Bent Crankshaft On Lawnmower Lets Fix It

amzn.to/2LigYqw Crankshaft Straightener Tool
amzn.to/2Lodinu Hansen Socket Organizer Set
amzn.to/2GlPAJq Hydraulic Lift Table
amzn.to/2QUspKo Tekton Socket Sets
In this video, I show how to handle a bent crank on a lawnmower.
Help support Doublewide6 Repairs LLC by sponsoring his Patreon account
/ doublewide6
Doublewide6 Repairs LLC has a Master’s Degree in industrial technology with a specialization in Manufacturing, due to factors beyond the control of Doublewide6 Repairs LLC and anyone featured in his videos, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Doublewide6 Repairs LLC assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video or any of Doublewide6’ Repairs LLC's videos. Use this information at your own risk. Doublewide6 Repairs LLC recommends safe practices when working on equipment, power tools, chemicals, electronics, electrical systems, vehicles, and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Doublewide6 Repairs LLC, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Doublewide6 Repairs LLC.

[@doublewide6]

amzn.to/2LigYqw Crankshaft Straightener Tool amzn.to/2Lodinu Hansen Socket Organizer Set amzn.to/2GlPAJq Hydraulic Lift Table amzn.to/2QUspKo Tekton Socket Sets

[@mattbrennan8088]

that is great that you have the correct straightener. I learned from a guy that had one and used his about once a week fixing mowers that hit stumps or rocks and usually all he had to do after is put a new seal in. I have seen so many youtubers that just get a hammer out and smack the crank back- and I usually just give it a thumbs down and hopefully never seen anything from them again. Congrats to you on that machine

[@boppo2780]

my lawnmower started vibrating and now i'm on youtube watching lawnmower repair videos.

[@aleblanc3547]

There's an old man (90) who straightened out a shaft on a 1985 briggs I wanted to save. It wasn't nearly as bad as the one you did in this video, but he got it within .003 inch with a homemade 1" steel plate with a screw and micrometer setup. He charged me $35 so he would have beer money for the week. The guy was a character and even though it took less than 5 minutes, the money was worth it just to hear some of his stories. Thanks Bob!!

[@doublewide6]

That is a great deal for you. The alternative is buy a new mower.

[@LegendMuscle]

nice setup! I make decent money fixing mower.. never thought of having a setup just for fixing them has always been a lets do this on the back patio bending down type of deals.

[@jimsull8818]

Excellent video, very well explained and sensitive to those with only the basic tools. Thank you

[@jeffreypeterson1554]

Beas of P.A. good video 1st time I ever saw a crank straightener!!heard of them before thanks good job good video!!

[@laverdadesmejor]

Neat tool! I was wondering about the integrity of the shaft too after straightening but with the blade being the only load (no fan belt) and a max rpm around 3600, I can see how this will work reliably.

[@chet3larson]

Nice work doublewide6. Thanks for showing how to do that, I had never seen the process before

[@doublewide6]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Have a good one.

[@alssmallengines]

Nice work Bob 👍

[@monk5470]

Nice job, as usual

[@watermanone7567]

That is a great fix. Wish I could find mowers for my shop for $20 per mower. Thanks for the video's.

[@doublewide6]

You bet usually I don't get this lucky.

[@robertheinkel6225]

Simple jig for the job. The process is pretty straight forward.

[@TheTommyvercetti6]

I just learned something new. That is cool. Thanks for making your video.

[@robeftyearian8760]

Good job doublewude

[@LetricShave]

Great video, but have you considered using a ratchet (socket wrench) to speed up your labor?

[@retrorestore]

Very handy tool Bob. They are a lot dearer over here in the UK though.

[@doublewide6]

Over here everyone just throws out their mower if it won't start or gets dirty.

[@JoseSanchez-wb5rz]

Had no idea this kind of tool existed, quite impressed .

[@mikeup9160]

I love doing that kind of work I just finding that I take my time doing it that I can get it back just like it's brand new

[@icelineman]

I am impressed the bottom half of the engine did not crack.

[@davessmallenginerevival2847]

Handy tool I like it. Great work👍

[@doublewide6]

Yes , it is a great tool if you need to use it.

[@2pugman]

Very nice work there Bob. Decades ago my son hit a brick with my new mower and naturally bent the shaft. I used a 10 lb sledge to "correct" the shaft. It worked, but it was caveman work.

[@doublewide6]

It is tough to get them accurate just using a hammer. At least you got it.

[@newtuthis1]

I saw you had a ultrasonic parts cleaner what do you use in it.

[@danasixty4012]

I used a wooden block and a hammer to straighten it . Old school that was 5 years ago still running .😎😎😎

[@ronnie6773]

I've done it several times on different mowers. Find the high spot and hit it with a sledge hammer.

[@MrDutchman100]

You do good work

[@petefroud5308]

Nice work Bob . A bent crank is a right pain.

[@doublewide6]

I see several of these a year. Nice to know now they are fixable. I used to take parts off them, but with this jig I can fix them faster than stripping them down.

[@antraciet]

Perfect! Thumbs up.

[@doublewide6]

Thanks!

[@chrisparman2080]

Hello Sir, I really like your garage setup (Nothing wrong with the Harbor Fright Icon tools) and your video's. Question, Sir. Wouldn't a better approach to a bent shaft situation is to just tear down the engine and replace the crankshaft? I'm curious to know your thoughts.

[@ericbeach2431]

Awesome bandsaw!

[@dannyoktim9628]

I learned something . . .thank U

[@tom.p1986]

What a good idea for loading the snow blower, beats pushing it up the ramps

[@doublewide6]

It works well. Especially for unloading from the truck . No rams needed.

[@joshuakindsfather7101]

Where'd you get the set up to do where can I get one of them

[@rickmcleod3080]

I have a very good crankshaft straightener, I use a hydraulic jack and a dial indicator.many succsess only 1 or 2 misses

[@fleadoggreen9062]

I tried a bottle Jack It would bend the side of the deck before it would budge the crank

[@gregorypierce6703]

nice work

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Nice job DW. The new camera is excellent, what is it? Merry Christmas to you and your family Jim

[@doublewide6]

Yeah, I dropped a $400 Canon about 3 months ago. This is a Panasonic. I am new with it but I really like it. I have had sony, and canon so far. Merry Xmas Jim.

[@rtzapper]

Thanks I learned something, Did you make a ramp for your work table ??

[@doublewide6]

I use my truck bed ramps if I need to.

[@erbhotrod6100]

My Dad and I built one of those 40 years ago.

[@8ackbar]

Nice rig but doesn't this damage the PTO side bearing journal?

[@snoopdog68]

pretty darn nice.

[@jeffnielsen4057]

Pretty interesting, I haven't seen this before. Didn't know it was possible, wow. Always figured that a bent shaft = garbage. I am curious to know exactly where that shaft bends .... and exactly where the device bends it back. They must be the same, right ?? Is the bend along the external shaft only?? When the top bolt pushes down, is the bottom bolt the pivot point ..... or is the bottom pivot point where the shaft meets the engine case? Anyway, well done. I enjoyed this one ! Thanks.

[@BrucesShop]

That was fun bob.

[@doublewide6]

More to come.

[@lukekendall2484]

If you can show me where to get one or build one. The crank shaft straightener

[@gregorypiercesr.794]

Were you able to calibrate your crankshaft tool? Great video. 👍

[@ritchietheforky]

Hi ive got 3 honda tools An Izy lawn mower An UMK BRUSH CUTTER AN HHH 25S HEDGE TRIMMER and aim looking for tips too strip and rebuild these machines, I have no formal training and need these items in good working order and what parts/gaskets and sealers I could need and where to get them. Looking forward to here back from you. Ps I'm in Scotland uk

[@bradleyhatchen4786]

The crank look good

[@lukeharnd2901]

Thank you for sharing how to straighten the crank. I live in Maine and have always tinkered with small engines. I retire in May and want to do it a little more often. Where could I buy one of those Crankshaft straightener things? I have a mower that was run for about 15 minutes and she hit a stump and the crank is bent. I would love to be able to straighten it.

