small engine repair help (push mower)

bigwaylon

bigwaylon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Charlotte
Sears Craftsman pushmower...Eager-1 engine (not Briggs & Stratton), but I imagine most are similar...

started with me breaking the pull string...right at the motor...simple enough (I figured) to pull the housing off, re-thread the pull string through the hole, and tie a new knot...

got that done in a couple minutes, but when I pulled it, the string didn't recoil...

tried it a couple times...rewind the starter, put it all back together, pull the string...nothing...

so, I got the housing off...and it looked like this:

DSCN2619.JPG



removed the bolt holding the "cup" on...looked like this:

DSCN2620.JPG



a side shot in case it helps:

DSCN2621.JPG




I was "figuring" there was some type of recoil mechanism, but don't really see anything...the round piece doesn't just lift right off, so I really just don't know what's next...

and I can physically turn the "top" either way turn after turn after turn...

any help?

Thanks.
Greg
 
The rope recoiler is in the shroud, be REAL careful taking that apart, the clock spring in there will jump out and bite you quick.

From the apperance of the carb and starter drive cup, that is a Tecumseh engine.

If you turn the shroud over, you will see a puck with a little finger that will stick out when you pull the rope, this engages the inside of the cup on the flywheel (see the little steps inside the cup? )

you'll have to rewind the spring, then wind the pull rope and tie it off. you should be able to work the pull rope in the shroud without installing it back on the engine. play with it a bit, you'll figure it out.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
The rope recoiler is in the shroud, be REAL careful taking that apart, the clock spring in there will jump out and bite you quick.

From the apperance of the carb and starter drive cup, that is a Techumse engine.

If you turn the shroud over, you will see a puck with a little finger that will stick out when you pull the rope, this engages the inside of the cup on the flywheel (see the little steps inside the cup? )

you'll have to rewind the spring, then wind the pull rope and tie it off. you should be able to work the pull rope in the shroud without installing it back on the engine. play with it a bit, you'll figure it out.
Click to expand...


so you don't think anything is actually broken?

on the housing (or whatever it's called)...where the string resides, the center piece has two little feet that come out and grab the steps inside that cup...


is the "shroud" the metal piece I'm seeing? or is it the plastic housing I took off?

I can easily spin the rope back in, and it appeared the recoil "mechanism" was internal somewhere, and not just in the cap...

let me go take one more pic...

Greg
 
odds are, the clock spring inside the recoiler is broken, possibly disconnected ( happens when the rope breaks )
the plastic cover is the "shroud" it is actually directing air flow from the fan/flywheel over the cooling fins of the cyl block.
All the pull rope stuff is inside there.
Engine looks like this ?
GOHERE
 
here's the underside of the topmost housing:

DSCN2623.JPG


the two little metal feet pop out no problem...

is the recoil mechanism inside of that black cylinder area? or inside the metal piece on top of the motor with the fins on it?

Thanks.
Greg
 
bigwaylon said:
here's the underside of the topmost housing:
DSCN2623.JPG

the two little metal feet pop out no problem...
is the recoil mechanism inside of that black cylinder area? or inside the metal piece on top of the motor with the fins on it?
Thanks.
Greg
Click to expand...

Inside the black cyl area, you can see the end of the spring sticking out the side the ( lil rusted tab)

look close, you may be able to pull it apart, but it may also be a NON SERVICABLE part, meaning you get to go to SEARS to buy a new one, and hope they haven't made it obsolete

Pull the sticker off the top of the cover, there may be a screw under there
 
Blkvoodoo said:
Inside the black cyl area, you can see the end of the spring sticking out the side the ( lil rusted tab)

look close, you may be able to pull it apart, but it may also be a NON SERVICABLE part, meaning you get to go to SEARS to buy a new one, and hope they haven't made it obsolete

Pull the sticker off the top of the cover, there may be a screw under there
Click to expand...


gotcha...the motor does look pretty similar to the one in the Tecumseh link...

does the rope attach to the spring?

or (if I have to buy a new one) does it just pop into place?

I'll go see if it comes apart...

Greg
 
If you have to buy new, it 'should' come as an assembly

I.E. the whole piece you have in your hand
 
dig deeper Grasshopper
 
anything is repairable, question is, how much time will you put in, and is it worth it ?

I could probably fix it, and make it work.

What I can't do is explain to you how to do it, you have the parts, work it out, figure out how it works, it LOOKS fixable.
 
thanks for your help...

I 'think' I see how, it just doesn't want to cooperate...

I think the inner "end" of the spring needs to fit into the notch on the top...

getting it there hasn't been working too well...

I'll play some more...but there's a lawnmower shop about 1/4 mile up the street (but they closed about 10 minutes before mine broke)...I might just be there when they open...

but at least I can walk in with the parts in hand...and they can either fix it on the spot, or sell me a replacement...

:D

Greg
 
bigwaylon said:
thanks for your help...
I 'think' I see how, it just doesn't want to cooperate...
I think the inner "end" of the spring needs to fit into the notch on the top...
getting it there hasn't been working too well...
I'll play some more...but there's a lawnmower shop about 1/4 mile up the street (but they closed about 10 minutes before mine broke)...I might just be there when they open...
but at least I can walk in with the parts in hand...and they can either fix it on the spot, or sell me a replacement...
:D
Greg
Click to expand...


Replace the rewind housing. You'll be time and frustration ahead. I am a mechanic at a small engine shop. It's cheaper in the long run, and you get all new parts.

To answer your question, the spring is toast, and bending it back won't do anything for you except break again.

Get the MODEL NUMBER OFF THE ENGINE!!! That's the #1 thing people DON'T have when they come in. Yes, we know engines, but we don't know every single minute difference between engines. That little number saves both you and I time.

To save you even more time and money, never again buy a piece of equipment with a Tecumseh engine on it.
 
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