New/Old Lawn Boy

[SWSportsman]

Took a load of used motor oil to the recycling center Saturday morning and saw a familiar shade of green over beside one of the dumpsters. It turned out to be a LB 10323, very dirty, but appearing complete. I loaded her up and brought her home to join the rest of the LB fleet. Not a part was missing and I really don't understand why it was abandoned. The air filter was terribly clogged and the throttle cable was stuck in place. A new filter and a little lube fixed those problems. The fuel tank was very dry, but had a little varnish like substance at the bottom. I cleaned that up and added some fresh 32:1 Klotz pre-mix to the tank, along with a double-dose of Sea Foam. The spark plug looked new, and upon removal was pretty clean, so I did not replace with new. A good soaking with Simple Green, a hose-off and wipe-down with 303 Protectant revealed a pretty nice looking mower. She took about 8-10 pulls to start, and filled the neighborhood with blue smoke for a few minutes, but settled down to a nice even purr. No sign of the dreaded Duraforce surge. The sticker is missing over the jet, so I'm thinking someone already took care of that problem. Here she is:

The blade looked near new and I cut grass for about 2 hours Saturday afternoon without a hitch. The self-propel mechanism needed a little adjustment, and the single-speed is a little fast for me, but the mower is really light enough to use as push only.

Anyone know how old it is by the serial number?

 

[Johnny]

Somewhere between 2000-2004. Wow! Some folks have all the luck. That's a nice looking old Lawn Boy.

I have a commercial model with the Duraforce engine and I do not have a surging problem. But in case I ever do, what is needed to fix it.

 

[gd9704]

Heck of a freebie you got there! I'm amazed sometimes at the things people throw out.....

Looks like a new machine!

 

[greenaccord02]

That's cool! Hopefully one day I'll get a lawn boy of my own.

 

[SWSportsman]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
..I do not have a surging problem. But in case I ever do, what is needed to fix it.


Basically, I think it's just a matter of a lean running condition, which can be addressed by installing a larger main jet, or by using the appropriate sized bit in a pin vise. Just google "Duraforce surging" and you'll find plenty of info. One popular site:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lmower/msg0618132925316.html

 

[SWSportsman]

Originally Posted By: gd9704
Heck of a freebie you got there! I'm amazed sometimes at the things people throw out.....

Looks like a new machine!


I wish now I had taken some before pics. It sure didn't look much like it does now. It may have been left out in the weather for a while. Not much rust, but the black plastic cowling has faded and chalked a good bit. Some Mother's Back-to-Black followed by 303 helped it a bunch. The wheels were so dirty I didn't even realize they were white until I started scrubbing on them. The bars have some rust at the joints so I think I'll take them down and paint or maybe powder coat.

 

[Johnny]

Thinks for the link. I ordered one of those jets just in case.

 

[Scienceman]

Very nice!!!

 

[super20dan]

i am suprized you guys are hip to the low speed jet trick-not common knlodge

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: super20dan
i am suprized you guys are hip to the low speed jet trick-not common knlodge


We're not just oil geeks here. Some of us are 2-cycle and Lawn Boy geeks also.

 

[Spazdog]

<---- I am "green" with good ol' 2 stroke Lawnboy envy.

 

[boraticus]

Oh yeah..... Think that's nice? Check this baby out!

1974 3.5 h.p. D-600 engine, reed valves, through deck exhaust, solid state ignition, magnesium deck, self propelled, starts on the first pull and runs like a dream. All original paint too....

 

[greenaccord02]

I would pay $100 cash right now for a lawnboy with an aluminum or magnesium deck in ANY condition but I can't find one to save my life.

 

[BBDartCA]

Great find! Have one myself and run it on Klotz too. It will last you a lifetime.

The fatter jet for surging is usually needed if you are running E10 gas at around sea level. My lawnboy has been working with me in lots of different elevations and fuel types. I went from E10 to E0 with the fat "snow thrower jet" and it was wwwaaayyyy too rich - stock jet was great with E0 / non-oxygenated gas.

 

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
I would pay $100 cash right now for a lawnboy with an aluminum or magnesium deck in ANY condition but I can't find one to save my life.


I know what you mean. I think that in most cases, these mowers just keep running and there's no need for the owner to want to sell it. When the owner pegs out, the Lawn Boy ends up in a garage sale usually as part of settling the estate. I was lucky to find this one on Kijiji selling for $125.00. I scooped it for $75.00. I would have paid the higher price if it wasn't for the seller not knowing what he had.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: BBDartCA
Great find! Have one myself and run it on Klotz too. It will last you a lifetime.

The fatter jet for surging is usually needed if you are running E10 gas at around sea level. My lawnboy has been working with me in lots of different elevations and fuel types. I went from E10 to E0 with the fat "snow thrower jet" and it was wwwaaayyyy too rich - stock jet was great with E0 / non-oxygenated gas.


Maybe that is why I have not had any trouble with mine. I use premium gasoline with no ethanol added.

 

[SWSportsman]

Originally Posted By: boraticus

Oh yeah..... Think that's nice? Check this baby out!

1974 3.5 h.p. D-600 engine, reed valves, through deck exhaust, solid state ignition, magnesium deck, self propelled, starts on the first pull and runs like a dream. All original paint too....

Nice old LB....love those magnesium decks!

None of that rubbin' and polishin' for you, eh?

 

[boraticus]

"None of that rubbin' and polishin' for you, eh?"

I say "Pardon?" You should have seen it before I shined it up!

I'm thinking of giving it a thorough cleaning and repaint over the winter. I've got all of the mechanical stuff already covered and am actively using this mower for trimming around the yard.

 

[CSM746]

Before they were outlawed, I bought a new 10550 DuraForce in 2004. I found the comments regarding 10% ethanol mix, but I have experienced a severe surging problem. Changed to the 42.5 size pilot jet and it went away at lower speed warm up and barely perceptible at high speed. What a difference, it never would stay running without repeatedly choking the engine while it warmed up. Now idles smoothly following cold start. Wish I had done it three years ago when the problem started getting worse. Running 93 Octane, with Seafoam, and 56:1 Amsoil which says it can be run at 100:1. I mix 3 1.5 ounce packets in two gallons. Seems to run well at this mixture.

 

[Scott P]

I have the 2003 model of that mower. I ended up dropping over $200 to have the carb replaced last summer. It also has that Duraforce surge. Right now, it is acting up by bogging down in heavier grass and not picking back up right away. I do not want to drop any more coin on it, but it is starting to annoy me.