How to REPAIR a DR POWERWAGON Dump Cart and RETURN it to SERVICE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ธ.ค. 2021
- After fiddling way too long with the original 6HP Tecumseh engine, I decided to re-power the DR PowerWagon with a 5HP Briggs engine from 1992! It was a great project, and I was able to do it economically. Follow along with me, and be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think! Thanks. Buckwsr, Putting the "Do" into "Do-It-Yourself"
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This DR Powerwagon is from 1998. Not sure why I said 2007. I have the original instruction manual and the first owner wrote the date of purchase on the manual to be "3/30/1998." I probably should have interpreted the serial number on the engine to be '97, not '07. That would make more sense.
My father has one of these, if you don't put the air filter back on with the gasket that restricts air intake, allows the primer to get suction, and creates suction for the fuel then the behavior observed happens. Guessing had I or you placed our thumb over the intake and constricted the air intake it would have fed fuel properly as well. I fiddled with his for a long time before I realized he had neglected to place that gasket in-line with the new carburetor in a hurry to get the thing running before I visited to help. I know it's too late to bring it up but you may run into this engine again some day. Cheers mate.
I have one that I purchased new in Calif. has a Calif CARB compliant engine that never ran right. Maybe I’ll re-engine it and get back to using it. Was great for hauling fire wood, manure and using it as a saw horse!
I love this cart! I'm relocating, and this is the only piece of power equipment I'm definitely taking with me!
Very cool video I'm going to look at 2 of these tomorrow morning for 600$ after getting a better view of the quality of these things I think I'm going to get them thank you from Maui, Hawaii 🤙🤙
Awesome! I use mine a couple of times every week. Seriously. Have fun!
can you tell me the engine model number of that 5 hp b&g engine ??
I have this same DR Powerwagon. The Techumseh engine on mine runs kinda OK, but only starts with starting fluid. For the price DR charged/charges for these things new, they should 100% have come with Honda engines.
Thanks for the note. The 1992 Briggs engine I installed on this machine still runs great.
My girlfriend and I bought a house 4 years ago and the guy who lived here prior left one of these the exact one as a matter of fact. It has the seat attachment as well. It hasn’t ran for years but it was running before it was stored in the garage. I’m about to work on it but don’t have too much knowledge about it. I know the carb will have to be cleaned as it sat with gas in it for years. Hoping to learn something online and from this video
Very cool. As you can see in the video, I had no luck with the original engine. The old replacement one has worked out great, but it was not too easy to do the retrofit. But I use this machine all the time! At least a few times per week. Good luck.
@@Buckwsr just pulled it apart today and the carb needs to be replaced. I found a new aftermarket one with an air filter and a spark plug for $25 on Amazon. The starter wasn’t turning over either when I put a new battery on it so I’ll have to check the connections on it and also it may be seized up and need to be banged with a hammer. The whole thing is pretty much caked up with grease and dirt and will need a thorough cleaning but I just put a cement garage floor in so I have the space to work on it now. I’ll let you know how it goes once I have the time to get back out there and work on it.
@@nymetsfan912 Sounds great. Have fun!
Great video- what part # is the belt and where did you buy it? I have the exact same DR powerwagon with the original Vector XL Techumseh 6 hp engine. My engine runs fine, I just need to replace the belt. Thanks.
Hi Scott, the belt I bought is a V-belt 1/2" X 83". Looking now at the parts list, it calls it part number PW1365, Drive Belt A82, Length 84". I don't know what A82 means. And the 83 inch belt I bought has been working fine. I love this cart, and I use it almost every day! Good luck!
@@Buckwsr Thanks. Did you buy the belt online? If so, where ?
@@lukedrifter1 I bought it on ebay. Just search "V-belt 1/2 X 83" (or 84 inches, whatever). It doesn't have to be a Powerwagon official product. Just a regular standard v-belt.
@@Buckwsr Thx. BTW most problems with the Techumseh engine are carb related. They use a crappy plastic carb with brass seats pressed into the plastic. That carb will not hold back the gravity fed gas when the engine is off, it "runs" gas all the time like a toilet with a bad flapper. The carb leaking lets gas drip into the cylinder and crankcase and dilutes the oil, so I spliced a fuel shut off into the hose and now turn off the engine by shutting off the gas valve so the carb runs itself dry. It takes about 2 minues to shut off after you close the fuel valve. For what big $$$ they charged for these wagons new, DR should have used Honda engines, not junk Techumsehs. If mine ever dies I'm going to put a Honda engine on it.
Also the brake caliper etc. on mine is broken and/or missing. I brake by going into 1 gear when going down steep hills, like engine braking. It works fine. That's why I want to replace my old belt, since I have no brakes, if that belt breaks going downhill I have no other brake and it will run away from me.
