Small Engine recommendations (lawnmower)

[branshew]

I have a "vintage" Snapper mower with a B&S 3.5 HP engine on it. SIngle cylinder air cooled. Compared to today's lawnmowers - it is a little underpowered and I had thought about re-powering it, but it still starts on the first pull every time and cuts well (assuming the grass isn't too tall).

The engine seems to have lost a little of it's oomph over the years, even though I keep it tuned fairly well. I'm wondering if it has lost a little compression or maybe is a little coked up.

I have typically run whatever auto engine oil that I have around in it (typically Mobil 1 5w30). I just started another treatment of Auto Rx in my car and I was wondering if it would be any benefit to putting a little in the mower or if something else would be recommended.

Any thoughts on a little Lucas UCL in the gas?

 

[benjamming]

ARX can help the mower. You won't have to add much though! What is the sump size? 20 oz?

I have been using FP3000 in the gas.

 

[TurboJim]

I've used both Restore and ARX in my B&S powered lawn mower. Intially I thought Restore did make a improvement but later felt the engine seemed a bit sluggish.

I decided to give ARX a try. Before when cutting on a sideways slope the engine would smoke and get a little bogged down until I returned to more level ground. Since my ARX treatments it no longer does that and oil consumption had been reduced considerably.

Starting with fresh oil I added a small bit of ARX and kept it in there until the oil turned color. I did that a couple of times just to be sure I got the maximum benefit.

Currently I'm using 15w40 oil with just a touch of ARX thrown in as a maintenance dose.

 

[tsmay51]

I would put about 1.5 to 2 ounces. With our equipment at work we change oil on a 100 hour basis. They say 100 hours is about equal to 4000 miles on a vehicle. Using that formula I would run the arx around 20 to 30 hours. Then change and do a rinse phase. Just figure out how long it takes you to mow and go from there.Mine is pretty easy. It takes right a hour to mow front and back yard. I got a a pretty big back yard though.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I went thru two Snappers 3.5s. They very slowly horsepower-fizzled as they aged. I do not miss them at all. I now use a push rear-bagger/mulcher combo Craftsman with the Honda 6-hp OHV engine. It was under $300 and I highly recommend it. I run Shell Rotella synthetic 5W-40. I can see this Honda will likely outlast both of those Snapper Briggs & Stratton motors. Don't put-off the inevitable - don;t watch as the horsepower fades 5% every year -- sell that Snapper machine & get a new one. You won't regret it after the first start & cut.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Ah! Don't go selling your Snapper! I do think you should try a straight 30w. I just got Amsoil 10w30/30w today and I am gonna run it in a 4.5 horse Briggs. If you sold it you would probably not be able to get much, so buy a new mower and keep the snapper. I think it would be fun to overhaul and old 3.5 Briggs in one's spare time. By the way, in the past I have run 5w30 in Briggs it seemed to smoke alot more at startup then with a good 30w. I was using whatever brand name 30w was the cheapest until I got Amsoil. I was getting TropArctic 30w for a buck ninety-nine. Have fun tinkering with that old Snapper!

 

[tsmay51]

The new motors on mowers may outlast your old one. The mower themselves won't outlast the motor though. Everything else on new mowers seem to want quit before the motor does.

 

[branshew]

Quote:

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The new motors on mowers may outlast your old one. The mower themselves won't outlast the motor though. Everything else on new mowers seem to want quit before the motor does.

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Exactly. If I do anything, it will be to re-power my old Snapper deck w/ a newer engine. That all aluminum deck will never rust and I can still get plenty of parts if needed.

 

[kelpie]

I would repower it too when the time comes. But until then I would use straight 30 or 15w40.