[@pabeader1941]

It's available on Amazon.

[@stevesmith6058]

they are $400

[@michaelkirwan177]

Nice job. A tinge of concern about the open-spout gas container in a closed garage with a wood-fired stove with a healthy flame. The gas will 'find' the fire in many instances over surprising distances. I've done this (straightening) procedure countless times and had a very good measure of success when I maintained my patience. One thing I would suggest is replacing the bottom seal on anything that "chirps" before you straighten it. For stability of filming purposes I would also suggest throwing a few playing cards under one of your bench's legs to reduce the shaking on camera. Admire your perseverance. Good Luck with Your Haul! Mike "Smoky" Kirwan - Kenmore, WA.

[@timwilliams9443]

And taking in consideration the heaters

[@tommclaughlin1041]

and a backfire from the muffler.@@timwilliams9443

[@scottfirman]

Most newer lawn mowers have a powder cast crank and CANNOT be straightened without snapping the crank shaft. Also its almost impossible to get them straight enough. If it affects the crank seal or the seal starts leaking after you do manage to get it straight, its junk. Most shops wont even try to straighten a bent crankshaft any more. I had a lady do it to a BRAND NEW Honda mower. The seal was already leaking. I told her it was not going to last long because of that and replacing the crank wasnt an option for her. I did attempt to straighten the crank as best I could. I used my handy sledge and caressed it enough to stop the shake. I told her to keep an eye on the oil. Even with uour crank shaft machine, its a high risk repair and NOT recommended by any manufacturer any more.

[@roymg]

Will the crank shaft metal weaken, because of the bending that's done, creating a potential hazard to personnel?

[@donniecoleman1324]

I've straighten many journals on printing press print cylindersand you have to over bend it a few thousandthsbecause it is going to have a certain amount of spring back. And it's perfectly safe to run a crankshaft straightened this way if there are no cracks in it

[@DaleB809]

What would someone expect to pay for this service. Just want to.know of it's worth fixing. Thank you. Great video

[@doublewide6]

I would charge one hour rate plus parts. Parts may be hub, blade, oil, blade bolt, & flywheel key

[@raymondcampbell2346]

I don't know Bob. That was a really badly bent crankshaft. I have a straightener also. I was trying it out on some scrap engines with bent shafts. On the second engine, and doing it gradually, the crank snapped in two. Never used since as I will not risk a crank snapping while in use and injuring someone. I would use it to as mentioned, to straighten the crank to get the sump off to replace the crank.

[@davidredfearn664]

It seems like the Briggs and Stratton motors from China have softer crank shafts. Is this true? Nice tool by the way. I ended up putting a 16" piece of 1 1/4 iron pipe on the shaft and beating it with a 3lb hammer. Mine was bent perpendicular to the blade. It hit a very small oak root and that made me think the shaft was soft.

[@ASPCOT]

David Redfearn , The crank is machined from a forging with no heat treatment involved. The reason the crank bends is because it is so long, i.e. greater leverage takes less force to bend. You never saw a bent crank on the old Jacobsens with Briggs motors, or other like-quality mowers, because the crank never extended from the sump more than 1". Cheap mowers from the same era had deep decks for some reason, and this necessitated the need for the 2" long crank which bends very easily, even easier after straightening. I suppose you could make a heat-treated crankshaft, but at the time, bottom quality push mowers were selling for about 75.00 new, and a high quality crankshaft would make the price too high. People who were really into their lawns spent $200 on a Jacobsen Turbo-Vent, or if they were really crazy, a Hahn-Eclipse Rocket for about $300. So you can see, nobody wants a cheap mower with a bullet-proof crankshaft, when for a few dollars more, buy a mower that will last a couple generations.

[@rdb7450]

I wish I knew where u were. I have a perfectly good Honda lawnmower that has a bent shaft. Sure would like u to repair it. It still starts but vibrates like heck. Am in the DFW TX area. Where are u?

[@michaelhaiden6718]

You should always go a little further than you need to since ur not hearing it but always use a wrench abd ping the crank before you release the tension

[@jonhawkins2374]

What was the cause , how do you avoid having this problem? How much was it to fix?????

[@photosbychristensen]

I wouldn't trust a lawn mower has bend crankshaft fix this way

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

Unless told. you would never know

[@lawnmowerdude]

I wouldn’t mind as long as it wasn’t done multiple times. Once doesn’t bother me.

[@mgomez5606]

DW6, how many have you done since this video?

[@Budro4764]

My buddy has one of those Mighty midgets......... We tighten that bottom bolt when we have the shaft in position...... That's a must do every time you crank down on that top bolt..... and please don't stand in front of it. If the shaft snaps it pops out hard and can hurt you ....... Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

[@doublewide6]

The directions say to tighten the top bolt. The bottom bolt is much smaller and used as a stop. I'm willing to give it a shot next time I use it. If the shaft breaks it is clamped between the top and bottom bolt how would it come out at me? I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but would like some explanation. I just saw taryl's video on the same machine and he mentioned it could shoot out. Later my friend:}

[@Budro4764]

Yes the bottom is a stop and a backup support to hold the part of the shaft that's closest to the engine........ Then the top bolt is putting pressure on the shaft to straighten it....... The reason that it can pop out is that the sleeve doesn't go all the way towards the sump.... So the back bolt is on the shaft itself, not the sleeve, if the back bolt hits the sleeve then you are trying to bend the sleeve and the crank at the same time, which won't work ......... If the crank snaps it's going to do it under pressure and when the crank is more straighter...... When it's straighter then there is room for the crank and sleeve to pop out, because the back bolt is not putting pressure on the sleeve as mentioned earlier....... I hope I explained it right ???? I guess I missed that video he put up.... I'll have to look it up ...... Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

[@doublewide6]

Thanks for getting back I put the bottom bolt against the sleeve not the shaft. I will have to see what the directions say. I have them with my kit. I will try to tighten the bottom in the future and I will try to stand out of the way.

[@Warpedsmac]

Please fix the indicator on the comparitor.

[@SurviventheOnslaught]

i never knew you could straighten a crank

[@gjmob]

You shouldn't. It is extremely weakened now.

[@SurviventheOnslaught]

@@gjmob i guess it will bend easily again when you hit a root

[@maryjohnson3825]

My push mowers blade is hanging very low with the mowers being raised the highest it can go n still the blade is touching the ground n the lawn will crank every time

[@jonbarfield4915]

I have done hundreds of them on that kind of tool. Some shops will not try to straighten the crank.

[@doublewide6]

Many shops will do it, but most would rather sell you a new mower.

[@jonbarfield4915]

@@doublewide6 I have worked in shops in Georgia,Texas,California. Those that didn't straighten them was worried about liability. To be honest I don't think they knew how. Some also would not repair transmission. MTD 2 speed was so easy. The bushings would ware causing them to jump out of gear.

[@philliphall5198]

Looks like a winter work to me when if it slows down

[@WV591]

wow..considering that a new crank shaft cost anywhere between 150 and 280 i can see this tool paying for itself in no time. only around 300. not bad at all. TU on film.