I love my DR Power Wagon! I'm curious as to why you went right to replacing the engine instead of trying to get the Tecumseh engine running? Nice video and thanks. Did you check to see if the main jet was plugged up? I just finished watching your video and I find it hard to believe you deleted the clutch. I've had my Power Wagon for almost 15 years. Are those Tecumseh engines just not worth a darn?
Actually, I spent a TON of time messing with the original engine, including replacing the carburetor....just could not get it to run well at all. The engine I put on it, while older, is much more reliable than the original Tecumseh. I use this thing all the time! I'm playing around with the idea of putting a larger pulley on the crankshaft...maybe see if I can get it to move a little faster. Not necessary at all, just as an experiment. We'll see...
Also, the first 13 minutes of the video are about me fiddling with the original Tecumseh, plus tons of time off camera trying to make it run.... very frustrating.
I am in much the same boat, though my clutch works. I tried to replace the engine but unless I spend like $500 from DR, 99% of the new lawnmower type engines do not have heavy flywheels and depend on the mower blade for the inertia to keep them going. Much like you I got a cheap Chinese replacement carb that sorta works when it wants to. I would love to either a. get an engine that fits in there and has a heavy flywheel, or 2. convert it to electric, but haven't seen any viable way to do either one.
BTW, that machine looks exactly like mine which was from the 1980's. Are you sure the engine date isn't 87?? The ones from later had a different style "dashboard," and most used Briggs engines. In addition, when they did away with the sulky they also did away with the 4the gear which was only appropriate for the sulky or jogging.
I have the original paperwork and sales receipt from the original owner, so I know for certain that it was purchased new on 3/30/1998, I use this machine almost daily. My replacement engine was not easy to retrofit for the powerwagon, but I managed.... Also, I noticed that this engine is harder to start now than it was when I had it on the lawn mower. Probably due to the lack of a mower blade, But I have figured out how to get it to start within 2 or 3 pulls now. So it's all good. Just used it this afternoon, as a matter of fact. I hope you can find a way to keep yours in service. But yeah, the original tecumseh engine on mine was pretty lame...Good luck!
Now that I think of it, my PowerWagon is from the very late 1980s or early 1990s. Thing is, those Tecumseh engines were super heavy duty models, but it's hard to find parts for 'em. I just put another new carb on mine. Would still love to convert it to battery electric,, if I could.
Fantastic!!!! I stumbled upon your channel and this operation. I started a small engine repair business and I am working on a Lincwelder 225 while listening to videos about power wheelbarrows. I am thinking of building a completely up cycled power wheelbarrow with handmade rubber tracks. I was listening and all of a sudden you were having problems starting your engine on that beautiful unit. Then you are changing the engine. I was literally jumping for joy. I wanted to see something like that so I stopped to watch. Thank you my friend. I will be video-ing my work as soon n as the iPhone holder tripod gets here. thanks again. P.S. How long did it run before you had to replace the engine. I do not have good grip on that because it seemed like you got it and a couple months later you had to replace the engine. I have no idea why they have two clutches essentially. A clutch and then the belt loosener like on a garden tractor. I just saw my answer. I guess they could not engineer it like a garden tractor. Very strange.
Thanks, John. I continue to use the DR Powerwagon regularly...at least once or twice a week. The replacement engine I put in it is still running reliably. Good luck in all your endeavors!
@@Buckwsr Thank you Buck!!!
I purchased a used one a couple of years back. The motor was not running well at all and was hard to start. A new spark plug got it running like new.
I still use mine at least once or twice a week. I love it!
Mine is SN 166 and has two belts. A 49 in and a 50 in. The 49 keeps slipping off. The clutch is a tensioner on the 49 in belt.
The engine is a b&s.
I think I like your set-up better. I've not had any success with the centrifugal clutch. To this day I run it without a clutch. It hasn't been a problem. I use this Powerwagon ALL THE TIME!
I have an old DR PW that I bought used a few years back from a friend. I have the original owner's manual that came with it. The manual has a copyright date of 1994. It includes a part's list, with some OEM specs for the machine. In this manual there are two belts listed for the DRPW: a) V-Belt, 4L, 49" [transmission], and b) V-Belt, A49, 50" [clutch]. I believe the A49 refers to an "A" type power transmission belt, of length 49". IDK if there is a different 'profile' for A versus L belt types, but there might be? What is also odd is that normally the number following the A is the inside length of the belt. The outside length is calculated by adding two (2) to the inside length, so the outside length should be 51". But in this printed spec the 49" is followed by 50", which I presume is the outside length? A typo? But there you have it, that's what's specified!
I would leave the clutch off . I am with you , it’s not stressing the trans axle so why put one on !! I like the cart a lot .
I use the DR Powerwagon a lot, at least a couple of times per week. Very useful machine. And you're right, it is doing just fine as-is, without the clutch.