New mower already broken

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
04/11/2016 at 19:46 • Filed to: UGHHHHH

Rope won’t pull at all after 30 minutes of use. Rope is good, brake is good, starter thingie (flywheel?) good, but no budge at all. I have oil and gas. The manufacturer website lists many possible causes.

http://troybilt.custhelp.com/app/answers/de…

I mean for Christ’s sake. Brand new fucking mower.

DISCUSSION (39)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:48

I assume the brake is retracting properly? (the thing that gets released with the safety handle)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/11/2016 at 19:49

Yes.

1111111111111111111111 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:50

I’m betting the rope rolled over and is bound in the pull mechanism.

Opposite Locksmith > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:50

Nitrous

not for canada - australian in disguise > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:50

Time to call James May.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:51

Well, I’m stumped, unless it somehow got tilted so that the head filled with oil. That does happen sometimes.

Agrajag > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:51

Did you hit a stump/sizeable branch or rock?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/11/2016 at 19:54

Mmm yeah I could remove the spark plug and see if anything drains

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:57

That was my suggestion - my dad had a shit mower where I had to hit the plug with a toothbrush all the time.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > 1111111111111111111111
04/11/2016 at 19:58

Pull mechanism is fine, but the big metal thingie that the mechanism sets upon and spins doesn’t have any play... not sure if it’s supposed to... I know nothing engines, small or otherwise.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Agrajag
04/11/2016 at 19:58

Nuh uh

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Agrajag
04/11/2016 at 19:59

Hey, now. If he were showing signs of suffering from Briggs Sheared Flywheel Key Syndrome, maybe. Briggs Bent Crank Disorder crops up way less often.

Brickman > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:59

Won’t budge? Mean you pull the rope and the engine won’t turn, or the wheels dont move?

My bird IS the word > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 19:59

I have had good luck with older briggs motors myself, abusing the hell out of them mostly, but where I work we get an inordinate amount of new mower returns.

1111111111111111111111 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:01

Then I’m not getting it. You can pull the rope, but it doesn’t start?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > 1111111111111111111111
04/11/2016 at 20:04

No the rope and assembly are fine but once mounted they are unable to spin the... metal thing that does stuff. Rope works when unmounted, no pull at all when mounted.

1111111111111111111111 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:06

If you disconnect the spark plug and manually move the blade will the blade turn? Disconnect spark plug for obvious keep your finger reasons.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > 1111111111111111111111
04/11/2016 at 20:12

I have removed the plug and the blade will not move at all.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Steve in Manhattan
04/11/2016 at 20:12

Kinja'd!!!

No dice.

Agrajag > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/11/2016 at 20:14

Rocks are bred where I live. The latter of the two is way more prevalent here.

Jcarr > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:19

Is it the kind that will run without the blade moving or does the blade spin whenever the engine is on?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Agrajag
04/11/2016 at 20:21

Typically what I’ve seen is people running their blade *WHAM* so hard into a Doom Rock or piece of log that the engine stops dead... and the flywheel keeps going. Usually that’s on a 6hp-8hp Briggs. Anything smaller doesn’t have the flywheel mass to shear the key as easily, I guess. Alternately, I recall seeing that most of the time with mulching blades - it may be that “normal” blades are more likely to jam and bend the shaft instead of no-selling the hit.

LongbowMkII > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:24

Troybuilt seems to be fairly bad at OPE. My mom had a riding mower that had the weirdest problems every year. Anecdotal, but whatever.

Die-Trying > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:25

with the plug out can you turn the blade??

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:26

Take it back ... tell them you want another one, or a different one.

1111111111111111111111 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:27

Ouch. Sounds like there is something in the cylinder, or its seized. Sure nothing, oil or gas is in there?

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:29

Oh, and you’re taking advice from a guy who bought his last lawnmower in the early 90s. Did the same thing as my dad - got a Craftsman. Maybe a John Deere? Don’t let them stop you cutting your grass.

LOREM IPSUM > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:29

If you pulled the spark plug and cannot spin the engine by pull cord nor by spinning the blade, it sounds like that engine is seized.

Oil starvation issue, somehow, perhaps. Been decades since I’ve been inside a b&s.

coelacanthist > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:34

Could something have become wrapped around the crankshaft just above the blade and spun all the way up against the case, thereby preventing the engine from turning? Thinking along the lines of a plastic bag or piece of string/rope.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jcarr
04/11/2016 at 20:37

Cash Rewards > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 20:59

Not helpful to solving the problem, but I love my Honda mower if you send up going the route of return for another one.

boxrocket > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 21:23

Return it and get one of those DC-battery powered ones that use he same batteries as cordless tools. Light, reliable, and is essentially like hooking up a giant blade to a drill, but via a wheeled cart.

Chariotoflove > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 21:26

Pretty sure the squirrels are responsible. Take it out on them.

Jcarr > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 21:27

So your crankshaft isn't spinning for some reason then.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jcarr
04/11/2016 at 21:38

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
04/11/2016 at 21:38

UGHHHH

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 22:01

I’m gonna second Steves suggestion to take it back and get a Craftsman. Purely for anecdotal reasons. My dad bought one in 1988 or something and it worked until 2009 I think. Then he got another Craftsman, that continues to work.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > not for canada - australian in disguise
04/11/2016 at 22:11

See, this is what happens when you are under-employed. You get the BBC to film you putting shit back together again.

Chasaboo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/11/2016 at 23:41

Who is this Troy-Bilt guy anyway? Anybody ever meet him?