You should check out a ride king they made the from the 60s to the early 2000s it's 28 to 30 inch deck and is three wheel drive one wheel in the front which is attached to the steering wheel and it's also the drive wheel driven by a single chain so it's technically a zero turn and it's a vertical shaft just like a push mower and the engine is basically in between your legs and you sit one it at the same time! They are actually awesome for the 50 years they made them they pretty much never changed designs too I actually own one for my lawn mowing business the last year they ever made them and it basically replaces the push mower and any reason I need one since they turn so tight and take up the same space on my trailer too! I can use it in smaller areas than a push mower even and I can get it inside fenced off yards with tiny gates! Best 900 bucks I ever spent
I know at the beginning of this video he says this is basically a "throw-away mower", but it's currently selling for $1899 at Home Depot, $2200.00 at Walmart and $2350 at Lowes.....too valuable to not take good care of and properly maintain. I need mine to LAST, so I'll be saving this vid to my Favorites. It's a great, comprehensive troubleshooting and maintenance video for the Troy-Bilt TR30-R!
I bought mine at Lowe’s sold as a craftsman,,,Mtd makes them and has for quite some time.They were having a special sale on it and I had some kind of promotional coupon type deal they had given me and I believe I bought the thing for right around $980 roughly plus tax of course and then they gave me six months same as cash as well with no interest or financing charges so in my mind I reckon I got a pretty good deal on it .I would have preferred a different model however we have a brick wall around our property with brick gateways and this is able to fit through them nicely we have an adjacent second property next-door to us so I can get on this mower and drive through the gateways in between the two properties which makes this little thing worth it’s weight in gold,,,it runs all right it’s a little finicky at times when it comes to engaging the deck I almost have to kind of man handle the engagement lever at times,,,I probably need to get down in there and clean out the deck area again real good. I’m thinking I’m going to have to redo the piece for the steering in the front . I bought a kit off of Amazon for that job,,,there’s videos on TH-cam to show how to replace the little steering bar when it goes bad. There’s two little rubber grommets under the seat that the seat kinda rides on I suppose it helps with vibration and adds a little cushioning effect,,, The grommet on the right side fell out and I’ve never been able to find it and I had trouble locating one to buy so I took small diameter rubber hose about 2 inches long or so and bundled three of them and then duct tape them and then wired them into place that seems to work really good I just had to get the thickness to match the one on the other side so far so good.I’m 5‘10“ tall and 340 pounds and I am amazed that this tractor offers me A little more comfort than I ever thought it would that big high back seat is quite comfortable how ever sometimes I find myself stretching my legs out from time to time if I’m on it for a while other than that it works fairly well. I have to remind myself to not try and get close to anything while mowing I’ve noticed those back wheels will catch on things I gotta remind myself to just trim with the string trimmer or the push mower .I disconnected the wire for the reverse sensor switch so I can keep mowing in reverse although sometimes it doesn’t always work most of the time it does however there are times when it doesn’t not sure why. I did have to replace the ignition switch but I found some on both eBay and Amazon pretty straightforward and easy to install a new one I watched videos on TH-cam about that also. I had trouble locating the exact battery however I have a Viking Harbor freight tools power pack engine starter/jumper that is very compact and portable so I use that instead I have a few things I start with that little power pack and it works really good. I wonder how long these little tractors will last us? I wonder how these little tractors will last us? I hope a good long while, I change the oil twice a year early spring and early fall.👍😊
If there ever was a "throw away" mower, it would be my MTD Yardman 46" rider that I bought from Home Depot for $1099 (USD) in 2005. I maintain it by the book and it shows! Deck is 95% rust free and the V-Twin starts after about 5sec of cranking after taking it out of Winter storage. Except for a few belt replacements, it has been trouble free. I figure it will be good for another 20yrs. I am on a fixed income and CAN'T afford a new one, so this one has to be a KEEPER! Btw, I run 10% ethanol gas MOST of the time, but run "REAL GAS" through it occasionally ! CHEERS...
I bought the Murray version 9 years ago from Walmart for $800 bucks after going through two front engine riders over 10 years. This little "throwaway " won't die! I keep the oil and the filters changed and have had to replace one tire and one drive belt. And I like my half acre of lawn cut high, so I'm easy on the blade. This video saved me a lot of diagnosis last year when my mower wouldn't start. That cheap side chute popped off the safety switch. I replaced it with a mulch cover.
Keep making videos like this. I have stopped watching a lot of other channels because they are beyond reality. You still see your viewers as people and not as dollar signs.
I don’t know why I’m here. I know how a carburetor works and I know how to fix lawnmowers. I actually should be fixing a free whipper snipper that was given to me right now, but yet here I am watching rich work on a lawnmower. 😂 we often times will dip our carbs in Chem-dip. It works good at getting crud off.
It's like that meme where the teacher says something and all the students are staring back at one student. Only the student in this case is Peg aka @Ziptiesnbiasplies.
I have a Troy Bilt 30" tractor that wouldnt start soon after I added gas. Changed the spark plus, removed the gas, added non ethenol gas, tried using starting fluid several times and it still wouldnt start. I don't have a trailer to take the tractor to my repair guy so I kept trying and found this video covered the air intake and it started for a few seconds and stopped, tried it a few more times with a piece of cardboard and lo and behold it started and ran for several minutes, halleluhia. With all of the videos I had previously watched to repair my other mowers, snow throwers and otherproblem with my tractor I have never seen (or didn't pay attention to) this tip. Thanks for all the good information. Keep up the good work.
I sincerely appreciate this video. I don’t have a dad or dad type people in my life, and I really needed an in-depth explanation of this specific mower to make sure I am servicing it properly. You made this totally possible for me. Thank you.
Loved every minute of this! Takes me back to when I was a kid and my dad teaching me how engine's work and the simple things to check when they don't work.
The only complicated part of this mower is the 5 safety interlock switches, SEAT, PTO, REVERSE, BRAKE, and DISCHARGE COVER. The BRAKE and the PTO can prevent the mower from cranking, the SEAT, REVERSE, and DISCHARGE COVER will kill the mower ignition. If the mower won't crank it's probably because the brake isn't depressed the blade is engaged, or one the two switches in not engaged or bad. If it cranks buy won't start it's probably because it's in reverse, the discharge cover is displaced, your not on the seat, or one of these 3 switches is bad or not engaged.
