New (to me) Craftsman self-propelled mulcher

[antonmnster]

I really needed to mow the lawn, so I finally bought some equipment. I paid $150 for the mower, and I can't decide whether I got a good deal or a bad deal.

I went for it because it was serviced, the owner of the shop saying that the carb was cleaned, new oil, air filter, and blade sharpened.

I used it for 1/2 hour or so and I think it might have a couple issues. First, I can't help but notice a light blue haze that seems to come and go out of the exhaust. Maybe when I get bored over the winter I'll throw rings in it.

And it dumped a pretty good amount of gas when I put the mower on its side to look at the blade (which has worn sails). It looked like it came out the throat, but I didn't really get down and look at it. It went through a whole tank of gas in that 1/2 hour mowing very tall, very wet grass; I can't decide whether it's leaking or that's just how much it uses.

Thoughts guys??

 

[SuperDave456]

Yep, those carbs will leak when you flip the mower on it's side. It happens.

As far a a "blue haze", that isn't good. Maybe go up to a 15w40 or maybe a High Mileage oil. Synthetics and heavier oils also behave well in air cooled equipment.

As far as "worn" sails. Those are what circulates the grass clippings for you to mulch them. So they kind of get sand blasted every time you use the mower. How "worn" are you talking about? Mine are constantly showing silver, much like the cutting edge, where the rest of the blade is brown. This is due to it constantly smacking clippings that are cut and re-cut.
Shop around, blades are anywhere from $15-25 depending on what you get and where you get it.

If your grass was tall... and wet... and you haven't mulched before, then yeah, it is going to tax the motor and use a bunch of gas.

Try doing the lawn when it is dryer, it will help it mulch it. Also if you set the deck on a HIGH setting like 4-5 inches high, it will help both the grass (healthier) and the mower's ability to mulch.

If it works it sounds like an alright deal. I once paid a $100 for a ancient Toro to do a 20x15 backyard in my Apt. I had to get rid of the mower and I kind of miss it. It was a sweet machine for $100.

 

[fdcg27]

Going through really wet, thick grass will result in higher fuel consumption.
Why don't you just run the thing for this season, and see how it goes?
A little oil use is no cause for concern, and you will see higher oil consumption when the machine is worked really hard.
The engine will probably run for as long as you want to use the machine, since most small engines are pretty bullet proof.

 

[Turk]

Which oil/weight was put in??

If it isn't a top quality oil, change it, we'll help you pick one for that application...

 

[antonmnster]

Thanks guys. I use much larger mowers at work, and I haven't used a push mower in at least 15 years... can't remember what to expect!

The sails are pretty much gone, there's some jagged metal where it should be tapering up. I'll buy a blade at some point, no biggie.

I was just surprised that I could go through a tank that fast. On second thought it was probably closer to an hour's use, the grass is about 1', the yard is about a 20 degree slope, and it rained 1/2" right before I started.

I have no idea what the shop put in there. Once/if it burns its way down a bit, I'll probably top up or change it with Rotella 30, maybe some Delo 15-40

 

[fdcg27]

Why were you even trying to cut the grass right after a heavy rain?

 

[hemitom]

The craftsman 6.75 mulcher that i had would burn a tank in roughly an hour depending on grass length and condition. an once in a while it would throw out a puff of blue smoke especially when hot.

 

[antonmnster]

It is a craftsman 6.75.

I was mowing right after the rain because I'm excited to have a new mower!

 

[hemitom]

My 6.75 really was a good mower. it mulched decent and always started first pull.

when i switched it over to 15w40 no more smoke and no oil consumption over 35 to 40 hours .

 

[user52165]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
It is a craftsman 6.75.

I was mowing right after the rain because I'm excited to have a new mower!


Check the underside. Probably have a clogged mess. Your mower will live longer mowing dry.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

I've been using one of those mowers, just not self-propelled, for 12 years. Starts every time on 1st pull, even first mow of the season after storage. I use a HD30w.

 

[antonmnster]

I clean the underside whenever I'm done. I just wish I had the discharge shoot for this first hard cut.

 

[MNgopher]

Which engine is on it? I had a Sears High wheel mulcher with a Techumseh 6.75 on it. Drained a tank of gas in about an hour. Had a happy day a few years ago when it was replaced by a Toro Super Recycler that actually mulches without clumping up. If the blade is that chewed up, it may benefit from a new blade.