls IF it starts but that's even a slim chance. Remove air filter, manually choke it, one pull it lights off. Put air filter back on, no go. Remove air filter, and it fires up no problem??? This seems backwards...

I've seen tags on Amazon and whatnot with the wires but they're just blank. I was also looking at actual toe tags for morgues but that might be a little over the edge...

I'm looking for ones with lines on them so it's easier to write the drop date, owners name, Issues, services performed, date repairs and services are finished, and cost.

Three push mowers so far this season and all three of them ran last season but not this one. Stale fuel in the carb. Takes me about 20 minutes and I charge $30. Blow the carb, clean and adjust the mag. I tell my Friends to run the fuel out before storage. It's what I do and it works. I don't believe in fuel stabilizers. If I tell 10 people to run the fuel out, maybe one of them might listen after a few times of me blowing the carb and taking their cash.

Am I wasting my breath and/or am I cutting myself out of work? I enjoy these jobs. They're simple and rewarding and I make a buck. Other hand I kind of feel bad not telling people because it's like I know some "Gospel" or something but I'm keeping it to myself. It seems shady to not tell people. If I do tell them and they don't listen they might get embarrassed and not return the next year as well. Not sure where to go.

I'm not wired right or some such...

I'm into this because I love machines and small engines are usually really therapeutic for me to work on. They're "just push mowers" yea and they're not mine but I feel bad for them. People run them with no care and only give them any attention when they're not working. Mummified air filters, ancient crank case oil, rusty mags and pickups. Lots of times they sit out all winter.

Part of me wants to tell the owner the machine has had it, pay them scrap price for it, fix it and find a it a better home but it's "just a push mower" and that's not honest. Just do what I can while I have them here. Sort of like a spa treatment for small engines.

As I go over them I clean them with a gasoline soaked rag and hose the vegetables from under the deck. Try to give them a fighting chance.

I make suggestions, they largely go ignored. I shouldn't complain too hard because if people gave these machines an ounce of attention they wouldn't be coming to me and I really love doing this. If I had stupid money I'd do it for free.

I do small engine work and things are starting to pick up. I've never had this much work before which is great but I can also see people using me as a storage space or abandoning machines for whatever reason.

I'm sure plenty of you guys have figured out how to deal with this and if I could lean on you it would hopefully save me some nonsense.

I'm sure a machine could sit here for a year with no contact but the instant I move it out the previous owner will go for my throat, that doesn't matter much. I just need to know how long you hold a machine and how you go about it when it comes time to move it out. I kind of figure two weeks no contact that machine is gone. Give them a heads up at one week and another the day before I deal with it.

Of course shit happens. If people communicate I can accommodate but the machines aren't going to live here rent free no matter the circumstances. Maybe another week if they talk to me and things are going on.

I only thought of this years after they stopped those commercials.

A guy is watching runners racing. He has a cup of water ready to hand off. He's got to take a leak. He looks around and everyone is watching the race. He turns around and dumps the water, pees in the cup.

Cut to the The Gentleman who says:
"Yes my Friend you are bold, but are you also...Daring?"

The guy turns back around and hands the cup to a runner.

If I'm doing anything more than just barely scratching loose dirt the tines stop and it stops driving forwards as well. I looked and the belt was not moving. I poked a rod in against the belt and then it will try to start moving. Far as I know I have the correct drive belt. I measured the O.D. and it's 21 3/4" X 1/2". I read about a worm gear possibly being trashed but I don't believe that to be the case. I'm wondering if I should go 1/4" or 1/2" shorter on the belt. If I have the correct belt I don't know why it would be slipping. I can't find any sort of tension adjustment other than moving the detent block on the engagement lever. The engine is sliding up to the point where it's being stopped by cast iron bosses on the gearbox so I'm sure I'm getting full travel when I engage drive and PTO.

It's a heavy and cumbersome machine but it's SO much better than anything built by MTD. High and low forward drive and reverse. It takes some muscle to work it but once it's set up I'm sure it's going to be a real game changer.

https://preview.redd.it/c4392i4uy4zg1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=44ea654cf9cadd880c9ff1aa90dbb9cd51381221

****Found it. It's an old Troy Bilt. I could still use help with any sort of tension adjustment if there is one. I know the detent on the engagement lever can be moved but that's all I've found.

This one followed me home. No idea what make and model. Has a Briggs 8HP with electric start. Runs and operates nicely except I think the drive belt is too long. It's loose even when the tines are engaged. When you engage the tines the engine slides up and tensions the belt. When you put much load on it the belt slips. I can't find any other adjustment. I could try a 1/2" shorter on the belt but I may have to buy 2-3 belts before I get it right. It's really nice to operate when it's working though. Has a high and low range and reverse. Plenty of power. All kinds of adjustment on the handles. Good and heavy. I love it. Someone ever so helpfully painted over the sticker but I figured the remnants might be a clue.

https://preview.redd.it/byzx5prn04zg1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=89de451320e72c9daf140377281b6d42901ea3b9

https://preview.redd.it/85ya3bip04zg1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=dee02311e7529b77ae24f9f5b27c8d5bea14ed80

https://preview.redd.it/n39obz4r04zg1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=35d11c9a9f33d00a699d067951ef0066b78b30f5

This thing has been through some stuff... Someone tried converting to a Magnetron ignition. It ran but had the weakest spark I've ever seen on a running engine and it wouldn't run very long. Anyhow I have the proper armature now. I have a long wire and a short wire. I think the long wire goes to the contact on top of the condenser. Short wire goes to the kill switch? The last guy ever so helpfully removed the wires to the points. At least he didn't remove the points.

No idea why it only has half a generator ring there but it does indeed charge.

https://preview.redd.it/m0io3ypcqcyg1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3adf20100b8ef2219c10877f7d424de4a2adc4ed

https://preview.redd.it/5ti8xxpcqcyg1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc7bd89a664427e252616f3759a1a95a89686787

This is pretty much my engine except mine has electric start.

https://preview.redd.it/6y2d9lg5cbyg1.png?width=539&format=png&auto=webp&s=9fb7c40131d2c3c1716384175c19932406944f4d

Numbers from my engine. I belie it's a 1981

https://preview.redd.it/ntpes2heabyg1.png?width=1691&format=png&auto=webp&s=12496823774adad41aab5e818d354d1fdf0afb3c

I recently brought this engine home attached to a rototiller. It runs but it has a very weak spark. Barely visible. I was checking out the pickup coil and it's not original. Someone took some kind of three leg coil or magnetron coil and drilled holes through the laminate plates to get it to mount. The coil in there now isn't hooked to anything but a kill wire. I can get a pic of the engine if needs be but I'm just drinking my coffee and already had this pic. The parts lady at the shop I go to sold me a points type coil and she's never done me wrong before.

It runs alright for a while but starts popping after a few minutes and eventually dies. Seems if you let it cool down it'll start and run again.