I think most people that watch this channel are the extreme end of the industrial gearhead mechanic type. I still watch stuff like this though because guys like Rich always bring something to the table that I've never seen before. I had no clue they make mowers with the mower deck guard interlocked. If you ain't filthy, you ain't rich If you're not learning, you're falling behind
So glad that I found this video. I have the identical lawn mower. I learned so much about how to trouble shoot the mower with this video. Thanks a bunch!
I have an old couch in the garage I thought about adding an engine to and making it a lawn mower, road grater, and a snow plow. While keeping it looking like a stock couch and coffee table.
I own a troybilt tb30r, (Basically same mower) . I had same problem and this video gets a 5 of 5 stars for me because it's very mindful and thorough. The only negative was my manual advises against pressure washing. Other than that, He got my mower running. Thanks !
Amazing video. This is what instructional videos should all be. Walked me through each and every possible problem until I hit on the stuck carburetor solenoid. Saved me hundreds from having to have the mower picked up and serviced - in two weeks. Up and running today! Thank you.
Thanks man for this valuable video. Been mowing my half acre lot for eight years with a TB30. No issues but replace the battery every four years, and change the oil and blade, and grease the steering every year. The mower was a good investment for me.
Excellent video. So if your a doctor, nurse i guess the bed pan is the oil pan? The heart is a fuel pump the tires are the feet and the headlights are the eyes. So what equates to the battery i think i need to charge mine is running a little low.
Please explain more, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this issue. I mostly mess with old flathead Wisconsin engines with updraft style carbs and diesels.
@@carsonhammond6204 The engine is stopped by grounding the coil and killing spark, it worked fine on flatheads, but on OHV engines fuel would be drawn into the cylinder and pushed out into the exhaust while the engine coasted to a stop. It would combust creating a backfire. so they put the anti afterfire solenoids on to shut off fuel flow when the key is turned off. The solenoids are usually found on any OHV riding mower engine, wether single or V-twin. For the most part you don't see them on smaller engines,
@@pfun41 when they fail you just bend the needle over and shove it into the solenoid. Then every time you shut it down you get a backfire so loud it pisses the neighbors off lol.
Thanks for the vid, very straightforward. Having this exact issue on the similar small CubCadet CC30, turns over, fuel clean, clean filter, spark....on to carb - wish me luck!
Me too. Mine (CubCadet CC30) is 2+ years old. No more 10% ethanol gas. Going to Ethanol free tru fuel and found a station with Ethanol free . Used Sea foam to help clean it out and a few drops of sta-bil 360 in the gas can. Hope this works. How did you make out.
@@whereisthedollar ended up taking carb off like how he did in the vid, and cleaning it completely as the fuel bowl was stuck similar to 18:28 in the vid and the solenoid was gunked right up too. Worked like magic after.
Great. I just diagnosed mine as a clogged fuel filter and ordered a couple from CC online. Will change out and no more 10 e, period will be used.@@CoreyDodge
The choke lever, grab the flat bar it hooks to on the governor/cable arrangement with some pliers and twist-tweak it 45deg to unhook that end. No risk of snapping plastic bit on carb that way.
Here we go this one’s gonna be a hit lol The average suburban homeowner is known to have a complete and total meltdown if their lawnmower won’t start and their grass gets over 3 inches tall. Actually I believe to the average homeowner that there is truly nothing in the world scarier than not being able to mow their lawn on time 😂
I’ve also worked on mowers and I’ve learned that blowing air through the fuel inlet can blow out a little tiny rubber gasket inside for the needle. I’ve learned to blow air from the inside like he did in the video. If you blow it the other way like where the fuel line goes it can blow out the gasket and the needle will never seat and then you will have a flooding issue.
I've had the same model mower for 3 years, its treated me well. I drain the tank and run it dry every Fall. As to ethanol, Canada wide Shell 91 and Canadian Tire 91 are ethanol free, as is Costco 91 in Ontario.
State side the majority of the pump fuel has 10% Ethanol, that can mess up the small seasonal engines too. What I have discovered thanks to a friend from where I retired, he said I should be using what is called Marine/RV fuel. It is what has been called pure gas, as in NO Ethanol. Ever since I have been using it I haven't been draining the gas out of the tanks of my snow blower or lawn mower. I'll fill it up the last time I use it for the season and in the last at least 8 to 10 years have not had one issue getting the engine started at the beginning of the next season. Yes it is more expensive but for the average home owner, it is well worth it.
quick piece of advice for a person that does a lot of yard maintenance no I don't have my own yard maintenance business but I do a lot of yard maintenance. With small engines the best thing to do with any small engine is to run it completely dry or empty after you're done using it. I also tend to use 2-cycle mix @ 1:128 (just get the cheap stuff at Walmart that's available for marine Outboards $4.00 a quart) just before you run on empty go ahead and put it on Full Throttle or find a way to mess with the governor and let it completely run out of fuel. that trick that he showed you putting something over the carburetor? That's a great way to make sure that your car bowl stays clean. it also helps unclog the Jets. this is also one of the reasons why I think all the additives that they put in fuel that stops things from gumming up don't do Jack diddly for small engines. the only real good reason to use premium fuel in your lawn mower is that you're able to extract more power from it since it's all gasoline. basically it burns a little hotter. it's useful if you have a 2 cycle where every little bit of power counts. but in my opinion it really doesn't do anything for 4-cycle Motors. Harbor Freight also has this really small micro brush kit that's perfect for cleaning these carburetors. But like I said if you completely run it dry and you use the method of running it at Full Throttle and using the suction technique it will usually clean the Jets really well and will basically be trouble-free at that point at least with regards to gumming up the carburetor. one thing that people don't like to talk about is the actual filler of the fuel the filter itself does do a good job of straining out large parts from getting in to the fuel bowl however small bits of grass and debris and small other items do get past the filter and when it breaks down in the gas can. that's usually what leads to the problem of clogging your jets are the organic matter that go inside the fuel tank that gets broken down by the gasoline. a fuel tank strainer is worth the 6 or so dollars that it cost to put one there as you will find out a lot of stuff does get inside your gas tank by simply just fueling it. you can also use those little paper filters that they have at Walmart instead of the Briggs & Stratton little small tiny filters since they really do a better job. plus they can be had for a few dollars. also don't bother with the fuel stabilizers. They don't actually really do very much in the long-term as taryl fixes all has been able to start his two-cycle engines and they've all started in almost the same amount of time. before putting your equipment away for the winter run a very rich mix of 2-cycle, alternatively you can also right before the engine gasoline tank is empty you can spray lubricant directly into the carburetor itself right before the bowel goes dry. this will keep all the parts inside the engine well lubricated and stop any corrosion in the case Over The Long Winter. keep your gas tanks Clean and Free of fod.
A very quick tip to ensure gasoline delivery is the issue. Pull air filter. Grab an un-lit propane small hand torch. Turn on propane gas valve. Insert unlit torch tip it into air intake into carb while cranking engine over. Engine will start and run on propane. Then you know your issues are gasoline supply related. Great video. Well done. You speak well. You know what you are talking about.
take a cheap/worn out pair and weld washers onto them permanently, you can even grind the teeth away/angle and weld washers on to make it pinch off evenly.
I am a heavy duty diesel tech and I’ve never worked on a lawn mower or anything small engine in my life, never opened up a carb either but I still enjoy this content.
The solenoid on the bottom of the carburetor is an anti-backfire solenoid. Another thing that scares the average homeowner is the sound of backfiring lol. When you shut the key off the solenoid gets pushed closed by the spring inside, and it covers up the main jet stopping the Venturi affect preventing gas vapor from entering the combustion chamber and potentially open exhaust valve causing a scary backfire
Thanks a bunch!!!!! You helped a guy who knows nothing about small engines and got me to clean a carb and get the damn TB30 going again. Greatly appreciate it!!!! To the EX GF. Suck it!!!! He’s a great doctor!!
i like the way the jet just unscrewed and the pin for the float wasn't rusted in.. i've seen some push mowers you'd take the bowl off then just order a new carb after looking inside..crusty stale fuel turned into a new form of cement
More common on these new mowers is the crankcase vacuum operated fuel pumps. They diaphragms go and the gaskets or hoses that connect them to the crank case. I think that one is a gravity feed though. Don't see that often. Those electric fuel shut offs are supposed to eliminate backfires in the muffler after the mower is turned off.
Thumbs up! I'm getting one of these (Craftsman branded) ride mowers this year and thankfully stumbled on this video while watching review vids. I will now keep my eye out for these mowers that won't start to see if I can fix them.
My grandmother has one of these and over the last couple years I've been having to mow for her. They work pretty good for what they are it definitely has its pros/cons though. I find its a weird seating position for myself and the F....N....R shifter is an awkward spot. But you get what you pay for. Its definitely not like a regular ride on but for the price it beats using a push mower on big yards !
Hi there ,from Sydney Australia.I got a Rover micro rider sitting in the shed for the last 2 yrs.Had it out today to do the job,tried add fuel in to air intake,it’s run and stop as it burn all the fuel,though no fuel was coming across from fuel tank.I’ll now try and work on floater .Thanks for vid
Hey Rich, great video. One thing I would add to the spring maintenance routine would be to pop the flywheel cover off and make sure there isn't a mouse nest sitting on top of the cylinder. That's a 5 minute job that could save an engine, or at least a head gasket.
Thanks for this video explanation. Everything you said was spot on and yes the craftsman r110 that I have IS identical to the troybuilt.the tip about not getting the cheap belts was really helpful too.and being that I had the cutting deck off I took a wire wheel to it,painted it,greased it and figured being that I have the deck off I'll replace the deck belt too.then I figured why stop now?took the steering housing off,followed the tip about preventing the steering from slipping in one of your other videos.thank you very much for the very valuable information.i now am a subscriber
So agree with your nurse explanation. As mechanics do all the trades, with the most about tools needed to buy and least pay and respect. Thanks for the great job.
You missed pointing out the need to clean the emulsion tube vent holes. If the tiny holes that run up the side of the emulsion tube are plugged, the fuel doesn't mix well with the air and the engine won't run well. Also, there is an air bleed orifice at the top of the carb that can get plugged and cause poor running too.
There's an important jet I did not see you clean and it's hidden as part of the idle screw stop. It's plastic and pops out for easy cleaning. This will cause rpm surging/hunting at low rpm. I think I noticed this hunting in your final run but in this case could simply be because it didn't run long enough to warm up at all.
I've had trouble after sitting all winter with mower not starting, I added a fuel primer bulb that helps a lot. I also added a wire basket tie wrapped behind the seat for trash I find a my lawn
I could NOT be happier…inherited a Columbia/troybilt, ran it for 5 years, and then…..put bad ethanol gas into it….it would start, catch, and died…followed the steps, and then did something I had never done before. Removed, disassembled, and cleaned the carburetor-and then reinstalled it. This excellent video guided me through the process and I spent NOT ONE PENNY to someone else to remedy my situation. I figure this site saved me $150 and I am so Grateful!
These is a great video for people to learn alot from! I just picked up a nice almost perfect condition older simplicity mower with the awesome 12.5 Brigs engine for $12.50 and I barley had to do anything bro get it going the battery was still good and I found out the person before me cleaned the carb but somehow managed to put it on backwards so the only thing I had to do was put it back on the right way and out a new belt on the deck one I even had laying around and it's been a absolutely perfect running lawn mower for under $13 bucks!
I have had good luck with Briggs and Stratton engines. I currently have a Yard Machine push mower it's 15 years old. And still starts on the first pull. Just keep it maintained. In particular change the oil and run it out of gas before you store it for the winter.... People tend to throw away lawn mowers wen they store them full of gas over winter. The gas goes bad especially if it has ethanol. Then the machine won't start in the spring.
Very helpful. I know it's the cheaper riding mower, the only thing I'd disagree with is, not disposable to me. I have the Cub branded version. This will help me keep it running right for years.
