robin engine

johara1 · Apr 8, 2003

i have problems with the engine governor, the bolt that holds the governor arm to the shaft came loose.
i went through robin, and it's at a service center now and has been there for three wks. i tried to order a service manual,but they have been back ordered for 2 mos.
so i called terry and he refered me to jack, at robin.so i hope i covered all the bases.i'll just sit here and watch the grass grow.
one thing i did learn is that the robin and the new onan are NOT the same engine. it's made by robin but it's different inside, this is what jack told me at robin.when i tried to find a service center at onan,that was in the area. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

davesisk · Apr 8, 2003

Dude,

I'm amazed that you're having so many problems with this engine. I've never owned a Robin, but I've always heard good things about them. I hope you get everything resolved quickly...best of luck!

Dave

Schultz · Apr 9, 2003

Maybe because many of their small engines are made by Kubota??

Schultz · Apr 9, 2003

I wonder what's different on the Onan version? Maybe they kept the triple piston rings??? If you look at the engine specs they publish, they are identical as far as bore & stroke, hp, displacement, and compression.

johara1 · Apr 9, 2003

Schultz,
i don't know the diff. in the two engines, jack didn't go into detail, all i was looking for was a someone with knowledge to fix the one i have.
on the outside they look the same, it might be like getting info. from pt, to find out whats inside. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

johara1 · May 3, 2003

as you can tell by the date on the post it will soon be 2 months and the 422 is still down!!.this is a joke,the latest is, the place they told me to take it is not authorized to do the work.when i called jack at robin to get that taken care of,the distributor i find out said they don't have the parts that were ordered 2 weeks ago.
good news; is i received the service book(all most 2 mo.) this may be the first 422 to run out of warrantee with the least hours. bullitt you made a good move!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

johara1 · May 11, 2003

this is the latest,i call jack at robin for help again.after three months the parts are on back order!
a call had the parts sent first day air, now the engine is together,now new oil and filter set it in and bolt it up ready to go.wrong! the part, is not the right.you can not bolt the plate to the engine that holds the gear pumps on. so monday a call to terry at pt. and jack at robin!! 3 mos. and counting /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

davesisk · May 11, 2003

Johara1:

I think this is just ridiculous. You actually had it running, what, a week or two? Given this is a new machine, I think you should've held PT's feet to the fire on it, and nicely insisted that they make the situation right regardless of what it took (even if that meant shipping you a new machine and taking the current one back). I sure do hope that you get this resolved.

Good luck,
Dave

johara1 · May 13, 2003

here we go again,called jack at robin and i gave him the numbers off the engine.and now he will send me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif the right parts to fix the engine!but i have to send the wrong ones back. i said i would and it wouldn't take 3 months /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

johara1 · May 23, 2003

jack at robin was to send me the right parts,but that has not happened.so they have worn me down. to hell with the warranty,fix it yourself.redrill the plat to fit the case on the robin engine.half a day it is in and running. just to find out the blade on the right side is hitting the side of the deck.ground the sides of the blade and reblance. now the engine quit,it will run with the choke out (lean condition) so take the carb. off you would have too see the junk in it the dirt was up to the main jet. the drain was pluged solid.
so i call terry about all this,he ask why i waited till now to tell him about the deck and the carb. i told him what i did to get it running, he told me i should not have modified it, i should wait for jack to get the right parts! my reply is they can build 60 cars an hour, i'm going on 4 months,don't you think that is a little to much? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

MossRoad · Jul 1, 2003

johara1,

Haven't heard from you for a while. Any progress? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Chief · Jul 1, 2003

Sorry to hear about your problems the the Robin engine. I recently purchased a power washer with a 13.5 hp Robin EH41 engine on it. Have only used it for about 3 hours but has run like a champ so far. Hope you experience is not an indication of how they are all built. What is the latest with your situation? 4 months is excessive!

johara1 · Jul 5, 2003

mr, i had to fix it myself,maybe it's better that way.when i got the right parts it runs fine! i had to clean the the carb.it was full of garbage,not bad for 47 hrs. it now has a lot more power,it runs out of traction on a hill, not out of power!
the mower was the next problem, the blades hit the sides of the deck when you are in heavy grass. the deck is only 3/16" thick where the spindels are located is not heavy enough. the old gravely is 3/8" so much for over built! how i found this out was the blades on the deck are 3/8" longer than called for.i called terry about this,it fell on deaf ears. the new blades 16 1/2 and don't hit.a grinder fixed the hitting,but to see where the blades hit is 3/4" above where they are when are not running this is the flexing in the deck, the torque rise when you hit the heavey grass.no wonder the belts don't last. one more thing,by cleaning the carb. it stopped the shut off problem,no more dieseling,i don't have to wait , hit a bump no problem!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. and the best for last i fix the seat i now have a suspension for $9.00 , more latter.

MossRoad · Jul 5, 2003

Great! I'm glad you got things worked out. Also good to hear the engine is now performing to your satisfaction. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Will wait for your suspension seat for $9.00.... way to hold an audience captive! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

johara1 · Jul 6, 2003

mr, this is simple,i used some old 1 1/4" x 3/16" steel to make two u shaped brackets one to fit inside the other.the outer one 9 3/8" wide on the outside,drill two 3/8" holes on 8"centers in each this will match the holes in the mount and the seat. the short ears are 1 1/4 long with 3/8" holes in each.when bolted together the over all height is 2 3/4", drill two more holes in the outside one,this gave me an added adj. for tilt.this makes the hinge for the front.
now the back, tractor supply has coil springs1 1/4 dia. x 4" .148 thick wire buy two,$ 6.00 then two 4"x3/8 bolts and two lock nuts.with tax this should be under $9.00.
now to get something you have to give up something the seat adj. was taken off this will give the extra height i needed, i'm only 5' 9". i sat a small square in front of the seat and marked the position where i have the seat . then i removed the adj. and the front holes lined up,you may have to re drill two of them to get them to line up.then bolt on the hinge
let me back up,now when you drill the front set two 3/8 bolts in the holes now mark the back holes to line up with the holes in the mount drill seat pan. now bolt the hinge on the front , go to the back take one 4" bolt,and put it in the new hole and through mount,screw on the nut finger tight.now pullthe seat away from the mount and put one spring in the other side,slip a bolt down through put on the nut, take the nut off the other side install the spring there.
this first bolt holds the seat together while you put the spring in the other side, just makes things easer.and other thing, i compressed the spring in a vice,it would coil bind at 1 7/8" so i cut two 2" pieces of 1/2" hose two slip over the bolts this will keep the springs from bottoming out.
i don't know how to get a pics on here, it would be a lot easer on my one finger! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MossRoad · Jul 6, 2003

Sounds good. If you have a digital picture you want to post of it, and are having difficulty, give me a private mail and I'll help you do it. I'd like to see it.

Schultz · Jul 7, 2003

Off the subject but what mower are you running with your PT-422, is it the 48" or the 60"

johara1 · Jul 7, 2003

Schultz, i have a 48" mower.
mr, i just mowed the grass in between storms,you can go faster with that little mod. under the seat.i didn't try the two wheel thing yet. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif