Toro Mower Will Not Pull Start

[MaximusD]

The pull cord will not pull. Was mowing the other day, the mower stalled, and the cord can no longer be pulled. Blades will turn so I doubt a seized motor. Took apart the starter assy, will work when not connected to mower meaning the cord pulls and retracts fine when disconnected from motor. Blades are not bound and all the pulleys are connected. Anything else I should look at before taking it in for repair? B&S motor, recycler 20332, personal pace mower. 190cc engine.

 

[Chris142]

sounds like it broke the crank

 

[abycat]

I think its the crank as well. I blew up one of mine and it did the same thing.

 

[The_Jeff]

Is there a big nut on top of the motor on its flywheel etc you can try to turn?

 

[MaximusD]

Yeah, saw the big nut on fly wheel, but didn't try to remove it. I guess thats the next step. Mower is only two years old.

 

[UNC017]

Broke the crank or seized up and the blade adapter spun loose on the nose of the crank. IF the crank is broken the blade will probably wobble a bit since only the lower bearing is holding the stump of the shaft straight. Same if the blade is now loose from the crank.

Hard to guess without more info on the engine type, blade brake arrangement, etc.

 

[UNC151]

Is it possible it sheared the key and the flywheel has jammed into the stator making it impossible to turn with the pull cord?

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Is it possible it sheared the key and the flywheel has jammed into the stator making it impossible to turn with the pull cord?


Yes, it is remotely possible, but it would be odd for the rest of the crank to turn that freely. Usually the flywheel is still pretty well attached to the crank just by the nut, even if the key is sheared.

 

[yeehaw1960]

Did you turn the mower over on its side to do something? You may have a cylinder full of oil. Take the spark plug out and pull the cord. If oil ejects from the hole that's the problem. It could happen!...

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Is it possible it sheared the key and the flywheel has jammed into the stator making it impossible to turn with the pull cord?


Yes, it is remotely possible, but it would be odd for the rest of the crank to turn that freely. Usually the flywheel is still pretty well attached to the crank just by the nut, even if the key is sheared.

I did not see where the OP said that the remainder of the crank would turn (I am blind at times though

).

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4

I did not see where the OP said that the remainder of the crank would turn (I am blind at times though

).


Well, he said the "blade" would turn, so most of us are assuming the bottom few inches (at least) crank does too. If the key sheared, its possible that the flywheel bound against the magneto and the blade came loose at the same time... but the simpler explanation is the not-so-mythical 2-piece crankshaft ;-p

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4

I did not see where the OP said that the remainder of the crank would turn (I am blind at times though

).

Well, he said the "blade" would turn, so most of us are assuming the bottom few inches (at least) crank does too. If the key sheared, its possible that the flywheel bound against the magneto and the blade came loose at the same time... but the simpler explanation is the not-so-mythical 2-piece crankshaft ;-p

hehehe....which is why I said that I am blind at times

 

[MaximusD]

Actually the blade is fairly tight. Moves as if still connected to crank. When blade clutch is engaged, it does move and no wobble. Looks like I'll take it in for repair to see. The mower is 2 weeks out of warranty ...

 

[exranger06]

Remove the spark plug and look inside the hole while turning the blade. If the piston moves up and down while turning the blade, the crank is fine. If not, it could be a sheared flywheel key or broken crank.

 

[MaximusD]

Buddy tore motor apart. Seized bearing was the cause. Had a buddy w spare motor. Total cost of repair - $50.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: MaximusD
Buddy tore motor apart. Seized bearing was the cause. Had a buddy w spare motor. Total cost of repair - $50.


Yuck! Shouldn't fail that new. What type engine? Honda? Briggs? How was the blade still able to turn?

 

[MaximusD]

Was a briggs motor. The reason is, the dip stick had a malfunction. Showed oil as full, but oil wasn't being fed to the motor. Turns out, the oil was low and pooled up where the oil fill met the motor. The blade was able to turn because the blade doesn't turn just because the motor does. It's an electronic "engage" signal when the blade clutch is depressed, which is what makes the blade spin.

 

[steve20]

Originally Posted By: MaximusD
Was a briggs motor. The reason is, the dip stick had a malfunction. Showed oil as full, but oil wasn't being fed to the motor. Turns out, the oil was low and pooled up where the oil fill met the motor. The blade was able to turn because the blade doesn't turn just because the motor does. It's an electronic "engage" signal when the blade clutch is depressed, which is what makes the blade spin.


Guess there is a first time for everything