[@billyjackson5799]

it be better to go just a little past where you want it be on the arrow that way release the pressure off of the crank it spring bk to where you actually want it on the arrow and then will be pretty much perfectly straight

[@tobysarsi6864]

I agree with Billy Jackson to try going a tiny smidgen past where you want it, then let it flex back ro your desired position and much patience, like you demonstrated, taking your time. This go-ever-so-slightly-past technique was shown in another video where the shop owners wear long rock-band wigs and wear false monster teeth

[@MrDjagg]

you probably sheered the key in the top of the crank throwing off the timing too

[@MissouriOldTimer]

you got a good deal on those mowers, you should do good money wise with them.

[@doublewide6]

I think I will do alright on them.

[@beechwood619]

Bob, Can't believe you didn't check the flywheel key, since it took such a big hit to bend the crank.

[@doublewide6]

Good point. It didn't jump or jerk when I tried to start it, so I didn't think it would need one. I didn't remove the shroud when using the crank straightener and it could be done from the top of the engine after attached. It did not need a new flywheel key, so I got lucky.

[@deanguando1335]

Why bother - the engine ran.

[@WV591]

Old kind looking couple sold me a mower and it turned out not only it needed a new carb and primer bulb and gasket and a new blade. I got it running but notice it has bent shaft about 2 mm, now I have to trash it I would never turn around and sell that to somebody else.

[@ronadpaugh44]

this video is like watching paint dry or grass grow.20 minutes of my life I wont get back

[@michaellicitra7632]

Why aren't you concerned about the integrity of the crank after straightening? How do you know it won't break and take a leg or two with it?

[@ASPCOT]

Michael Licitra , Because the guys who makes the straightening jigs perpetuate this practice with the promise of big bucks​ from not having to take the engine apart. This is stated practically verbatim in the instructions sheet for the Little Brute Crankshaft Straightener from Monticello, Iowa. Someone else stated that it should be used for disassembly purposes only, because it is nigh impossible to get the sump off with the crankshaft bent. I am not berating the guy doing this video, sometimes you get away with it. Personally I don't straighten any for anything but my own use. With my luck the customer would be back in a week and I'd have to do it again because they bend easier the second time around. Or you could argue with him, but then your reputation comes into question. The only way I'd straighten one to sell is "No Guarantee". Let the customer decide if he wants to gamble.

[@lawnmowerdude]

ASPCOT I don’t mind using this machine for the first time bend repair. But if it happens a second time the crankshaft should definitely be replaced.

[@pmessinger]

Leaning a mower over on those plastic wheels over is the easiest way to destroy them. They don't handle tension well at all and they cost way more than you'd guess. I bought one large and one small.

[@paulk5311]

i broke two wheels while moving. i guess something on the trailer was pressing on the side of the mower because when i got to storage and began to unload i noticed the busted wheels.

[@ThePheonix2009]

Why didn't you take the spark plug out?

[@doublewide6]

It was out I didn't show it in the video?

[@grassroot011]

Just makes you wonder why the shear key hardly never goes before doing damage to the shaft.

[@ASPCOT]

grassroot011 That was the whole idea behind the soft key; when the blade struck something, the inertia of the flywheel was not added to bending forces of the engine trying to slow down. It was not a guarantee against a bent crank, just lessened the possibility of it. If the flywheel nut is over-torqued, the resulting friction on the taper makes the force required to shear the key much higher, which gives even less protection to the crankshaft. Sometimes, everything is correct and the crankshaft STILL bends. The best defense against a bent crankshaft​ is a more expensive mower with a short Crankshaft.

[@8000RPM.]

Crankshaft straightener...now I've seen everything.

[@pmessinger]

Why not calibrate the needle with proven unit?

[@grational]

Hopefully the buyer will be informed. Most will not. Lesson learned; Do not buy a used mower from a reseller unless price reflects these issues or if so, then only after asking crank inspection- sure that will happen. His close enough was a zip code away and would offer enough info to make your own decision. May also be the a part or or whole of 'carb problem'. Sorry I can't be a happy comment but this seems to be a tool to sell product.

[@jamespittsfordiii7632]

Be careful fueling engines inside especially with pellet furnace

[@ncrdisabled]

Man that tool is great but it costs a lot . I wander way the key did not break?

