I recently had an odyssey with those little quick disconnect knobs that go on the handlebars. I was working on an old Craftsman push mower that needed both of them. The mower is about fifteen years old and has spent several years in the weather, so I wanted to make it look as nice as I could. I ordered a bail cable and both of the knobs from Sears. For whatever reason, they shipped the knobs and the cable separately. The cable came in on time, but the knobs were lost in the mail. When I got my money back and went to order another set, I found out that they were on indefinite back order. I got the last ones. I looked around on line and couldn't find any more, so I gave up and moved on to other things. I had forgotten all about ordering them, and then they suddenly showed up in my mailbox about seven months later. Finally that mower is nearly 100% finished.
I recently dealt with that line issue on a little Murray push mower I got out of the trash. The line was flexible and looked fine on the outside, but the inner lining had completely collapsed and nothing was getting though it.
This is one of the best and most complete workings of the Quantum engine. You should add that to the #'s as this is a Quantum. A full round of applause 👏. Your patience with this mower deserves it. By the way I bet you could make a baffle. Not that you want to but you could. Thank you for the video.
You have an amazing array of tools! I would have chucked the whole project in by the slide hammer time as a lost cause due to my skill level. Personally I don’t think the mower is worth the effort. Excellent video though and excellent teaching on your part!!
Did you mean Condon? He makes some great videos and I've seen a few, but I'm no where near as thorough lol. I just like to have it put together right before I call it done, and film what I think is important to the story
James Condon always use Hot water and a degreaser in the ultrasonic machine to clean the parts . He is the best. Anyway, I learned several thing from your video! Thanks for sharing. Saludos from Mexico 🇲🇽
I love these little carbs. They are so simple, but if you get a clog in the idle circuit, you might as well throw them in the trash. It is nearly impossible to get them out on these carbs.
New push mowers are $300 plus at the big box stores, ridiculous. Definitely worth fixing up a decent used lawn mower. I find them on Craigslist free stuff in my area.
I'm only 14 minutes in, and I don't want to forget again. On all the mowers I work on, I add a shut-off valve and a filter. It is only about $2 for the parts, and I add $10 to the price of the unit. With that, I always add $4 for a can of carb spray. The filter and valve is a great selling point. Letting the customer know to shut off and run out at the end of the season. That way, they won't need me next year. Does it cost me some business? Ya probably but I want them to come back knowing I want to fix it the first time.
I'm gonna have to start adding at least a shutoff, especially on the briggs mowers I get (if not only to help prevent fuel spillage during carb cleanings). Great tip to highlight that as a selling point!
You're right and you should want the best for your customers even if you make a little bit less money on this one you'll make a lot more on the next hundred people
I definitely learned that on this one haha. In my area about 90% of the time it’s just a carb clean, small odds and ends, and regular service to get it going again
I have been dealing with an issue with my local shop. My mom has a Husqvarna BT130 blower, and there is only one Husqvarna dealer in my area. Her machine needs a fuel tank grommet and lines. I ordered them in June, and they initially told me in would be a week. I called them two weeks later and they said that it was on back order until September. I called them at the end of September and they said the date was now October 27th. I still haven't heard from them, so I am guessing that they didn't come in. I have already tried after market ones, and they did not work, so I am just stuck waiting.
Yeah, definitely not worth all the trouble it caused but quite a journey nonetheless. I’ve got one now that’s putting me through the same torture: left out in the rain for years and worked on by some hack who snapped off some critical bolts, cracked intake pipe, sheared key, flywheel seized to the crank, parts from other engines bolted on (looks like they attempted to convert a primer carb to an auto choke style). Had I noticed all that before I bought it I would have walked away, but I’ll fix it at a loss and make it up on the next one. It’s what we do.
I would not have fixed it. But i may have checked crankshaft size to see if engine would fit a toro. Toros sell. The bowl gasketts i get from amazon 20 at a time
Did you find the 2L ultra sonic cleaner to still be the right size or do you wish you would have went to the 3L instead? I have really enjoyed your content and glad I stumbled onto it. I also do my own and of course relatives small engine work in my free time .
Thanks! I think the 2L is the right one for me right now for what I'm doing. It takes less cleaning solution and less time to heat up, but if I was doing larger carbs like on riding mowers, dirt bikes, etc. I don't think this one would be big enough to get everything cleaned in one go.