Outstanding presentation! So, you are a Jack Of All Trades and Master of most. It shows. My two sons gave me a well used Craftsmen RER1000 that wouldn't start yet it was running perfectly an hour earlier. You guessed it -- they bumped the discharge shroud in transport and the safety switch went open. It took 30 seconds to fix, yet 10 minutes to track down and isolate the misbehaving switch. I use 91 octane non ethanol gasoline only in all our cars and gas powered machines. And through your entire video I never once heard you say "eh" in a classic Canadian brogue. We yanks love that. Eh?
When I have trouble getting mine to turnover the first mow of spring, I just clean the spark plug, spray some starting fluid in the spark plug hole, put the spark plug back in, and turn the key. It's started every year that way for as long as I've had it.
I use a torch tip cleaner for small engine carbs to clean the jets and idle circuit out, works extremely well and you have several different sizes all in one tool.
Another thing to check with the fuel flow out of the tank is that it doesn’t have water in it. The water will settle to the bottom and it’ll seem like good fuel from the cap, but be getting mostly water to the carb.
I don't know if this is true in Canada but in the US not all premium is ethanol free. QT has dedicated non ethanol pumps with red handles so be sure to check and make sure.
Thanks mate that was very helpful I have just been given the same mower and had to replace the carburetor with a new one after seeing your video. Thanks again Gordon perth western Australia
I'm stoked filthy Rich puts out mower vids! Deboss videos are dope and worth discovering. I work for a landscaping company and we run walker mowers, I was searching random walker videos and found the deboss channel. Since, I've gained a ton of interest in diesel engines. A whole new sparked interest for me. A mower vid was my way in. :) Make videos about everything you know Rich! I'll watch that shit.
Thank you--I have One--A couple of years ago was $899 on Sale --Now they are selling for $1900.!! --But I use Marine Gas--NO alcohol--In the US High Test still has alcohol in it--!
That solenoid on the carb is called an anti after fire solenoid when you turn the key off as the engine is spinning down it's still drawing fuel and that fuel hits the hot cylinder or exhaust and causes the loud backfire you get sometimes when you shut it off that solenoid prevents that by closing when key is shut off blocking fuel flow
Try Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) in leaking tires it really works. huge tip is to add Marvel Mystery Oil to gas it's very stabilizing to the fuel when storing and adds power and counteracts Ethanol.
Here in my area, our 87 has 10% ethanol in it. All of my power equipment that’s been built during the ethanol years says 10% is the highest you can run. They say E15 and higher is not allowed. However, that doesn’t matter for me, as I use non ethanol gas, as I was tired of cleaning carburetors every spring. With that being said, we still have issues with power equipment not running after sitting for a few months, so I’d imagine up in your area you guys have quite a few small engine mechanics who are very busy in the early spring lol. Also, the solenoid on the carburetor is there as backfire protection for the flywheel key, as a backfire can shear it.
Here in the states all grades of gasoline have 10% ethanol. There are two options: you can buy ethanol free gas at a home improvement and hardware store but it's very expensive. Or you can buy it a gas station that sells it but some states don't have a lot of stations that offer it. Or you can buy ethanol gas and treat it with a product like Stabil gas treatment. Personally, I can't afford to buy a "throw-away mower". My 30 inch mower is 30 years old and was also given to me. I invested $400 in parts and is as good as the day it was new.
I love how the world's smallest ride on mower is on the heavy duty channel
You should check out a ride king they made the from the 60s to the early 2000s it's 28 to 30 inch deck and is three wheel drive one wheel in the front which is attached to the steering wheel and it's also the drive wheel driven by a single chain so it's technically a zero turn and it's a vertical shaft just like a push mower and the engine is basically in between your legs and you sit one it at the same time! They are actually awesome for the 50 years they made them they pretty much never changed designs too I actually own one for my lawn mowing business the last year they ever made them and it basically replaces the push mower and any reason I need one since they turn so tight and take up the same space on my trailer too! I can use it in smaller areas than a push mower even and I can get it inside fenced off yards with tiny gates! Best 900 bucks I ever spent
ATF also works good repairing flat tires on riding mowers.
@@SKC640 It's like a Young Buggy with a mower deck!
DeBoss used to play a carburetor in the high school marching band. He was quite good at it
I know at the beginning of this video he says this is basically a "throw-away mower", but it's currently selling for $1899 at Home Depot, $2200.00 at Walmart and $2350 at Lowes.....too valuable to not take good care of and properly maintain. I need mine to LAST, so I'll be saving this vid to my Favorites. It's a great, comprehensive troubleshooting and maintenance video for the Troy-Bilt TR30-R!
I bought mine at Lowe’s sold as a craftsman,,,Mtd makes them and has for quite some time.They were having a special sale on it and I had some kind of promotional coupon type deal they had given me and I believe I bought the thing for right around $980 roughly plus tax of course and then they gave me six months same as cash as well with no interest or financing charges so in my mind I reckon I got a pretty good deal on it .I would have preferred a different model however we have a brick wall around our property with brick gateways and this is able to fit through them nicely we have an adjacent second property next-door to us so I can get on this mower and drive through the gateways in between the two properties which makes this little thing worth it’s weight in gold,,,it runs all right it’s a little finicky at times when it comes to engaging the deck I almost have to kind of man handle the engagement lever at times,,,I probably need to get down in there and clean out the deck area again real good. I’m thinking I’m going to have to redo the piece for the steering in the front . I bought a kit off of Amazon for that job,,,there’s videos on TH-cam to show how to replace the little steering bar when it goes bad. There’s two little rubber grommets under the seat that the seat kinda rides on I suppose it helps with vibration and adds a little cushioning effect,,, The grommet on the right side fell out and I’ve never been able to find it and I had trouble locating one to buy so I took small diameter rubber hose about 2 inches long or so and bundled three of them and then duct tape them and then wired them into place that seems to work really good I just had to get the thickness to match the one on the other side so far so good.I’m 5‘10“ tall and 340 pounds and I am amazed that this tractor offers me A little more comfort than I ever thought it would that big high back seat is quite comfortable how ever sometimes I find myself stretching my legs out from time to time if I’m on it for a while other than that it works fairly well. I have to remind myself to not try and get close to anything while mowing I’ve noticed those back wheels will catch on things I gotta remind myself to just trim with the string trimmer or the push mower .I disconnected the wire for the reverse sensor switch so I can keep mowing in reverse although sometimes it doesn’t always work most of the time it does however there are times when it doesn’t not sure why. I did have to replace the ignition switch but I found some on both eBay and Amazon pretty straightforward and easy to install a new one I watched videos on TH-cam about that also. I had trouble locating the exact battery however I have a Viking Harbor freight tools power pack engine starter/jumper that is very compact and portable so I use that instead I have a few things I start with that little power pack and it works really good. I wonder how long these little tractors will last us? I wonder how these little tractors will last us? I hope a good long while, I change the oil twice a year early spring and early fall.👍😊
If there ever was a "throw away" mower, it would be my MTD Yardman 46" rider that I bought from Home Depot for $1099 (USD) in 2005. I maintain it by the book and it shows! Deck is 95% rust free and the V-Twin starts after about 5sec of cranking after taking it out of Winter storage. Except for a few belt replacements, it has been trouble free. I figure it will be good for another 20yrs. I am on a fixed income and CAN'T afford a new one, so this one has to be a KEEPER! Btw, I run 10% ethanol gas MOST of the time, but run "REAL GAS" through it occasionally ! CHEERS...
I bought the Murray version 9 years ago from Walmart for $800 bucks after going through two front engine riders over 10 years.
This little "throwaway " won't die! I keep the oil and the filters changed and have had to replace one tire and one drive belt. And I like my half acre of lawn cut high, so I'm easy on the blade.
This video saved me a lot of diagnosis last year when my mower wouldn't start. That cheap side chute popped off the safety switch. I replaced it with a mulch cover.
Keep making videos like this. I have stopped watching a lot of other channels because they are beyond reality. You still see your viewers as people and not as dollar signs.
I don’t know why I’m here. I know how a carburetor works and I know how to fix lawnmowers. I actually should be fixing a free whipper snipper that was given to me right now, but yet here I am watching rich work on a lawnmower. 😂 we often times will dip our carbs in Chem-dip. It works good at getting crud off.
"I'm a dentist, and a nurse, and a doctor, and a mechanic, and a plumber, and an electrician..."
Don't forget "TH-camr". haha
Johnny sins ain’t got nothing on him
Nothing counts as expert besides TH-camr
Well, when he was dating her, he probably wasn't a TH-camr. Otherwise she would have been a groupie, nurse! "Oh, you're Filthy Rich?"
14:03 it's flammable and dangerous says the man who built a Cummins powered flame thrower 😆
😆
It's like that meme where the teacher says something and all the students are staring back at one student. Only the student in this case is Peg aka @Ziptiesnbiasplies.
I have a Troy Bilt 30" tractor that wouldnt start soon after I added gas. Changed the spark plus, removed the gas, added non ethenol gas, tried using starting fluid several times and it still wouldnt start. I don't have a trailer to take the tractor to my repair guy so I kept trying and found this video covered the air intake and it started for a few seconds and stopped, tried it a few more times with a piece of cardboard and lo and behold it started and ran for several minutes, halleluhia.
With all of the videos I had previously watched to repair my other mowers, snow throwers and otherproblem with my tractor I have never seen (or didn't pay attention to) this tip. Thanks for all the good information. Keep up the good work.
You need to reclean that carb. Idle circuit is still dirty. That's why at low speed engine is 'hunting ' for fuel.
I got the same mower for free!! Found on the side of the road in the garbage. The same switch got me too! A carb and battery got it running
I sincerely appreciate this video. I don’t have a dad or dad type people in my life, and I really needed an in-depth explanation of this specific mower to make sure I am servicing it properly. You made this totally possible for me. Thank you.
Fixed many non running small engines by just cleaning the carb. Good video!
also adjust the valves OHV engines need the valves adjusted about once a year
Really like the wash trick with the vicegrips that will come on handy. Great simple video with some handy troubleshooting.
Heavy duty content if youre a cameraman :-P
Gah, i suppose it cant all be terragators and v16 detroits
IIRC the distinction they laid out was that DGHD was for off-road stuff, so here we are
Anything that isn't a car or a pickup truck. After all, he does work on big trucks (on road) on DGHD.
Besides, it was the cameraman/editor's non-running mower!
Loved every minute of this! Takes me back to when I was a kid and my dad teaching me how engine's work and the simple things to check when they don't work.
The only complicated part of this mower is the 5 safety interlock switches, SEAT, PTO, REVERSE, BRAKE, and DISCHARGE COVER. The BRAKE and the PTO can prevent the mower from cranking, the SEAT, REVERSE, and DISCHARGE COVER will kill the mower ignition. If the mower won't crank it's probably because the brake isn't depressed the blade is engaged, or one the two switches in not engaged or bad. If it cranks buy won't start it's probably because it's in reverse, the discharge cover is displaced, your not on the seat, or one of these 3 switches is bad or not engaged.
Who else works on everything from rock trucks to excavator, but is watching the smallest lawn mower get a carb clean
Appreciate the views guys. Hopefully this helps a new homeowner that just got their first "tractor" (Aaron)
Same. Fix everything and everything, plc, hydraulics, pneumatics. But fixing is fixing!
letsdig18 needs to add his "2 cents worth" in here..... :-)
I think most people that watch this channel are the extreme end of the industrial gearhead mechanic type.
I still watch stuff like this though because guys like Rich always bring something to the table that I've never seen before. I had no clue they make mowers with the mower deck guard interlocked.
If you ain't filthy, you ain't rich
If you're not learning, you're falling behind
I work everything from small diesel all the way to airliners, and I'm still here watching Rich, because Rich is great haha.
So glad that I found this video. I have the identical lawn mower. I learned so much about how to trouble shoot the mower with this video. Thanks a bunch!
I have an old couch in the garage I thought about adding an engine to and making it a lawn mower, road grater, and a snow plow. While keeping it looking like a stock couch and coffee table.
I did spend a month total of my life watching Mustie1 videos, yet halfway through this one, I learned twice as much. Thank you, Rich!
I own a troybilt tb30r, (Basically same mower) . I had same problem and this video gets a 5 of 5 stars for me because it's very mindful and thorough. The only negative was my manual advises against pressure washing. Other than that, He got my mower running. Thanks !
On pressure washing use the larger nozzles for less pressure. You will be fine with it. Pressure washed mine today.😊
Amazing video. This is what instructional videos should all be. Walked me through each and every possible problem until I hit on the stuck carburetor solenoid. Saved me hundreds from having to have the mower picked up and serviced - in two weeks. Up and running today! Thank you.
Thanks man for this valuable video. Been mowing my half acre lot for eight years with a TB30. No issues but replace the battery every four years, and change the oil and blade, and grease the steering every year. The mower was a good investment for me.
Everything wrong with a Briggs and Stratton 5 hp engine
Actually it was 10or 12hp engine...
And it's a China engine made for MTD not a Briggs
#1 issue is always the operator :))
Excellent video. So if your a doctor, nurse i guess the bed pan is the oil pan? The heart is a fuel pump the tires are the feet and the headlights are the eyes. So what equates to the battery i think i need to charge mine is running a little low.
It's odd yet heartwarming watching you work on something so small
That solinoid is a "back fire prevention". Stops fuel from flowing into the engine. Typically seen on motors that run wide open all the time.
Like beetles and their Solex carbs...
They started showing up on OHV engines. Most old flatheads didn't seem to have that issue.
Please explain more, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this issue. I mostly mess with old flathead Wisconsin engines with updraft style carbs and diesels.
@@carsonhammond6204 The engine is stopped by grounding the coil and killing spark, it worked fine on flatheads, but on OHV engines fuel would be drawn into the cylinder and pushed out into the exhaust while the engine coasted to a stop. It would combust creating a backfire. so they put the anti afterfire solenoids on to shut off fuel flow when the key is turned off. The solenoids are usually found on any OHV riding mower engine, wether single or V-twin. For the most part you don't see them on smaller engines,
@@pfun41 when they fail you just bend the needle over and shove it into the solenoid. Then every time you shut it down you get a backfire so loud it pisses the neighbors off lol.
Negative pressure, exactly the correct thing to say. Thankyou for the great content. Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks for the vid, very straightforward. Having this exact issue on the similar small CubCadet CC30, turns over, fuel clean, clean filter, spark....on to carb - wish me luck!
Me too. Mine (CubCadet CC30) is 2+ years old. No more 10% ethanol gas. Going to Ethanol free tru fuel and found a station with Ethanol free . Used Sea foam to help clean it out and a few drops of sta-bil 360 in the gas can. Hope this works. How did you make out.
@@whereisthedollar ended up taking carb off like how he did in the vid, and cleaning it completely as the fuel bowl was stuck similar to 18:28 in the vid and the solenoid was gunked right up too. Worked like magic after.
Great. I just diagnosed mine as a clogged fuel filter and ordered a couple from CC online. Will change out and no more 10 e, period will be used.@@CoreyDodge
The choke lever, grab the flat bar it hooks to on the governor/cable arrangement with some pliers and twist-tweak it 45deg to unhook that end. No risk of snapping plastic bit on carb that way.
Fixed my TB30 (2.5 years in storage) today (same exact problem) using this video. Many thanks for posting this!
Safety around gas is not taken serious enough on some of the small engine repairs for beginners in engine fuel repairs. Thank you!
Here we go this one’s gonna be a hit lol The average suburban homeowner is known to have a complete and total meltdown if their lawnmower won’t start and their grass gets over 3 inches tall. Actually I believe to the average homeowner that there is truly nothing in the world scarier than not being able to mow their lawn on time 😂
HOAs are sometimes the worst when it comes to personal lawn care.
In the winter, use the mower battery in the snow blower to keep it charged. That way you only have to buy one battery, and you keep it running longer.
I’ve also worked on mowers and I’ve learned that blowing air through the fuel inlet can blow out a little tiny rubber gasket inside for the needle. I’ve learned to blow air from the inside like he did in the video. If you blow it the other way like where the fuel line goes it can blow out the gasket and the needle will never seat and then you will have a flooding issue.
I've had the same model mower for 3 years, its treated me well. I drain the tank and run it dry every Fall. As to ethanol, Canada wide Shell 91 and Canadian Tire 91 are ethanol free, as is Costco 91 in Ontario.
Thanks for staying up late to get the job done and showing us all 'how to' the right way 👍 Much respect 😎👏🔥
Buy new gaskets? Nah get me a cereal box, some grease and my Buck knife.
State side the majority of the pump fuel has 10% Ethanol, that can mess up the small seasonal engines too. What I have discovered thanks to a friend from where I retired, he said I should be using what is called Marine/RV fuel. It is what has been called pure gas, as in NO Ethanol. Ever since I have been using it I haven't been draining the gas out of the tanks of my snow blower or lawn mower. I'll fill it up the last time I use it for the season and in the last at least 8 to 10 years have not had one issue getting the engine started at the beginning of the next season. Yes it is more expensive but for the average home owner, it is well worth it.
quick piece of advice for a person that does a lot of yard maintenance no I don't have my own yard maintenance business but I do a lot of yard maintenance. With small engines the best thing to do with any small engine is to run it completely dry or empty after you're done using it.
I also tend to use 2-cycle mix @ 1:128 (just get the cheap stuff at Walmart that's available for marine Outboards $4.00 a quart)
just before you run on empty go ahead and put it on Full Throttle or find a way to mess with the governor and let it completely run out of fuel.
that trick that he showed you putting something over the carburetor? That's a great way to make sure that your car bowl stays clean. it also helps unclog the Jets.
this is also one of the reasons why I think all the additives that they put in fuel that stops things from gumming up don't do Jack diddly for small engines.
the only real good reason to use premium fuel in your lawn mower is that you're able to extract more power from it since it's all gasoline. basically it burns a little hotter. it's useful if you have a 2 cycle where every little bit of power counts. but in my opinion it really doesn't do anything for 4-cycle Motors.
Harbor Freight also has this really small micro brush kit that's perfect for cleaning these carburetors. But like I said if you completely run it dry and you use the method of running it at Full Throttle and using the suction technique it will usually clean the Jets really well and will basically be trouble-free at that point at least with regards to gumming up the carburetor.
one thing that people don't like to talk about is the actual filler of the fuel the filter itself does do a good job of straining out large parts from getting in to the fuel bowl however small bits of grass and debris and small other items do get past the filter and when it breaks down in the gas can.
that's usually what leads to the problem of clogging your jets are the organic matter that go inside the fuel tank that gets broken down by the gasoline.
a fuel tank strainer is worth the 6 or so dollars that it cost to put one there as you will find out a lot of stuff does get inside your gas tank by simply just fueling it.
you can also use those little paper filters that they have at Walmart instead of the Briggs & Stratton little small tiny filters since they really do a better job. plus they can be had for a few dollars.
also don't bother with the fuel stabilizers. They don't actually really do very much in the long-term as taryl fixes all has been able to start his two-cycle engines and they've all started in almost the same amount of time.
before putting your equipment away for the winter run a very rich mix of 2-cycle, alternatively you can also right before the engine gasoline tank is empty you can spray lubricant directly into the carburetor itself right before the bowel goes dry. this will keep all the parts inside the engine well lubricated and stop any corrosion in the case Over The Long Winter.
keep your gas tanks Clean and Free of fod.
A very quick tip to ensure gasoline delivery is the issue. Pull air filter. Grab an un-lit propane small hand torch. Turn on propane gas valve. Insert unlit torch tip it into air intake into carb while cranking engine over. Engine will start and run on propane. Then you know your issues are gasoline supply related. Great video. Well done. You speak well. You know what you are talking about.
I like the two washers and vicegrip hose clamp. Learn something every day.
Thanks Rich, best regards from Indiana, USA.
take a cheap/worn out pair and weld washers onto them permanently, you can even grind the teeth away/angle and weld washers on to make it pinch off evenly.
Thanks I'm getting my mower fixed now. My adult daughter and I have gone through all of your steps. We are replacing the carberator now.
I am a heavy duty diesel tech and I’ve never worked on a lawn mower or anything small engine in my life, never opened up a carb either but I still enjoy this content.
The solenoid on the bottom of the carburetor is an anti-backfire solenoid. Another thing that scares the average homeowner is the sound of backfiring lol. When you shut the key off the solenoid gets pushed closed by the spring inside, and it covers up the main jet stopping the Venturi affect preventing gas vapor from entering the combustion chamber and potentially open exhaust valve causing a scary backfire
Great video to use if youve just picked up a second hand mower which hasnt been running! Excellent explanation and debug guide - thanks!
Thanks a bunch!!!!! You helped a guy who knows nothing about small engines and got me to clean a carb and get the damn TB30 going again. Greatly appreciate it!!!! To the EX GF. Suck it!!!! He’s a great doctor!!
i like the way the jet just unscrewed and the pin for the float wasn't rusted in.. i've seen some push mowers you'd take the bowl off then just order a new carb after looking inside..crusty stale fuel turned into a new form of cement
More common on these new mowers is the crankcase vacuum operated fuel pumps. They diaphragms go and the gaskets or hoses that connect them to the crank case. I think that one is a gravity feed though. Don't see that often. Those electric fuel shut offs are supposed to eliminate backfires in the muffler after the mower is turned off.
You just saved me! The attachment was not pushing on that button by the chopper so the “circuit” was not closed. Thank you!
Thumbs up! I'm getting one of these (Craftsman branded) ride mowers this year and thankfully stumbled on this video while watching review vids.
I will now keep my eye out for these mowers that won't start to see if I can fix them.
My grandmother has one of these and over the last couple years I've been having to mow for her. They work pretty good for what they are it definitely has its pros/cons though. I find its a weird seating position for myself and the F....N....R shifter is an awkward spot. But you get what you pay for. Its definitely not like a regular ride on but for the price it beats using a push mower on big yards !
Hi there ,from Sydney Australia.I got a Rover micro rider sitting in the shed for the last 2 yrs.Had it out today to do the job,tried add fuel in to air intake,it’s run and stop as it burn all the fuel,though no fuel was coming across from fuel tank.I’ll now try and work on floater .Thanks for vid
What a great video for someone who is new to working on small engines! Great work!
Hey Rich, great video. One thing I would add to the spring maintenance routine would be to pop the flywheel cover off and make sure there isn't a mouse nest sitting on top of the cylinder. That's a 5 minute job that could save an engine, or at least a head gasket.
Thanks for this video explanation. Everything you said was spot on and yes the craftsman r110 that I have IS identical to the troybuilt.the tip about not getting the cheap belts was really helpful too.and being that I had the cutting deck off I took a wire wheel to it,painted it,greased it and figured being that I have the deck off I'll replace the deck belt too.then I figured why stop now?took the steering housing off,followed the tip about preventing the steering from slipping in one of your other videos.thank you very much for the very valuable information.i now am a subscriber
So agree with your nurse explanation. As mechanics do all the trades, with the most about tools needed to buy and least pay and respect. Thanks for the great job.
You missed pointing out the need to clean the emulsion tube vent holes. If the tiny holes that run up the side of the emulsion tube are plugged, the fuel doesn't mix well with the air and the engine won't run well. Also, there is an air bleed orifice at the top of the carb that can get plugged and cause poor running too.
There's an important jet I did not see you clean and it's hidden as part of the idle screw stop. It's plastic and pops out for easy cleaning. This will cause rpm surging/hunting at low rpm. I think I noticed this hunting in your final run but in this case could simply be because it didn't run long enough to warm up at all.
Frig I've learned so much about mechanicing from this man. thank you!
I've had trouble after sitting all winter with mower not starting, I added a fuel primer bulb that helps a lot. I also added a wire basket tie wrapped behind the seat for trash I find a my lawn
Rich coming in clutch, that safety on the discharge chute had me scratching my head for days
Just bought a brand new one of these and watched this to learn about it. Very interesting and helpful, thank you.