[@doublewide6]

I don't know I didn't check the key because the engine was running fine.

[@christophervarela7699]

I've always been told that if your drive shaft is bent, it's cheaper to buy another mower. Is that true?

[@doublewide6]

I just did a Honda for a customer for $100 a new mower would’ve been 650+ tax

[@ronnie6773]

Back in the 70s a guy I knew had a hydraulic shaft straightener. I don't know if he made it himself or bought it. He didn't even have to take the engine off the chassis. The few dollars he charged to straighten one was well worth not having to buy a new mower. However, with today's labor cost to repair a lawn mower it's often much better just to buy a new one. I don't see no way the cost to replace a crank shaft could be cheaper than buying a new mower. Has anybody ever seen a broken crank shaft on a lawn mower? I haven't! Most of the time if a blade hits something hard enough the soft pin on the flywheel of a Briggs will cause the timing to be off just enough the engine won't crank. I can't begin to tell how many mowers I've picked up off the side of the road that only had that problem.

[@deanguando1335]

I want someone to show me how to straighten a crankshaft without that tool. I just don't happen to have a crankshaft straitener in my toolbox. I've used push mowers with bent crankshaft until they blow or come apart. Anyway you look at it - it's going on the junk heap.

[@georgefrederick5398]

I have always used a 4 foot length of metal Pipe ( 1-1/4 Inch i think). Remove the blade and adapter. Just put the pipe over the end of the crank with the high spot facing up. lever the pipe down to straighten. Best of luck.

[@travelingkaspersworld4096]

Reading the comments was interesting. After searching, we can not locate a single article or source to validate that a lawnmower crank has broken off while in use. This is a job for Myth Busters.

[@davidhendershott5663]

its extremely dangerous to use a straightened crankshaft, that tool is to straighten a crankshaft to disassemble the engine to replace the shaft, a bent crankshaft is weakened and straightened shaft is further weakened, I am a shop owner for 28 years, and never just straightened a shaft for anything but disassembly to replace it

[@ASPCOT]

david hendershott Yeah David I concur with your opinion of the fatigue from bending, then bending it back. It will bend out of true easier after the mower is put back in service. I had a little trimming mower that I really liked, and the crank just would not stay straight. I had planned on removing the crank and annealing it, as an experiment, but never persued because I had a really cool '59 Ariens Imperial that I wanted to work on. It has a weird little adapter on the end of the crank, to hold two free-swinging blades, much like a brush-hog.

[@ronnie6773]

Now why would one need to straighten the crank shaft before disassembling the engine? Just pry the seal out. You must not have done the work.

[@ASPCOT]

Ronnie, If you have a stepped crankshaft than what you say is partially true. But many, if not most of them, are main bearing diameter for the full length of the shaft. You can get the sump off a bent crank if you work at it, but the bearing won't be worth a shit after you do. Why not just straighten the crank and the sump will glide right off; furthermore, you can reuse it. Removing the seal has nothing to do with anything.

[@ronnie6773]

ASPCOT, How many people do you know have a shaft straightener laying around the house?

[@lawnmowerdude]

The first bend back typically is not a problem. If it happens a second time bending it back again is not a path you want to go down. Everyone knows how to break a piece of wire when you don’t have cutters on hand.

[@mikeonjulu3286]

now i have know to fix my moa

[@tobysarsi6864]

Be careful because there is a difference between the moa constrictor and the anaconda :-)

[@farmuntilthemoneyrun]

why not just replace the crankshaft? seems given the price of the jig and time spent would be the same in terms of overall time and money, but you'd have a new crankshaft if replaced. (safer, too??)

[@Icanfixstuff]

I wouldn't put blade back

[@mikespain8655]

$340 bucks for the Mighty Midget Crankshaft Straightener. Think I'll use a 4 foot cheater pipe, but it's a cool tool.

