Howdy everyone.
I wanted to introduce myself as a new member, and fellow small engine fanatic. I've loved working on small engines for a long time, but have, until recently, lived in college dorms or apartments, eliminating any real opportunity to use or work on them. Just about a year ago, my wife and I bought our first house and my small engine hobby was off to a great start!
I inherited an MTD 21" FWD mower with a 6-hp Briggs Quantum engine of unknown age from my father-in-law. Probably 7-10 years old. I also inherited from him a Weed Eater brand weed eater, also of an unknown age, but it's a GTI model, which I know can be at least 10 years old. The deck of the MTD wasn't that great (a missing prop rod, bald tires front and rear) and the engine had seen better days. The rivets on the fan cover had all come loose, making an annoying rattling noise. After one full season of mowing (last summer), I decided I was going to purchase a new mower.
After much research, I decided I was going to try a Honda OHC engine. I wanted something besides ANOTHER B&S side valve engine (had plenty of them) and Honda's marketing materials sold me on their GVC160 residential OHC mower engine. After seeing a few Honda brand decks at Home Depot and the like for upwards of $500-600, I started looking at the sale ads from places like Sears. I bought my Craftsman, a #37855 21" FWD 3-n-1, for $299 on sale, complete with the Honda 5.5-hp OHC engine. Having run the Honda next to the B&S, there's a HUGE difference in sound volume and quality...the Honda being so much more pleasing. I don't know how much to attribute that simply to the Honda being a new engine, but I'm happy nonetheless.
The Weed Eater runs great...don't have a clue how old it is or even the size of the engine, but it runs very strong and clean, for a 2-stroke. I recently pretty much rebuilt the machine with a new pull string, air filter, cleaned piston/combustion chamber, etc. I understand the Weed Eater brand is the "Yugo" of yard machines, but this one seems to have survived the years. I'm real happy with it so far.
I look forward to participating in the discussions here! BROR JACE, you might recognize me from the Nissan Truck & SUV forum.
[ June 25, 2004, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Jason Adcock ]
I wanted to introduce myself as a new member, and fellow small engine fanatic. I've loved working on small engines for a long time, but have, until recently, lived in college dorms or apartments, eliminating any real opportunity to use or work on them. Just about a year ago, my wife and I bought our first house and my small engine hobby was off to a great start!
I inherited an MTD 21" FWD mower with a 6-hp Briggs Quantum engine of unknown age from my father-in-law. Probably 7-10 years old. I also inherited from him a Weed Eater brand weed eater, also of an unknown age, but it's a GTI model, which I know can be at least 10 years old. The deck of the MTD wasn't that great (a missing prop rod, bald tires front and rear) and the engine had seen better days. The rivets on the fan cover had all come loose, making an annoying rattling noise. After one full season of mowing (last summer), I decided I was going to purchase a new mower.
After much research, I decided I was going to try a Honda OHC engine. I wanted something besides ANOTHER B&S side valve engine (had plenty of them) and Honda's marketing materials sold me on their GVC160 residential OHC mower engine. After seeing a few Honda brand decks at Home Depot and the like for upwards of $500-600, I started looking at the sale ads from places like Sears. I bought my Craftsman, a #37855 21" FWD 3-n-1, for $299 on sale, complete with the Honda 5.5-hp OHC engine. Having run the Honda next to the B&S, there's a HUGE difference in sound volume and quality...the Honda being so much more pleasing. I don't know how much to attribute that simply to the Honda being a new engine, but I'm happy nonetheless.
The Weed Eater runs great...don't have a clue how old it is or even the size of the engine, but it runs very strong and clean, for a 2-stroke. I recently pretty much rebuilt the machine with a new pull string, air filter, cleaned piston/combustion chamber, etc. I understand the Weed Eater brand is the "Yugo" of yard machines, but this one seems to have survived the years. I'm real happy with it so far.
I look forward to participating in the discussions here! BROR JACE, you might recognize me from the Nissan Truck & SUV forum.
[ June 25, 2004, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Jason Adcock ]