What I do is wait for a young kid that wants to mow grass and don’t have money to buy it, I let him work at shop a few days and fill it up plus bottle of oil, he’s ready to get his business started ❤
I usually wait until I know I have a good machine before washing them, but I definitely would have seen the oil leak on this a lot earlier if I washed it first!
How much will that mower bring in your area? I don't even know if it would bring $110 in my area. If you're in it to bring back a cool old mower, then it's worth it. If you are trying to turn a profit, then it isn't.
I was able to pretty much just get the parts cost back out of it, but that was in peak spring rush for mowers. I originally scooped it thinking it would be a quick profit but was obviously wrong there after getting into it. If this was a prime example (cosmetically good, higher-end rear wheel drive model) it would likely go for about 200-250 in my area
Love your videos. You have a clear voice and very understandable. Very knowledgeable of your workmanship.
I got tired of asking small engine places for bowl gasket so I started using o-rings and it works awesome.
great tip, thanks!
I’ve noticed some of the eBay gaskets are really small orings 😊
Works great
what size o-rings?
@@benrobles752 bought a o ring kit from napa and used whatever was closest
I recently had an odyssey with those little quick disconnect knobs that go on the handlebars. I was working on an old Craftsman push mower that needed both of them. The mower is about fifteen years old and has spent several years in the weather, so I wanted to make it look as nice as I could. I ordered a bail cable and both of the knobs from Sears. For whatever reason, they shipped the knobs and the cable separately. The cable came in on time, but the knobs were lost in the mail. When I got my money back and went to order another set, I found out that they were on indefinite back order. I got the last ones. I looked around on line and couldn't find any more, so I gave up and moved on to other things. I had forgotten all about ordering them, and then they suddenly showed up in my mailbox about seven months later. Finally that mower is nearly 100% finished.
Really enjoy your channel. My dad always worked on mowers after he retired. Keep up the good stuff
thanks!
I restored a bunch of vintage motorcycles. The best carb cleaner I used was straight Pine Sol, undiluted, for 24 hours.
Awesome, I'll have to try that out! thanks!
I have heard that from others. I need to get a Sonic cleaner. Good tip 👍
It works great in sonic cleaner also and fast
You also have to clean the main jet,and motion valve.
That was a tough pulley. It withstood a ton of force without bending. The pulley usually gets mangled when you use a puller on it.
I recently dealt with that line issue on a little Murray push mower I got out of the trash. The line was flexible and looked fine on the outside, but the inner lining had completely collapsed and nothing was getting though it.
Always check those intake manifold bolts when you got those Quantam engines apart.
This is one of the best and most complete workings of the Quantum engine. You should add that to the #'s as this is a Quantum. A full round of applause 👏. Your patience with this mower deserves it. By the way I bet you could make a baffle. Not that you want to but you could. Thank you for the video.
Appreciate it!
sweet air chisel tip!
Sometimes, I can not stop myself and do way too much way more then what I can sell it for
I am the same way.
You have an amazing array of tools! I would have chucked the whole project in by the slide hammer time as a lost cause due to my skill level. Personally I don’t think the mower is worth the effort. Excellent video though and excellent teaching on your part!!
Appreciate it! All that stuff is conveniently around from working on my old Jeep otherwise I'd likely have given up on this one as well lol
It's looks like you have been watching James Gordon
Channel
Did you mean Condon? He makes some great videos and I've seen a few, but I'm no where near as thorough lol. I just like to have it put together right before I call it done, and film what I think is important to the story
James Condon always use Hot water and a degreaser in the ultrasonic machine to clean the parts . He is the best. Anyway, I learned several thing from your video! Thanks for sharing. Saludos from Mexico 🇲🇽
I love videos like this. Just fascinating - even for a novice homeowner who doesn’t have a handy husband ! 😀
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love these little carbs. They are so simple, but if you get a clog in the idle circuit, you might as well throw them in the trash. It is nearly impossible to get them out on these carbs.
warm water in the ultra sonic works best when i use mine
New push mowers are $300 plus at the big box stores, ridiculous. Definitely worth fixing up a decent used lawn mower. I find them on Craigslist free stuff in my area.