[@ronadpaugh44]

be careful dont get your hands dirty

[@MrDjagg]

thats well over 0.125 out thats not even close the seal will go out on the bottom of the crank shaft wow

[@ricktokle5848]

😎🇺🇸👍✌🏻

[@scottfirman]

Many shops refuse to straighten a bent shaft siting possible cracking and liability concerns. In other words, lousy place to take your equipment. If anything they should just state there is a possibility of breaking the shaft. If thats the case, it doesn't matter, it was already junk in the first place.

[@stevesmith6058]

You’re not supposed to stand directly in front of that crankshaft if that break sit’s going right through ya

[@richardfote4083]

You should have checked. It with. A dial. Indicator afterwords. That poor. Mower.

[@berardia4]

If you have been doing this for a while have you had any problems. I was under the impression the manufacturer does not recommend this procedure. Perhaps the metal is weakened in the shaft.

[@doublewide6]

I have a done a handful of these and never had a problem. I have never heard of a crankshaft breaking off and injuring anyone. Also the blade is contained under the deck.

[@BuiltOverBot]

Briggs in particular made all the dealers destroy the crank shaft straightener back in the 90's to remain a dealer claiming they were too dangerous to use. They even brought around court case documents showing us where dealerships got sued from the practice. They seem to be making a comeback here as of late though, and as of yet I have not heard anything from the major manufactures as to making dealers quit it again.

[@doublewide6]

Interesting, you would think the problem would be blades flying off mowers and not the straightener being that dangerous. I will try to stay out of the way in the future. Sounds very dangerous if it breaks.

[@BuiltOverBot]

@@doublewide6 the problem was the crank breaking or vibration causing blades coming off. Only seen it once myself and most of the time it stayed under the deck(the mower will jump around like crazy when that happens). However there was a case locally of one coming out from under the deck and killing someone years ago. I do not think they had a lawsuit on that one just know from the shop that did it as the owner never forgave himself and hung a photo of the guy that died with the tool on his wall. As to odds the shop that had the death was a large hardware/farm store that had been been open a few hundred years and claimed to be the first place in town that sold mowers so not trying to scare you on that. I will not do it as the tool and time to get it right makes it not profitable compared to other work I could be doing so high risk no reward.

[@berardia4]

I guess it is the unknown of what damage was done and residual stresses in the shaft. they may be heat treated to relieve stresses at the factory and so they feel the shaft is not back to specs after it is bent. if it's not bent too bad maybe you can get away with it on something where it just turns a pulley not much to fly off like on a mower.

[@edgenet1]

I ask why is this silly tool so expensive. I will make my own for a few bucks.

[@knighthawk86855]

You have welding skills and few scraps of good metal, a good threading device, you can make one for cheap, if you do make one let us know how it turns out, I myself find it easier just to replace the crank shaft, since I have so many engines laying around, or just simply replace the engine all together, I have 5 6.5 briggs in a storage area just for that reason..... But if you make a straiting aperatis please let us know.

[@edgenet1]

@@knighthawk86855 Search on youtupe there is an eastern European guy that made one and he demos it on how to use, he straitens shafts in a few minutes or less

[@knighthawk86855]

@@edgenet1 cool I will look tks.

[@doublewide6]

The tool is expensive but it is calibrated perfectly. I tried making one about a year and a half ago and I could not get it to work accurately without adding shims. Eventually I broke the weld and decided I should bite the bullet and buy one. I would say if you are going to do more than 5 engines with it you can't go wrong.

[@doublewide6]

You would have to be pretty well skilled to make one that works perfectly. Not saying it couldn't be done, but I tried and was unsuccessful with my attempt. Also this one is really accurate and easy to use.

[@4golf]

Why don’t the manufacturers build in sheer pins to prevent the crankshaft from bending when the blade hits a rock....it’s not rocket science.

[@mgomez5606]

Crankshafts are not cheap on briggs. Honda is different story.

[@cabela7869]

That tool cost more then my mower.