Craftsman Eager-1 Maintenance

[jrdellaratta]

After I changed the oil in my push-mower Saturday, and then after about 30 minutes of use, the mower engine began to knock badly, it stalled, and I cannot get it restarted. I originally poured too much new oil into the reservoir, but drained the excess out by turning the mower over again and draining the excess--the same way I drained the old oil.

I'd like to keep this mower---it's 8 years old but does have a couple other small problems---but I'm concerned that service costs will approach or exceed the cost of a replacement unit.

Any suggestions on how to resolve the non-starting issue, which if I fix might make me overlook the other small problems?

 

[robison]

It sounds to me like the engine just failed. Take the spark plug out and crank it over and see if it has any compression. A new motor is probably more than it's worth given the low prices for new mowers

 

[MrBigNose]

I have a Craftsman Eager-1 6hp. For draining the oil, I believe there is a drain plug in the bottom of the engine. I believe the mowing deck bolts directly to the crankcase. There is a hex shaped plug in the crankcase.

For the stalling issue, I know this might seem obvious but I have to ask. It didn't just run out of gas, did it?

Some times mine gets a "vapor lock" situation going on. I just let it sit for about twenty minutes and cool down. It seems to start after that.

 

[jrdellaratta]

Thanks for the insights. I waited until the gas tank was empty before doing the opil change, and the manual says to turn the unit on its side to drain the oil. So that's what I did. While upside down, I scraped the underbelly clean. Then I added new oil, but too late I realized I had overfilled the oil reservoir, and turned it back over to drain enough out so that the dipstick read "full." Then I fileld the gas tank, and mowed with no trouble for about 30 minutes. At that point, the hard knocking started, and then she stalled out. After a few tries, I couldn't even get the chord to pull. The tank is still practically full. I did not, however, check the spark plug.

A new, comparable, mower unit is about $180. But I ran in to this same problem with my Craftsman chainsaw: service on a problem it developed two years ago would have cost $160; basically the cost of a new saw. So I just got a new saw.

I hate to throw something out that still has decent value, so I want to fix this problem even though the mower does have a few miles and years on it.

Thanks.

 

[MrBigNose]

<font color="blue">I couldn't even get the chord to pull </font>

This is exactly what happens with mine when I get the "vapor lock" situation. Have you had a chance to try restarting it when it's cooled down?

For the oil drain, I'm not sure if mine is the same model as yours. Following the recommendation in the manual is usually the best method.

 

[jrdellaratta]

Nope---I got fed up with tugging, put it in the garage, and movede on to the next thing. So it'll have had ~48 hours to cool until I can try it again this evening. Thanks alot for these insights. Meanwhile, how hard is it to replace the starter cord? Mine is getting frayed, the handle has ripped off (I stick my fingers through a bowline knot to start it these days), and if I get the girl running again, I'd like to replace that, too.

 

[MrBigNose]

I haven't had to replace the cord on mine yet so I can't help there.

On mine, the statement "One Pull Starting" is printed on top of the engine. It is one pull starting, just not the first pull. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jrdellaratta]

You know, I noticed that again when I was working on it this weekend. Never, ever, not even in its first uses back in '98, was it one pull starting. It's always been 4 or 5 pulls.