I just got an instant HIGH FIVE from my sons!!!!

yelbike · Jul 25, 2012

I have this craftsmen 6 hp puch mower, its been sitting idle for 3 years. It was always a hard starter since I got it from my cousin on trade for a sawzall probably 7 or 8 years ago.
I decided to get it going to trim areas that I just can get to with ztr or the tractors. It wouldn't start, so I checked spark, okay....must be gas....took the carb apart. cleaned things out a little but I don't really know carbs that well so put it back together. Still won't start. I read in my Haynes manual, it might be cheaper to replace the carb. I checked with the local small engine shop, $109 for new carb, $14 for rebuild kit, $35 for labour if I just take the carb to them but they can't touch it for a week. So I took the kit and told the store owner I'll bring the mower and parts to them if I can't get it going.

I got home, I started working on it slowly, reading along in the manual. My oldest son(9years old) asks if he can help, I told him he can watch but its sort of a one person, intrincate job. By the time I put it all back together it was late because of intruptions(supper, chasing the dog, neighbours coming over to bs). So he asks " Are you going to try it tomorrow?", my other sons (5years old) answer for me "NOPE, he'll try it right now!" .........First pull it starts:shocked:........this thing has never started first pull

.......I'm truly surprise!! No sooner, I turn around, "High five DAD!!" and again from the little one too!!

Man it feels good to do things yourself. I know its just I little thing but I'm always apprehensive taking any part of an engine down. I hope my kids keep wanting to repair things themselves too. It would have been cheaper to pay the $35 labour (considering I charge double that per hour and it took me almost two hour) but I think it was well worth it just for those HIGH FIVES!!!:wave:

Djames55 · Jul 25, 2012

Nice post!

Depmandog · Jul 25, 2012

That's so cool! You are their HERO dad! Cherish and remember this - there will be a phase where you know nothing - HaHa!! But then when they get a tad older you are back to a hero!!

Great job.

Bird · Jul 25, 2012

I think it was well worth it just for those HIGH FIVES!!!

Yessir, you've got that right!

s219 · Jul 25, 2012

Carb rebuilds always seem like high-five miracles to me. Sometimes in the process you can see what the problem was, which is even better -- then you know it will work!

toppop52 · Jul 25, 2012

I've built race engines for go karts, cars and offshore performance boats and I've been playing with classic cars since they were new cars. Carburetors and electrical has always been like black magic, If I mess with it enough I usually get it to work but I'm never sure exactly why!

NormL · Jul 25, 2012

toppop52 said:
I've built race engines for go karts, cars and offshore performance boats and I've been playing with classic cars since they were new cars. Carburetors and electrical has always been like black magic, If I mess with it enough I usually get it to work but I'm never sure exactly why!

I certainly can identify with that statement.:confused3:

bigtiller · Jul 25, 2012

I overhauled a Carter 4 barrel once a long time ago. That was a frustrating day. There sure was a lot of little parts to it but I managed to get it put back toge

ther and it worked. But I have never attempted to tear down another one.

Mounted Madness · Jul 25, 2012

Congrats all the way around.:thumbsup:

Johndeere3720 · Jul 25, 2012

Good deal you got it running! I love working on engines, I don't know why because I really didn't get that experience your sons are getting, I just got some blown lawn tractor engines and completely dismantled then for the experience, plus since they didn't have to be put back together it was perfect as a beginner's project. Right now i have half a dozen 2 stroke machines (weed eaters, leaf blowers, and chainsaws) that I have been working on, they are really basic and simple and so far I have gotten about half of them running, all but 1 weed eater which I just tore apart so I could use it's parts on other weed eaters. I think working on engines is a great experience, I usually work on them on my own and just have to figure out how everything works and how everything goes together. Plus the experience is invaluable when your own equipment breaks down. :thumbsup: Sounds like your sons are on the right track, keep up the good work!

I have attached a few pictures of my latest projects :thumbsup: