McLane Edger Repair....too far gone...Briggs & Stratton 3.5 Hp L head tear down

[@whip-its_dad4239]

Thanks for the very interesting video , I hadnt seen that late of a model B&S engine taken apart . Sorry that some one took advantage of your kindness .

[@jamesbubnick]

It's ok...you win some and loose some. I ended up needing the carb/tank for another engine and in the end it all worked out. I've probably had 25 of this model engine and this was my only bad one to date!!! Even had one from 1968 that ran perfect after I rebuilt the carb, did the valves and changed the points to an electronic coil

[@whip-its_dad4239]

@@jamesbubnick Wow thats a lot of engines ! Still the video was helpful to me as I look for Mclane edgers to buy and sell . Right now im working on a Wisconsin AENL made in the 50s . Very interesting little engine .

[@jamesbubnick]

@@whip-its_dad4239 I’ve had good luck selling them…seems people know the name and want to buy them. Had a few little wonders and those were almost impossible to sell. Power trim are really nice too but the best is SCAG…sadly they are very hard to find.

[@gdawg3292]

I have a McLane edger also. 1986 vintage, Dad and I overhauled it about 20 yrs ago. Only work ever put into the engine. Put edger bearing sets in it a couple of times, and belts. That's all I've ever done to it. Still works great!!!

[@inigomontoya6806]

I recently bought two used McLane edgers that needed little work, which is good since I know little. I did learn that there are a number of shysters out there, but I was surprised how much time and effort yours put into that edger. Next time I will know at least to use cardboard. Good video and please post more.

[@jamesbubnick]

In the last 6 months I've probably bought 30+ pieces of equipment and this is the first time I've been cheated. However....I still made out ok, I used the fuel tank/carb/cylinder head on a power trim that had a rusted tank and the tank alone is over 75. I sold the carb for just under 40 and will sell a few other parts and at least break even. Win some and loose some...If you are looking for an edger I'd say Power Trim's are better, Little Wonder are great quality but parts are a pain to buy.

[@DerpaDerpaDooo]

Thanks for the autopsy on that engine. I just bought a used Mclane edger and it was also junk. sucks when people sell junk like this

[@jamesbubnick]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. The nice thing on McLane's are parts are easy to find, Power trim are better but much harder to find parts. Little wonder are great but you have to go through a dealership.

[@thethirstymoose]

I recently bought two edgers, from ebay..they were junk..and I knew it, I bought for the frame, I put $400 into it, cleaned it up painted it unique colors...and sold it for $700..it was better then new really

[@jamesbubnick]

Nice!!! I've bought almost every brand now, McLane, Power Trim, Kee, Scag, Ariens, Gravely and Little Wonder. The McLane's and Power Trim's sold quickly but the Little Wonders and Kee I almost had to give away. It was painful....today I picked up a Ariens with a Subaru SP17 or EX17 motor that's been sitting so needs a carb rebuild and paid $100. I love the Subaru motors and don't know if I'll sell it or keep the motor for something.

[@homemadevehicles.]

so nice video!

[@jamesbubnick]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm trying to find equipment that needs repair and post often. I'm working on a billy goat leaf vac that sat for 5+ years and should have it finished soon :).

[@sgtJOOSEcapeS]

Dang you move fast BUB 😂 ... Broke that down in no time...get that 85$ back from part's dawg

[@jamesbubnick]

Haha...well it was junk so I didn't want to waste too much time on it. I was lucky and needed the carb/fuel tank/engine head a few weeks later to fix an older Briggs motor of the same style that had a rotted out fuel tank.

[@jonathancall9967]

Did it smoke when it ran?

[@brianandrews7099]

McLane edgers are tanks! This one was abused … or maybe it was made from two that were really abused … and the previous owner(s) did some hack repairs in the past. Honestly, if someone who know and cared about what they were building had built one out some good used parts, I’d be ok with it because they are that good. Don’t be afraid of McLane edgers, though … a cared for example can last generations! But, this is a good example of what too often happens with used machines with good reputation and that are desirable. People after assume that since they are high quality machines then they are worth buying and will work fine without throughly checking them out. If the price seems too good, they jump on them because they think they might miss out on a great deal. Clearly, $80 would have been better spent on a cheaper brand machine in better condition. I would take a nice, one owner, always serviced, garage kept Chevy Cavalier over an abused, wrecked and repaired, flood car Toyota any day! Just be careful … they just love to separate you from your money!

[@jamesbubnick]

They are good units and last a long time. I still few power trim are way better and the best I’ve ever had are scag edgers.

[@reidwilson7477]

I am working on getting a McLean edger running and found the down tube out of the carb (fuel line) broke- do you know where I can buy just the down tube / fuel line line?

[@jimamerica7419]

Who ever had this before you rode this hard and put it away raw. Usually, these things are built like mini tanks. This is what I was told by power equipment dealer. Mine is about 8 years ago and is still like new. I only change the oil. Too bad this is wrecked. Hang onto it use it as a project rebuild. You might be able to get the parts really cheap. That is the incorrect blade for this machine.

[@jamesbubnick]

I ended up trying to sell the frame but needed room and scrapped it(I hate doing that but only so much I can hang onto). I was at a local dealership today and I couldn't believe the McLane with a briggs was 600 and the Honda was 900, Their good machines but for that price I'd buy a power trim...heck you can find a great condition walk behind edger with a little bit of work for anywhere from 100-300

[@kennethlowe6337]

I'd go to harbor freight and get a 6.5 hp predator engine they use all honda parts

[@jamesbubnick]

The are good motors for the cost, fine for any homeowner but not the same as a Honda. Then again a homeowner doesn't need a Honda GX quality motor....

[@rickjames6948]

Those HF engines are made in CHINA with CHINESE parts. It has NOTHING to do with Honda other than the Chinese copied the engine design. No Honda parts are used.

[@jamesbubnick]

@@rickjames6948 100% right, too many people think they are the same, the metal quality, tolerances, durability is not the same. I've spent 3 years throughout China in hundreds of factories and most people don't get the differences in quality. I'm by no means a harbor freight fan(I own nothing from harbor freight) but if you're not using a machine much and don't know how to clean a carb or do small repairs at the price shops charge I get why people use predator motors.

[@brianandrews7099]

The Predators are Chinese copies of Honda engine designs. They aren’t bad motors at all but closer to modern Briggs quality than Honda, if taken care of and not abused. they would do fine in this edger … but, if the frame on this McLane is trashed/broken and has that many broken, worn, or missing parts, I probably would not spend any more time or money on it. Chalk it up to educational expenses and move on. HF is good for cheap specialty tool that you need now and probably will never use again, trying out an expensive tool on the cheap to see if you like using it before investing real money into buying a “real” one, and tools for light duty.

[@jamesbubnick]

@@brianandrews7099 for sure, this frame was made from a few units and if you search online you can find nicer units for a little more money. This worked out for me because I needed the carb and fuel tank for another unit so it was a wash.

[@MobileGamer-qd8oi]

Do you happen to know the part number for the carburetor?

[@jamesbubnick]

I don't know it. I usually look up part numbers buy going to parts tree and then using the model/type/code. I belive this carb is discontinued. I remember purchasing a rebuild kit but I think if it's too far gone you might have to get an aftermarket.