"It's hard to find the battery if it isn't with the machine." -Deboss Garage 2021
I could NOT be happier…inherited a Columbia/troybilt, ran it for 5 years, and then…..put bad ethanol gas into it….it would start, catch, and died…followed the steps, and then did something I had never done before. Removed, disassembled, and cleaned the carburetor-and then reinstalled it. This excellent video guided me through the process and I spent NOT ONE PENNY to someone else to remedy my situation. I figure this site saved me $150 and I am so Grateful!
nice video... simple and to the point and I like the safety instructions
So when are planning to put the turbo charger on it and give it a p pump injection system 😂🤣😁😂🤣😂🤣😂🤯✌👍🏻🙊🤭🍀
These is a great video for people to learn alot from! I just picked up a nice almost perfect condition older simplicity mower with the awesome 12.5 Brigs engine for $12.50 and I barley had to do anything bro get it going the battery was still good and I found out the person before me cleaned the carb but somehow managed to put it on backwards so the only thing I had to do was put it back on the right way and out a new belt on the deck one I even had laying around and it's been a absolutely perfect running lawn mower for under $13 bucks!
I have had good luck with Briggs and Stratton engines. I currently have a Yard Machine push mower it's 15 years old. And still starts on the first pull. Just keep it maintained. In particular change the oil and run it out of gas before you store it for the winter.... People tend to throw away lawn mowers wen they store them full of gas over winter. The gas goes bad especially if it has ethanol. Then the machine won't start in the spring.
Best repair Video for those type of mowers. I did same for my Wolf Scooter Pro.
Your video allowed me to fix my rider myself and it was easy. Thanks so much!!
A video for the rest of us lol. Always something to learn whether it’s a Terragator or a tiny little MTD, keep it up guys.
Thanks for the great information. I was able to fix my mower, your video was spot on, my little solenoid valve was plugged with gunk!
Very helpful. I know it's the cheaper riding mower, the only thing I'd disagree with is, not disposable to me. I have the Cub branded version. This will help me keep it running right for years.
Outstanding presentation! So, you are a Jack Of All Trades and Master of most. It shows. My two sons gave me a well used Craftsmen RER1000 that wouldn't start yet it was running perfectly an hour earlier. You guessed it -- they bumped the discharge shroud in transport and the safety switch went open. It took 30 seconds to fix, yet 10 minutes to track down and isolate the misbehaving switch. I use 91 octane non ethanol gasoline only in all our cars and gas powered machines. And through your entire video I never once heard you say "eh" in a classic Canadian brogue. We yanks love that. Eh?
A youtuber who mentions beer is always good i gues. And lawn tractors . Nice video
Awesome video! I was able to fix my craftman r1000 after watching your video. You're the man! Thanks a bunch!
Instead of destroying the linkage you could simply remove the governor linkage and remove the carb easily.
When I have trouble getting mine to turnover the first mow of spring, I just clean the spark plug, spray some starting fluid in the spark plug hole, put the spark plug back in, and turn the key. It's started every year that way for as long as I've had it.
I use a torch tip cleaner for small engine carbs to clean the jets and idle circuit out, works extremely well and you have several different sizes all in one tool.
Another thing to check with the fuel flow out of the tank is that it doesn’t have water in it. The water will settle to the bottom and it’ll seem like good fuel from the cap, but be getting mostly water to the carb.
I was messing with this thing for three hours. Damn cover switch was the one. OUTSTANDING video. Thanks guys!
I don't know if this is true in Canada but in the US not all premium is ethanol free. QT has dedicated non ethanol pumps with red handles so be sure to check and make sure.
That’s some fine teamwork with close ups and wrenching
What a great video and a great explanation of how a carburetor works. Awesome.
Thanks mate that was very helpful I have just been given the same mower and had to replace the carburetor with a new one after seeing your video. Thanks again Gordon perth western Australia
Even though knew what was going on still a pleasure to watch you work!
I've carburetor cleaner it does wonders on anything and saves time very informative video thanks
I'm stoked filthy Rich puts out mower vids! Deboss videos are dope and worth discovering. I work for a landscaping company and we run walker mowers, I was searching random walker videos and found the deboss channel. Since, I've gained a ton of interest in diesel engines. A whole new sparked interest for me. A mower vid was my way in. :) Make videos about everything you know Rich! I'll watch that shit.
You mean "un-sparked" (because, like, diesels aint got no sparks....) CHEERS!
@@dmc2554 yeah! Lol your definitely right on there. That was a poor choice of words on my part. :)
Thank you--I have One--A couple of years ago was $899 on Sale --Now they are selling for $1900.!! --But I use Marine Gas--NO alcohol--In the US High Test still has alcohol in it--!
That solenoid on the carb is called an anti after fire solenoid when you turn the key off as the engine is spinning down it's still drawing fuel and that fuel hits the hot cylinder or exhaust and causes the loud backfire you get sometimes when you shut it off that solenoid prevents that by closing when key is shut off blocking fuel flow
It needs a cummins swap.
Try Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) in leaking tires it really works. huge tip is to add Marvel Mystery Oil to gas it's very stabilizing to the fuel when storing and adds power and counteracts Ethanol.
Verymuch thanks for sharing now my mower runs .a video worth saving well done ✌ be with you always.
Berryman carb cleaner dip works great for cleaning brass jets and carbs. You can get it at any autoparts store in 1 gallon cans.
Awesome video on diagnostic techniques on getting a lawnmower running.
Thanks for this video. I did not know about the fuel shut off solenoid!
Here in my area, our 87 has 10% ethanol in it. All of my power equipment that’s been built during the ethanol years says 10% is the highest you can run. They say E15 and higher is not allowed. However, that doesn’t matter for me, as I use non ethanol gas, as I was tired of cleaning carburetors every spring.
With that being said, we still have issues with power equipment not running after sitting for a few months, so I’d imagine up in your area you guys have quite a few small engine mechanics who are very busy in the early spring lol.
Also, the solenoid on the carburetor is there as backfire protection for the flywheel key, as a backfire can shear it.
Here in the states all grades of gasoline have 10% ethanol. There are two options: you can buy ethanol free gas at a home improvement and hardware store but it's very expensive. Or you can buy it a gas station that sells it but some states don't have a lot of stations that offer it. Or you can buy ethanol gas and treat it with a product like Stabil gas treatment. Personally, I can't afford to buy a "throw-away mower". My 30 inch mower is 30 years old and was also given to me. I invested $400 in parts and is as good as the day it was new.