why do lawnmower motors die

[Landrus2]

Ding Ding Ding !!!!

[piston slapper]

Originally Posted by Jaybrown

Why do the lawnmower engines seem to always need a re build or swap. What is causing this. Neglect ?

The day you guys get a little ticked off at the engines that are breaking ..and start looking for the answers yourself..the answers will be there waiting for you..
It'll be like the day you figured out that Batman and Robin were actually Bruce Wayne and Ward Burton...
A light will come on...If that light keeps shinig you might end up being a good mechanic..???

Until that day...us techs will keep earning your money...Thanx Guys...

[Pietro]

I keep the oil/all filters clean. Knock on wood still goin strong!

[Landrus2]

Like you say you chose your costumers I chose my mechanic

Originally Posted by piston slapper

The day you guys get a little ticked off at the engines that are breaking ..and start looking for the answers yourself..the answers will be there waiting for you..
It'll be like the day you figured out that Batman and Robin were actually Bruce Wayne and Ward Burton...
A light will come on...If that light keeps shinig you might end up being a good mechanic..???

Until that day...us techs will keep earning your money...Thanx Guys...

[sjessen]

One other thing not mentioned directly is to keep the cooling fins clean. Another is fix little things, especially oil leaks, immediately before they cause bigger problems.

[Landrus2]

That is a good point that we over look

[Valk]

Finally changing the break-in oil after 50-100 hrs.

[Restrorob]

Originally Posted by Patriot Services

Let's examine the fact many small engines contain no fuel or oil filter and a piece of foam rubber for an air filter.
Posted via Mobile Device

I've had them drug into the shop with no fuel no oil and no filter and nearly anything under the sun stuffed in the filter box, All complaints of not starting...... Just when I think I've seen it all another pulls in.

A foam rubber air filter (piece of mattress) is better than a hand full of tree moss stuffed in a filter box......

This came in last summer, Was less than six months old;




"Don't need no freak'n paper......I'll clean it out and keep mow'n"




Customer actually got cuss'n mad because I wouldn't warranty a new engine......

This came in last Friday, wouldn't start;



Found this;




Although it never ran with this in it......It must have ran with nothing, Engines won't run without compression......


Proper maintenance and preventive maintenance along with proper parts is the key to engine/equipment longevity......Plain and simple.......

[jkilov]

I agree most of them go bad due to maintenance issues.

That said you can't expect a $200 briggs to last forever. They come with aluminum bores, plain bearings, plastic cams and what not. Even so it's possible to stretch 500-1000 hours if taken well care of.

Personally I'm a tad disappointed with ZTR engines as most get tired at 2000 hrs and these should have far better components than home-owner versions.

[290]

ZTR engines are run under a lot more stress. It takes a lot to get all that steel on your deck up to speed and most people engage the deck at full throttle. It also take a lot to move these heavy machines around, how many times to you stop, turn around and go again on a single lawn.