Lawnmower Question

[JasonRR]

Just watched a YouTube video on how to replace the flywheel key, and it doesn't look bad at all. I'm going to try to get one at this mower shop in Grapevine tomorrow and give it a shot.

Appreciate the help.

[LANTIRN]

Just go to Home Depot and pick up some Mexicans. I hear they do yard work on the cheap. Or do like my old crazy uncle does; whenever he needs any kind of manual labor done he drives to the south side of town, pics up a few "out of work" individuals, and usually pays them in beer. Or as my uncle puts it, "I'm goin downtown to pick up some lawn-ni***rs to mow my grass." My uncle just doesn't give a fuck. And he's never been shot, so there is that.

[FastFox]

If it is a Briggs engine, that key will be soft aluminum. It is meant to shear. Be sure you get the right key. Take your model number. If I remember right the key is slightly offset. It's been a while, but I don't think you can't use a key that is NOT the right one. Be careful pulling the flywheel. Most small engines have a tapered top on the crankshaft and the flywheel has a tapered hole. Once the flywheel is torqued down, you need a puller to get it off. Most of the pullers are like a solid chunk of steel that screws down on the threaded top of the crankshaft and you pop it with a hammer and the flywheel will jump up. Be sure to thread the puller down several rounds and hit the puller straight. You don't want to screw up the threads or bend the to of the crank.

[JasonRR]

FUCK ME!!!!

So here's the video I watched.



I followed all the steps, and even went out and bought a set of those stupid ass strap wrenches (Lowes didn't sell them individually, nice). I held the flywheel while my neighbor turned the 15/16" socket with a 2ft breaker bar...and we couldn't get that damn nut to budge. I couldn't hold the flywheel completely still, so I took a big T-handle allen wrench and put it between the "fins" on the flywheel to hold it. Gave it one more shot before I gave up and borrowed my neighbors impact wrench...and FUCK!!!

I don't know shit about these motors, but I'm guessing those "fins" on the flywheel engage the pull-start mechanism and that's what starts the motor. So now I'm wondering how big of a deal it is to have one of those broken off. Anyone know?? I'm going to price a new one, but I'm sure I'm not going to like it. I'll do an ebay search too...ya never know.

[Tx Redneck]

It wasn't left hand thread was it?

[crooner]

FUCK ME!!!!

So here's the video I watched.



I followed all the steps, and even went out and bought a set of those stupid ass strap wrenches (Lowes didn't sell them individually, nice). I held the flywheel while my neighbor turned the 15/16" socket with a 2ft breaker bar...and we couldn't get that damn nut to budge. I couldn't hold the flywheel completely still, so I took a big T-handle allen wrench and put it between the "fins" on the flywheel to hold it. Gave it one more shot before I gave up and borrowed my neighbors impact wrench...and FUCK!!!

I don't know shit about these motors, but I'm guessing those "fins" on the flywheel engage the pull-start mechanism and that's what starts the motor. So now I'm wondering how big of a deal it is to have one of those broken off. Anyone know?? I'm going to price a new one, but I'm sure I'm not going to like it. I'll do an ebay search too...ya never know.

Those keep the engine cool. It's ok if you broke one. That cup in the middle with the nut on it is what the starter uses to turn the engine over when you pull the rope.

[JasonRR]

That makes me feel all kinds of better, thanks!

According to the video, its not left hand thread. I double-checked that when i couldnt get it off right away. I'll get it off with impact when I get a chance, and I dont think the rest should be all that hard.

[Rreemo]

x2 on sheared key.

X3...been there and done that....

[Tx Redneck]

That makes me feel all kinds of better, thanks!

According to the video, its not left hand thread. I double-checked that when i couldnt get it off right away. I'll get it off with impact when I get a chance, and I dont think the rest should be all that hard.

Hit it with some PB Blaster the night before and you shouldn't have any problems.

[Kart21]

If it's like an old Briggs & Stratton, u probably sheared the key. Its not hard to find and fix.

X4, check the flywheel for cracks. Don't worry about the broke vain. Hold the flywheel from the bottom with a screwdriver. Impact will work better.
Getting the flywheel off is the fun part,

[Frank]

You might be better off to clamp something to the underside to stop the blade to keep it from turning rather than trying to stop it at the flywheel.

[FastFox]

Wedge a short 2x4 between the blade and the deck to lock the blade.

[SMKR]

let me know if you need any help Jason, Im right down the street from you.

[JasonRR]

Ok, so I finally go back around to trying to fix this mower. After almost killing myself trying to get that nut free with a 2ft breaker bar (unsuccessfully), it zipped right off with the first touch of an impact wrench. Go figure.

I got the flywheel off using the technique in the video (hitting the nut with a hammer while prying up on the flywheel), but now I have a new problem.

I think I fucked up the threads on both the nut and the crankshaft when I was whacking them with a hammer. The flywheel loosened up and the nut was a little hard to back off of the crankshaft. When I put the cup back on and threaded the nut, it's acting like it's cross-threaded.

I have a set of smaller Craftsman metric taps/dies, but I don't know what size thread this crankshaft and nut might be. Anyone have any suggestions so I can go buy the right tap/die and hopefully get this straightened-out? I need to get this thing running pronto, my lawn is a jungle!

Thanks.

[ELVIS]

too many wheelies! your front yard is "shutdown"!!!!!!111111111111

god bless.