Comments on: Craftsman Lawn Mower Maintenance http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/ Home improvement and related topics from four evening and weekend warriors striving for the perfect homes... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:47:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Wayne http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-2152 Wayne Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:38:13 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-2152 Hi Fred, I was cutting tall grass. The spark plug has a space betweeen the metal parts. Does that mean its gapped? Hi Fred, I was cutting tall grass. The spark plug has a space betweeen the metal parts. Does that mean its gapped?

]]> By: Fred http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1783 Fred Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:01:47 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1783 Wayne - Throttle location is usually pretty easy to spot - its a lever connected to the engine that allows you to change the speed of the engine. Sometimes its located up on the handle. White smoke from the exhaust sounds like it was burning oil. Before you had this problem, were you going up or down steep hills? Gapping the spark plug is only necessary if the spark plug requires gapping. Some newer plugs are pre-gapped. Essentially, you need a gapping tool that can be inserted between the two spark end-points. Wayne - Throttle location is usually pretty easy to spot - its a lever connected to the engine that allows you to change the speed of the engine. Sometimes its located up on the handle. White smoke from the exhaust sounds like it was burning oil. Before you had this problem, were you going up or down steep hills? Gapping the spark plug is only necessary if the spark plug requires gapping. Some newer plugs are pre-gapped. Essentially, you need a gapping tool that can be inserted between the two spark end-points.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1781 Wayne Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:37:13 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1781 Fred- I was using the mower, turned it off for a second, then when I went to turn it back on there was some smoke from the silver section. When I did all of the steps mentioned before it didn't smoke but it didn't start either. How do you make sure a spark plug is gapped and find the throttle? Sorry, lost my manual so I'm trying to find this all out online. Fred- I was using the mower, turned it off for a second, then when I went to turn it back on there was some smoke from the silver section. When I did all of the steps mentioned before it didn’t smoke but it didn’t start either. How do you make sure a spark plug is gapped and find the throttle? Sorry, lost my manual so I’m trying to find this all out online.

]]> By: Fred http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1778 Fred Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:23:47 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1778 Wayne - make sure that your throttle is set to high speed (rabbit), that your spark plug is properly gapped, and that you're priming the engine. Was changing the gas motivated by not using the mower for some time, or something else/worse? Wayne - make sure that your throttle is set to high speed (rabbit), that your spark plug is properly gapped, and that you’re priming the engine. Was changing the gas motivated by not using the mower for some time, or something else/worse?

]]> By: Wayne http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1777 Wayne Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:32 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1777 I have a craftsman 917388861. I changed the sparkplug, added oil to get to the full line, changed the air filter, and changed the gas. I even put on a new handle because the old one broke when I pulled on it last time. After all of these things I still can't get the mower to start. Do you know what my next option would be? I have a craftsman 917388861. I changed the sparkplug, added oil to get to the full line, changed the air filter, and changed the gas. I even put on a new handle because the old one broke when I pulled on it last time. After all of these things I still can’t get the mower to start. Do you know what my next option would be?

]]> By: Fred http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1271 Fred Tue, 20 May 2008 03:27:31 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1271 @Jean - Lawnmower engine too loud -- that's a tough one. There are a few things that can cause this (1) The throttle is all the way on high (you want that, the blade moves faster and gives you a better cut w/ less chance of stall... you could turn it down if you wanted to. (2) The shaft could be bent, which would cause the engine to vibrate MUCH more than usual. (3) An Oil change could be due. New oil would help lubricate the internals and quiet it down a bit. Other than this, if you want quieter, you're going to need to get a new mower. Jennifer recommends a non-motorized version earlier in this thread that might be a good option for you :-) @Jean - Lawnmower engine too loud — that’s a tough one. There are a few things that can cause this (1) The throttle is all the way on high (you want that, the blade moves faster and gives you a better cut w/ less chance of stall… you could turn it down if you wanted to. (2) The shaft could be bent, which would cause the engine to vibrate MUCH more than usual. (3) An Oil change could be due. New oil would help lubricate the internals and quiet it down a bit.

Other than this, if you want quieter, you’re going to need to get a new mower. Jennifer recommends a non-motorized version earlier in this thread that might be a good option for you :-)

]]> By: Jean stfleur http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1263 Jean stfleur Mon, 19 May 2008 16:12:31 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-1263 I have a lawn mower that is about 2 years old the spark plug was bad I replaced it. before that I tought it was something else I open the top and miss arround with it now it is working fine but the engine is to loud. does anyone knows how to adjust the engine. I have a lawn mower that is about 2 years old the spark plug was bad I replaced it. before that I tought it was something else I open the top and miss arround with it now it is working fine but the engine is to loud. does anyone knows how to adjust the engine.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-679 Ethan Wed, 07 May 2008 00:20:18 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-679 @Josh, Thanks for the information. Maybe one day I'll make the switch (if my mower breaks down that will speed things along). @Josh, Thanks for the information. Maybe one day I’ll make the switch (if my mower breaks down that will speed things along).

]]> By: Josh http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-678 Josh Tue, 06 May 2008 20:51:10 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-678 Ethan, my yard has a lot of elevation change, but all the sloped areas have been terraced or have gardens planted. The area I mow is flat. However, my neighbor, who has the same mower as I and has grass on his severely sloped front yard seems to do just fine. Because the blades don't actually touch (a micrometer is included for adjustments) it takes very little physical effort to use the mower. Brill makes a battery-powered self-propelled version as well, though they say the non-motorized version is easier to push than a standard power mower. Ethan, my yard has a lot of elevation change, but all the sloped areas have been terraced or have gardens planted. The area I mow is flat. However, my neighbor, who has the same mower as I and has grass on his severely sloped front yard seems to do just fine. Because the blades don’t actually touch (a micrometer is included for adjustments) it takes very little physical effort to use the mower. Brill makes a battery-powered self-propelled version as well, though they say the non-motorized version is easier to push than a standard power mower.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-668 Ethan Mon, 05 May 2008 16:22:31 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/craftsman-lawn-mower-maintenance/#comment-668 Josh, That sounds like a nice setup. My yard has one major hill and I don't know how well a manual mower would work. Is your yard mostly flat? Josh, That sounds like a nice setup. My yard has one major hill and I don’t know how well a manual mower would work. Is your yard mostly flat?

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