Bad day mowing

[oil pan 4]

When I swapped to a harbor freight engine on my mower the motor to deck bolts appeared to be correctly sized to take Briggs and Stratton self tapping 3/8 bolts. As I findsuch hardware savage and unrefined I opted to use 5/16 bolts, lock washers and nylon lock nuts.
Its only got 3hrs on it but nothing has rattled loose and I really don't expect anything to.

 

[Paco Pena]

I've never had a good day mowing. It was just God giving you a reason to go fishing instead.

Paco

 

[Donald]

When mower is too old to work anymore or I am too old to work (71 now) whichever comes first it's time for a robot mower.

 

[ripcord]

"You're not coming off until I SAY you're coming off!"

 

[Donald]

"You're not coming off until I SAY you're coming off!"

I ordered some orange Loctite.

 

[nomas]

I have one of those Harbor Freight magnets on wheels for roofing nails they find everything that is steel or iron. It is about 3 feet wide so it takes less time to use it.

I bought one of those the last time I had my roof replaced . The contractor assured me they would get all the nails picked up when they were through . I watched them cleaning up and I wasn't impressed . I went to HF and got my own rolling magnet and found about 20 they had missed .

 

[JTK]

@Donald I feel your pain!

A month or so back one of my sons cut the lawn for me using my Snapper Ninja commercial 21" mower. At some point when he was mowing, one of the bolts that holds the entire rear axle and drive assembly to the deck fell out causing the right side of the rear axle to come loose. This unit as the old school Snapper disk drive system with a differential. My son didn't say a word to me about it. I only discovered it when I had to move the mower to another spot in the garage and the arse end about fell off. The bolt (one per side) is an obscure short shoulder bolt, with a star washer and a flanged nut on the other side. Oddly, the bolt and star washer remained on the machine, but the nut was lost. The bolt had to have been loose for some time because the threads were unusable and worn. Thank goodness for Jacks Small Engines. I was able to look up the part numbers I needed and they had them in stock. I think that bolt and nut cost me like $25 shipped.

 

[Donald]

I bought one of those the last time I had my roof replaced . The contractor assured me they would get all the nails picked up when they were through . I watched them cleaning up and I wasn't impressed . I went to HF and got my own rolling magnet and found about 20 they had missed .

I would need to make sure my lawn was clear of "dog surprises" before using a magnet. Else a yuk covered magnet. We do clean up her dog surprises, but we still find a few more while mowing.

 

[Lubener]

It was a black bolt. The grass is covered with leaves or mulched leaves.

Start raking.

I would suspect a slightly bent crank or blade causing some vibrations which may have loosened the bolts. I never had those bolts loosen on anything I had.

 

[Donald]

Start raking.

I would suspect a slightly bent crank or blade causing some vibrations which may have loosened the bolts. I never had those bolts loosen on anything I had.

It's a Toro Timemaster and no blade on the crank. Two blades driven by a belt.

I have never looked at the engine bolts.

 

[Donald]

$600 for the Kohler engine upgrade. The mounting holes are in the right location, just need to be tapped for 3/8-16 bolts.

The older Toro Timemaster had a 190 engine and the newer ones are 220. The older one is underpowered by most everyone's view.

The new mower is $1500 or $1600. A lot for a walk behind mower.

 

[wavinwayne]

I would need to make sure my lawn was clear of "dog surprises" before using a magnet...

If you decide to try a magnet, Amazon sells a rolling magnet that you push like a push mower. Rolling Magnet

 

[Lockasiam]

That is a good hint about looking for it with a flashlight. I have been able to retrieve several lost pieces like that.

Big magnet

 

[TCL]

Any chance you have access to a metal detector?

I bought a cheap bounty hunter model metal detector just for these reasons. Works great when you drop something in the lawn or in the dirt.

 

[andyd]

Take a bolt with you and match it at your local Ace hardware. Probably cost about a buck

 

[zzyzzx]

I have one of those Harbor Freight magnets on wheels for roofing nails they find everything that is steel or iron. It is about 3 feet wide so it takes less time to use it.

Do you really want to keep one of those around?

 

[nomas]

Do you really want to keep one of those around?

Yep .

 

[Donald]

I bought the Kohler engine for $600. I am told it was discontinued and any new replacement engines would require modifications. The Kohler should fit with no modifications except maybe the STOP switch the Toro Timemaster has mounted on the handle.

 

[Lockasiam]

Do you really want to keep one of those around?

It’s $40 so why not