I'm only 14 minutes in, and I don't want to forget again. On all the mowers I work on, I add a shut-off valve and a filter. It is only about $2 for the parts, and I add $10 to the price of the unit. With that, I always add $4 for a can of carb spray. The filter and valve is a great selling point. Letting the customer know to shut off and run out at the end of the season. That way, they won't need me next year. Does it cost me some business? Ya probably but I want them to come back knowing I want to fix it the first time.
I'm gonna have to start adding at least a shutoff, especially on the briggs mowers I get (if not only to help prevent fuel spillage during carb cleanings). Great tip to highlight that as a selling point!
I’m the same way and if they come back for more work great, if they don’t that’s fine too, I’m 73 & don’t care as long as I fixed it the right way 😊
You're right and you should want the best for your customers even if you make a little bit less money on this one you'll make a lot more on the next hundred people
😅
from experience not all £20/$20 mowers are equal but some are more equal than other. great video btw 🙂
I definitely learned that on this one haha. In my area about 90% of the time it’s just a carb clean, small odds and ends, and regular service to get it going again
BFH for flywheel never fails
you know it!
Great video
thanks!
If you do get it off I recommend luring it with Anti Seize before Reinstalling it
Maybe heat it up and add wax from.a Birthday Candle
thanks! my go-to is usually the red high-temp bearing grease to act as an anti-seize, have not tried the birthday candle yet
I have been dealing with an issue with my local shop. My mom has a Husqvarna BT130 blower, and there is only one Husqvarna dealer in my area. Her machine needs a fuel tank grommet and lines. I ordered them in June, and they initially told me in would be a week. I called them two weeks later and they said that it was on back order until September. I called them at the end of September and they said the date was now October 27th. I still haven't heard from them, so I am guessing that they didn't come in. I have already tried after market ones, and they did not work, so I am just stuck waiting.
Yeah, definitely not worth all the trouble it caused but quite a journey nonetheless. I’ve got one now that’s putting me through the same torture: left out in the rain for years and worked on by some hack who snapped off some critical bolts, cracked intake pipe, sheared key, flywheel seized to the crank, parts from other engines bolted on (looks like they attempted to convert a primer carb to an auto choke style). Had I noticed all that before I bought it I would have walked away, but I’ll fix it at a loss and make it up on the next one. It’s what we do.
This one for sure has me looking closer at the details on new buys
I would not have fixed it. But i may have checked crankshaft size to see if engine would fit a toro. Toros sell. The bowl gasketts i get from amazon 20 at a time
The sunk cost fallacy, or it's never too late to give up. I commend you for seeing it through, but now you have a $500 mower worth $50.
Did you find the 2L ultra sonic cleaner to still be the right size or do you wish you would have went to the 3L instead?
I have really enjoyed your content and glad I stumbled onto it. I also do my own and of course relatives small engine work in my free time .
Thanks! I think the 2L is the right one for me right now for what I'm doing. It takes less cleaning solution and less time to heat up, but if I was doing larger carbs like on riding mowers, dirt bikes, etc. I don't think this one would be big enough to get everything cleaned in one go.
If they look really bad I use acid dip and then sonic cleaner 😊
Using an acid dip is a new one for me, which type do you use? Does it affect the seat / gasket materials at all?
That's one you keep cause you'll never get what you put into it
I'm starting to get too many of those types of machines! haha
What I do is wait for a young kid that wants to mow grass and don’t have money to buy it, I let him work at shop a few days and fill it up plus bottle of oil, he’s ready to get his business started ❤
Be nice of you clean the mower first, [power washer]!
I usually wait until I know I have a good machine before washing them, but I definitely would have seen the oil leak on this a lot earlier if I washed it first!
Did you break even or did you lose some money ?
I think I ended up just getting the parts cost back out of it. Working for free on this one!
@@BackyardRepairsYeah it happens. I always just tell myself at least I saved it from the landfill and helped the economy by buying parts for it lol
How much will that mower bring in your area? I don't even know if it would bring $110 in my area. If you're in it to bring back a cool old mower, then it's worth it. If you are trying to turn a profit, then it isn't.
I was able to pretty much just get the parts cost back out of it, but that was in peak spring rush for mowers. I originally scooped it thinking it would be a quick profit but was obviously wrong there after getting into it. If this was a prime example (cosmetically good, higher-end rear wheel drive model) it would likely go for about 200-250 in my area
A "Snapper" in name only... sad box store branded junk.