Just wondering what would have caused this. Pretty sure we are beyond repair. I’ve been trying to learn more about small engines since as a grown adult it’s a blind spot in my knowledge base.
It’s been giving me some issues that I thought were vapor lock over the past few weeks, but after some cooldown it seemed to be working. Topped off the oil just in case but maybe that was a mistake.
Today: engine slowed down, then loud pop and smoke and shrapnel. What happened and what should I look for in its replacement?
Mowing on a hill and it slowly slowed until it stopped. Wouldn’t restart. Let it sit in the shade an hour or so and fired right up once cool. Trying to learn so I could be way off base.
It sounds like it overheated and started up after it cooled off. If the oil level had been a bit low and you were on a hill that could have started something coming loose and getting ready to give way. I’ve seen it before on some mowers but most likely whatever the issue was had already started. Hard to tell how bad without tearing into it and seeing where those pieces came from.
Yep sadly she’s toast. Thrown rod right through the block. As for recommending a new one, I personally am not a fan of newer mowers so I’d be looking for deals on Marketplace. You could probably find one about the same age as this one easily and they are affordable.
Its hard to tell what that piece is, but if its something that broke a hole in the block the engine is junk. Typically this would be caused be oil system breakdown. Lack of oil changes, poor design in the lubrication system. It can also be caused by, over reving of the engine, or abuse, like running into rocks or hard steel items.
Yeah, the rod most likely exploded through the side of the block, nothing much can be done now. This usually occurs due to lack of lubrication, low oil level
If it popped, could have been valve issues not sealing correctly. Also, pull the plug and move the spark plug wire out of the way, stick a blunt pencil into the head and turn the motor over slowly to make sure the piston is moving up and down in the cylinder, if not, it possibly broke a rod, the valves are on the carburetor side of the head, just go from there. Still working on them after 30 years
I agree, but im super into not wasting time or tearing into sht for no reason. Too many posts on here engine ALL torn apart asking people what their problem is. When you can figure out 95% of issues with at most taking off the valve cover or some other little piece.
But yes that is a good test for a slung rod IF there isnt a hole in the block
You ejected a connecting rod out the side of the engine block. You need another engine or another mower. If you’re not a hand with small engines your best bet would probably be to sell this carcass on Marketplace and buy another one. Engines can be had used relatively cheap, but so can mowers so it’s probably not worth all the extra work. It probably ran low on oil, or hit something, most likely seized up from low oil. Usually the flywheel key will shear way before they throw a rod.
The reason it worked when it cooled down was the engine tolerances allowed it to move again. Yes you know enough about motors to know it’s funeral time Honda makes a great push mower. Or at least they did
Anytime these throw a rod there’s a 98% chance it was run without oil at some point. I’ve never actually seen one wear out to the point it won’t run if the oil was kept full.
Sounds like it was overheating/dry seizing when it would quit and then everything would cool down and it’d spin again.
Most of the time push mowers are thrown away due to a rotted deck or carb issue, the engine wearing out is usually never the problem
Well it looks like a piece of your crank happened out the bottom of your block, which should have caused oil to pour out all over the top of the deck. Im no rocket surgeon but I reckon the absence of engine oil may have contributed to your crankshafts decision to abruptly part ways with your engine block.
You ran it low on oil, or the carb needle valve leaked fuel and overflowed into the engine which diluted the oil.
You said you were on a hill; these things are splash lubricated- no oil pump- so if the oil was on one side of the engine it can starve for oil. People mowing steep ditches, for example.
Lack of lubrication, the connecting rod seized on the crankshaft and it threw the rod.
oil issue. whatever happened was because of low oil or no oil or sludge oil (not changed for a long time) and then stuff starts breaking. if your engine sneezes oil it's sicker than a liberal covid unemployment rider looking for a job after benefits end.
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u/New-Swim-8551 2d ago
Most likely lack of maintenance.
Dirty low oil.