New push mower!

[sparkplug]

Not really. Our 14 year old push mower was getting some rust on the deck so I decided to repaint it. It was a metallic gray but now she's Caterpillar Yellow! This took me around 9 hours. Three coats of primer, 4 coats of base and 2 coats of clear. Turned out pretty good IMO.

 

[ZR2grizz]

Any tips or tricks on that series of engine...such as, what oil or gas additives you use?

I have the same, but in a 6.5hp.


The Cat Yellow looks SWEET, nice job.

 

[sparkplug]

Thanks!! I haven't used anything in the oil. Every fall I put in 5 oz of MMO and half a tank of gas (roughly) and let it run until its out of gas. Fresh gas in the spring with a little MMO to run out moisture and its good to go along with an oil change.

 

[ZR2grizz]

Good to hear about the MMO. I'm adding about 1oz per tank this year just to see what happens.

What weight are you using? 14yrs, you must be doing something right. Mine came with my rental house and next door neighbor (duplex) said it sat from around 2001 to this year. Had to spend a little on a carb kit and changed the oil twice so far (30wt), but it's running pretty good and looks pretty much new.

 

[sparkplug]

Usually Castrol 30wt. It was on clearance at Wally for $1.50 a quart so I grabbed it all.

But last year I ran some Havoline 10w40 I scored on clearance.

 

[ZR2grizz]

Thanks for the replies,

I know its not my mower, but I might play around with some different weights to see if I notice any changes for the better. I like the idea of a good 10w-40 when it start getting hot around here.

 

[Johnny]

Looks really good. You should hang a sign outside your garage the says,

Welcome to sparkplug's lawnmower paint and body shop.

 

[paulo57509]

That mower needs crawler tracks. Wheels on things that are Cat yellow just don't look right.

Looks good, though. You need these to finish it off:

http://www.bossenimp.com/Caterpillar_and_Claas_Decals_-C244.aspx

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: ZR2grizz
Thanks for the replies,

I know its not my mower, but I might play around with some different weights to see if I notice any changes for the better. I like the idea of a good 10w-40 when it start getting hot around here.



I'd use a 15w40 HDEO before a PCMO 10W-40 - MUCH stouter!

 

[01rangerxl]

Looks good! I chose lime green and orange when I redid mine. I also decided to ditch the muffler for a straight pipe...

The wheels and chute thing are now blue.

 

[crinkles]

how did you not paint all the holes shut?

 

[sparkplug]

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys!

I like the lime green! I bet it sounds gnarly with a straight pipe, can we get a video? I wish I had taken pics of the gear box for the drive system. I had to take it apart to get it out and it was sludged! The remains of the gear oil was just about like hot tar.

I painted very very carefully not to paint all the holes shut, but I got some of the smaller ones clogged.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: sparkplug
I bet it sounds gnarly with a straight pipe, can we get a video?

I'll post up a video when it stops raining here. It is pretty loud, but surprisingly it isn't too loud to mow with. The neighbors haven't complained about it yet...in fact I use it to mow the next door neighbor's yard (they are an older retired couple).

I will admit, I cut quite a few corners compared to your repaint. I removed the top cover to paint it, but for the deck I just put a grocery bag over the motor and taped it off...as you can see the exhaust got some over spray. It's not perfect, but it was definitely a fun way to tinker with a 20+ year old mower.

And since this is BITOG...my mower is using 30 weight genuine Briggs and Stratton oil and a Briggs foam oiled air filter.

 

[01rangerxl]

Here's a video of the beast...it's a little rougher now than in the pics just from being used and abused. Also, the straight pipe is now just an elbow because the long pipe kept moving around.

 

[sparkplug]

Thats not too bad!

 

[IndyIan]

I like it!
I have an old briggs and stratton front tine roto tiller with no muffler at all, it looks like it had a spin on type before it rusted off. Its a bit loud so I wear ear plugs but its handy as I can see the exhaust valve and can turn it over until its open. Then I can spray in some starter fluid right into the cylinder without taking off the air filter or the sparkplug. It's got a "use the gas tank as a float bowl" carb on it with an auto choke that doesn't really work, especially if the gas is not full...

Actually looking at the video more closely I think we have the same engine!

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Here's a video of the beast...it's a little rougher now than in the pics just from being used and abused. Also, the straight pipe is now just an elbow because the long pipe kept moving around.




I was driving past a local small engine shop that's a snapper dealer. They had purchased an ex Canadian Postal Service Grumman van that sat there for the last month or so. I presume it's going to be their shop/service vehicle. They have today painted the entire van with this Snapper green color (it was definitely a spray-bomb paint job - a pretty good one though). They must have had a ton of stock of these spray bombs that they couldn't get rid of!

 

[Lurch]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Looks good! I chose lime green and orange when I redid mine. I also decided to ditch the muffler for a straight pipe...
The wheels and chute thing are now blue.


Nice mowers.

What's that thing sound like?

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Lurch
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Looks good! I chose lime green and orange when I redid mine. I also decided to ditch the muffler for a straight pipe...
The wheels and chute thing are now blue.


Nice mowers.

What's that thing sound like?


There's a video a few posts up, but the microphone on my camera doesn't do it justice. It sounds like a typical old B&S L-head, just LOUD. I probably should wear ear plugs when I use it, but I don't bother.

I have to say, I have been very impressed with the reliability of this mower. When I got it the oil was tar and the original (20+ year old) air filter was disintegrating. After an oil change, new spark plug, and new air filter, it always starts on the second pull...always.

One night in the middle of winter one of my friends (the one who bought the scooter) and I were drinking...a little too much. My memory isn't too clear of that night, but unfortunately we got the mower started and proceeded to see what it could handle. Many rugs, jars of salsa, and other objects later, the mower was still good to go but the driveway and garage were a mess. Not doing that again.