Fixing up a neglected zero turn mower.

[@chuckgilbert2035]

I am on my second zero turn mower rebuild. The first one (residential model) worked out so well I bought a professional grade mower to rebuild this year. Retired and get bored. Now it has leaf vac system attached, remote battery connections, front and rear 2" receivers for trailer hitches or lift boom for lifting things around the yard. It also has a string trimmer attached to the mower deck so I have 64" mower with weed eating from the zero turn.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Nice! Those string trimer heads on the deck look interesting.

[@chuckgilbert2035]

@@AlwaysBored123 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4SwgZurj52Xhas

[@robertcampbell1343]

Nice vid. I just got a hustler fastrack going too. 700$ into it and it runs and cuts like new.

[@AlanBurnham]

It's always satisfying when a plan works out as good or better than expected. Looks like you ended up with a solid zero turn for a reasonable investment.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Yeah it's nice when something goes the way you hoped it would.

[@thatsinteresting8810]

Almost never dose but yes it is a great feeling

[@ciphercode2298]

A little love and maintenance and you've got a winner. I've passed on mowers like that in the past,because I was scared of buying a money pit. I can work on stuff,but parts can add up pretty quick

[@AlwaysBored123]

They certainly can. Although, in my experience, commercial grade machines have the advantage of a given part being a significantly smaller percentage of their total value. I've also found them to be easier to work on than cheaper units which is nice.

[@redcardagainstracism6728]

Great mower! Performs exactly as expected.

[@brownchapman2562]

I enjoyed your video ☺️.I am restoring a commercial zero at the moment myself...I love your shop and you are skilled with welding and as for me...I have to hire people to do my welding.... Keep up the good work.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Thanks for watching. If you're in the US go buy a cheap mig welder from harbor freight and play around with it. That's what I did. Good luck with your project!

[@thomasedwards3372]

YOU DID AGREAT JOB. THANKS FOR SHOWING AND YOU HAVE A NICE SHOP.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Thanks for watching.

[@tacratt6091]

I bought a new zero turn last July, the price for the same model this summer has went up $450! A decent residential zero turn is $5000, and the pro stuff is outrageous. I sure don’t blame anyone for fixing a mower and getting the rest out of it.

[@AlwaysBored123]

You can say that again. A friend of mine just paid about 16 grand for a similar mower brand new. It's nuts.

[@bigsonslawncare]

This was pretty cool love seeing old things saved!

[@AlwaysBored123]

Thanks! I sold it to a guy across town not long after this. As far as I know he's still using it to cut his grass.

[@haroldbitler6049]

How much do you want for

[@garagestory]

Great job! I like your shop as well.

[@jackcanglide]

I love these sorts of videos. Thanks

[@AlwaysBored123]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scrapitjc]

Great find for a great price. Nice job

[@AlwaysBored123]

Thanks for watching.

[@andybecker2693]

That’s a good find. The Super Z is the top model of Hustler zero turns with heavy duty pumps and wheel motors. Brand new in 2023, $15,000 USD wouldn’t buy it so you should be able to get $5-$7000 for it I would think.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Yeah I was impressed with it. It drove and cut really nice. I think I sold it for $2500. Kinda wish I'd kept it but I already had a Turf Tiger I decided to keep using instead.

[@HiTek3]

​@@AlwaysBored123 SCAG over Hustler all day!

[@keithstover738]

​@@AlwaysBored123 a

[@seanspangler7963]

Your super handy it’s cool how you can do all of that

[@AlwaysBored123]

Hey thanks. Being handy comes in handy lol.

[@johnhicks735]

I recommend you draining out.& Changing the engine oil on that Kohler engine it'll come back around due to low broken down burnt motor oil with barely any volas city to it left due to thermal break down. I recommend flushing that engine out good with barely used motor oil mixed with some marvel mystery oil in the engine. Then drain it out. Replace the oil filter.& Motor oil with all New stuff. Then run it again.

[@walterbrown4484]

Great job i wish you lived near me 😂

[@gonzaloaguilar3282]

Nice video on the zero. Great job, but while the engine was out you should of clean the mower and painted . You could gotten more money if you sold it to bad you're not my home town.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Eh. I don't like painting things. I did pressure wash it though.

[@knighthawk86855]

Nice work.

[@waterwater344]

Keep up the work

[@kennethlowe6337]

Now get a set of head gaskets and push rods and you'll have a spare engine. 👍

[@AlwaysBored123]

I scrapped that engine. I'm pretty sure it had a broken rod.

[@garrettlamb9916]

I bet the guy that threw the mower out didn’t like the first part of the video!

[@AlwaysBored123]

Haha I don't think he would care.

[@andrewhills6535]

Good job 👍🏻

[@AlwaysBored123]

Thanks!

[@srenjensen3817]

Ignition timing have little to do with engine speed but is for better adjusting to fuel properties and air mixture. Your gas car have adjustable timing control for the same reason.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Interesting I always thought it was just to make it run better at varying rpm.

[@srenjensen3817]

@@AlwaysBored123 We are both sort of right. "a few reasons why a car has ignition timing: Power and Efficiency: Ignition timing helps maximize the power produced by the combustion process and increases the overall efficiency of the engine. If the spark occurs too early or too late, the engine won't be able to extract as much energy as possible from the fuel, which can lead to lower power output and reduced fuel efficiency. Preventing Engine Damage: Proper ignition timing also helps prevent engine damage. If the spark occurs too early (advanced timing), the combustion process can begin while the piston is still compressing the air-fuel mixture, resulting in a condition called "knocking" or "detonation." This can potentially cause severe damage to the engine. On the other hand, if the spark occurs too late (retarded timing), the combustion process may still be occurring while the exhaust valve is open, leading to wasted fuel and potential damage to the exhaust valve and other parts. Emission Control: Correct ignition timing also helps reduce harmful exhaust emissions. Advanced or retarded timing can result in incomplete combustion, leading to higher emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants. Adapting to Different Operating Conditions: Modern vehicles often use a system called variable ignition timing. This system adjusts the ignition timing based on different operating conditions like engine load, engine temperature, and RPM to ensure optimal performance and efficiency at all times." Source: chatGPT. Before ignition timing, lead was added, but lead fumes ALWAYS cause brain damage.

[@fixit4182]

What a cool channel, subscribed

[@AlwaysBored123]

Hey thanks man.

[@johnhicks735]

Have you ever used slime inside of riding lawnmower tires before? It seals the cracks up.& Stops them from leaking to.

[@AlwaysBored123]

I've tried that in skid steer tires before with little success. The only good flat repair I've found is a tube or a new tire.

[@localcrew]

I have a Dixie Chopper from around ‘99 and there’s a sticker on it that says “NO SMART SPARK!” That’s how much that system sucked.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Bahahaha are you serious?!! That's hysterical lol. Good old Dixie Chopper.

[@localcrew]

@@AlwaysBored123 I shit you not. I had no idea what it even meant until I read somewhere how horrible Kohler’s Smart Spark system was. Guessing that the Dixie boys weren’t taking any chances.

[@garywebb4265]

Got anymore of those free zero turn mowers I like to get a couple of them to fix up

[@ryanaustin-11]

I had one of these with a three cylinder diesel it was much slower than my Toro that I have now and also didn’t have any more power either the cooling fan would never turned on when it was supposed to I could have bought 2 60in toro’s for what it cost used🙄

[@AlwaysBored123]

That's interesting I didn't know Hustler ever put a diesel in these. It's a shame they didn't do a good job by the sound of it.

[@ryanaustin-11]

They didn’t. I don’t think anyway. it was a cub Cadet motor

[@melvincapps5975]

Yeah that's the wise thing to do and the first thing to do yep but who would know

[@dbaker3264]

Lost here, since should have stated with just checking valve clearances, since if gap too wide, will not allow compression release to work, and will cause engine to act like seized. From there, pull fly wheel to check that key is not sheared, since could have been something hit to slow down motor, and flywheel can shear key as it tries to keep spinning at old speed. Once that is out the way, then compression test, which will tell you if there is something up with cylinders/rings/crank main worn out.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Good advice, but the previous owner told me the engine seized while it was running. And based on the horrendous noises and lack of power im 99% sure it threw a rod or had some other major mechanical failure. Next time I will open it up and look through.

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

👍👌👏

[@trentspight3027]

725cc on mustang zero turn, needs one .

[@melvincapps5975]

Did you add some oil to it my friend

[@AlwaysBored123]

No I just checked it.

[@tomchappell7401]

Why didn't you use a pressure washer, some sanding disks, and spray paint while everything was apart?

[@AlwaysBored123]

I don't believe in paint.

[@jamiemullins9164]

The same push mower 3.5 HP all lawn mower had to be change parts that you had big one it cost lot of money change parts but if you had small push mower will not cost it cheap cost for the parts change new parts

[@knighthawk86855]

Should do a dig in video on the old engine and check what's wrong with it.

[@AlwaysBored123]

I should have but I scrapped it already.

[@wcovey25]

You need to be using a face shield or welding hood with grinding mode with an angle grinder. Angle grinders are insanely dangerous to use the way you did, just saying. I'm sure you'll read this and think I'm a safety karen but generally no, there are just certain things you don't fuck around with, angle grinders are one of them.

[@AlwaysBored123]

I usually do wear one with bigger grinders but that little 4" doesn't have enough power to get through a pair of safety glasses if the wheel disintegrates.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I guess you know that rig'll never run right because you GREASED it. It'll be in a state of shock for days and it sounded like the other motor was just running off of 1 out of 2. I like Kohler engines but not so much the new ones. They had a run of bad cams like GM did years back. No lobes or worn out lobes, rather. I like a zero turn but not enough to buy one. I mowed a lot with a Cub Cadet commercial about like that one and it did fine but I try and never run things hammered. I have particular ways. Good fix and I have to hang my feet out the door opening on a small trackhoe too. Blessings

[@AlwaysBored123]

Lol the replacement engine didn't run good either until it warmed up completely. After mowing with a zero turn I'm too spoiled to use anything else. Thanks for watching.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@AlwaysBored123 The opposed Vanguard is like that but a lot worse with the lean jetted OEM carb. I Ebayed an adjustable jet carb and it runs smooth now without surging. The Ebay carb was out of a marine application. And I'm in no rush and the floating deck on the Craftsman cuts like a rug.

[@altonrowell613]

I would have beat the dents out of the engine guard.

[@AlwaysBored123]

That's too much work lol.

[@altonrowell613]

@@AlwaysBored123 ok I just thought it would look a lot better.

[@altonrowell613]

@@AlwaysBored123 what about using a press.

[@AlwaysBored123]

@@altonrowell613 That would've been considerably less work than a hammer as thick as that plate was. I just didn't care enough about how it looked to bother with it tbh.

[@XPFTP]

ok got me lost . why would they run 12v off the rectifer to the starter.. ???? that would be on all the time then ..

[@AlwaysBored123]

It runs to the big terminal on the starter solenoid which is connected directly to the positive battery terminal. The starter motor doesn't actually activate until it gets power at the little terminal on the solenoid when you turn the key switch to "start."

[@TheDylonias]

I’m not a fan of the algorithm either it’s crazy it took a year for this video to find me

[@hotrodgavin6543]

sounds like the engine was running on 1 cylinder i'd bet money you had a bad coil kohlers smart spark system sucks

[@AlwaysBored123]

It was worse than just no spark. The way it was clattering and clanging makes me think it had a broke rod or maybe dropped valve. I should have opened the old engine up to see but I scrapped it a while back.

[@mikespain8655]

You don't scrap Kohler Command Pro engines unless they are too far gone. Great solid engine. Take the back protector guard of the mower, and best it straight with a 3 pound hsmmer.

[@AlwaysBored123]

@@mikespain8655 Eh. I tried selling the old engine as a core for about a month and had next to no interest so I just scrapped it. Would have been cool to rebuild it but I just needed it out of the way more than anything. I ended up selling the mower too so the new owner can worry about un-smashing the bumper lol.

[@Bass.Player]

How much is a used motor?

[@AlwaysBored123]

Just depends. I want to say I paid $250 for that Kohler Command. I see comparable Briggs and Stratton v twins listed for considerably less than that and Kawasakis for a bit more.

[@Bass.Player]

@@AlwaysBored123 Thanks, where do you find these motors?

[@AlwaysBored123]

@@Bass.Player Facebook marketplace 99% of the time.

[@HipaParts]

Very informative video about zero-turn lawn mower dignosis and repair. Are you up for a collaboration by the way? Hipa supplies small engine parts and we are looking for youtubers to work with to share more tips on small engine repair and with your knowledge, we can help more DIYers.

[@AlwaysBored123]

Not at this time but thank you for the interest.

[@anthonytriolo3643]

You should have put some oil to the mark before you do more damage.

[@AlwaysBored123]

I should have put sand in it and ran it wide open until it threw the other rod. Oh well.

[@xcalibre222]

Not a big fan of Kohler engines. 🤔

[@AlwaysBored123]

I like them but I like Kawasaki's more. Although I've never liked how hot Kohler's run for some reason.

[@philliphall5198]

Sounds terrible, knocking bad, maybe he will blow it up