Someone Threw Away A Good Toro Lawn Mower

[@1903bretep]

I am constantly amazed by the amount of good stuff that gets thrown out in the US, here in the UK you can ride round as long as you like but I doubt you would ever find a mower in that condition left out with the trash.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know it's unbelievable right.

[@nicklutz61]

That's a lucky find! Great lawn mower, great video. Almost 65K subs... lots of hard work paying off.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you googlyahoo, I appreciate it.

[@soundman6241]

Was it a lucky find? They threw it away ,late at night, from inside their garage, while they slept. That's what I heard!😂

[@mjg263]

The best series of Toro consumer grade mowers IMO (short of the Super Recyclers of course). I love these older models, especially with the Tecumseh LV195EA engine. We really had it good through the 2000’s! You won’t find those decks flexing and cracking after a few years like the cheap tin cans they make now.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, I miss the 2000's stuff too, when compared to the stuff now, thank you mjg263.

[@Dhalin]

I bought a Bolens just a couple months ago and its deck seems fairly solid. It has a B&S engine on it, and so far it's been working good. I tend to not like mowers with self-propulsion, I know people like em but eh. I prefer mowers with the wheels tighter in close to the deck to make it easier to get a close mow up against trees and other obstacles.

[@mjg263]

@@Dhalin yes, I totally agree with you. For a trimming mower or a smaller yard I find that self propelling gets in the way and can be cumbersome. The Bolens plastic front piece can be problematic after time because of the plastic “fingers” underneath holding the front wheel axle in place (just had to fix one last week) but they are fine for what they are and there is a fix for it. The cheap tin can flexing mowers I was referring to are the newer Toro Recyclers. I have a pile of them in my garage with cracked decks for the scrap man. The steel they use is so thin now they crack under the chute and the deck springs out. Even if you try to weld them the deck is already sprung and it’s never the same (plus there are usually other cracks already forming). It’s a shame how tinny they are now compared to the great older ones!

[@jimamerica7419]

agreed! I still have my super recycler from 1999. B & S engine. Almost threw it out (well maintained). Some small fixes and it is back to running great.

[@hotdogsarepropaganda]

I worked at a small engine repair shop and hardware store, I can tell you all recyclers flex and break. that was the number 1 reason a customer had to replace these, the engine ws fine, the stamped steel deck rusts, flkexes and breaks. its a 10- year top mower.

[@deebee3901]

Great looking mower - fantastic that it can be fixed and reused! I'd love one myself.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Dee Bee.

[@gamewizard1760]

Tecumseh has been out of the small engine business for 16 years. What parts are still out there will dry up soon enough, and then what will you do?

[@trainmaster0217]

How in the heck do you find these mowers? I've been looking for years and have yet to find one.

[@TecumsehRulesbcserk]

I think you are right about it possibly being hydrolocked by the oil, by the way it’s smoking you can tell it’s just burning off leftover oil and it’s not oil escaping past the rings. The six horse Tecumseh snow king I have is so old that the float is made of brass instead of plastic which really shows how far these carburetors have come.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes I remember those float, I prefer the plastic ones.

[@hunter7476]

@@HomeGaragechannel the brass flavors I’ve seen get gas in them causing improper float level and need to be replaced by the plastic one to prevent this issue from happening

[@googleusergp]

The brass replacement floats are still available through many suppliers, including Rotary, Stens and Oregon.

[@timtoro244]

Thanks!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Tim Toro, I appreciate the Super Thanks, It means a lot to me.

[@MrSHAUNE55]

That's a great find, looks really nice. I always use my leaf blower to dry them after a wash.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a good idea, thank you MrSHAUNE55

[@Turningwrenches85]

Always surprised to see a mower thrown out in good shape and it took very little effort to get back useful again and how much great shape it is in for that early/ late 2000s Toro

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right it's a nice one for sure

[@STho205]

You went right to the problem most owners create with a Tecumseh carb. The lower bowl nut with the passage....a super easy 5 minute fix. Leave gas in it all winter, and you get sediments in the bottom that plugs that passage. Run it dry every fall and you seldom have a problem.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are correct.

[@mauricioserna4934]

Great job! The mower looks brand new.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thanks 👍

[@williamsnow1531]

A new record for the wheel turning!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know it was pretty long, but then again, it was one of the larger wheels.

[@revelationhomestead1776]

Awesome find bub. I'm sure it will be a blessing for someone. Great troubleshooting info as always.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you JC Family Homestead.

[@willyhoogs]

Found a john deere self propelled this year for free. The blade was loose... had fresh gas and oil just the same. Fixed up the other little issues and now have a fantastic mower I'm proud of.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice work!

[@Mr.NiceGuy80]

I just got finished turning one of these into a Radio Controlled mower. It is excellent for my woods line and my slope. I use it for the rest of my yard too. It's on my channel.

[@watermanone7567]

They could not start it with the plugged jet. Most people have no mechanical ability and it is just easier to buy a new one or an electric one that I can't stand. Thanks, that was an excellent video.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you make a Great point thank you Waterman one.

[@garyalensr]

Woooow that is In excellent shape. I agree with other commenters, who ever put it out didn't know how to fix it. I absolutely love the idea of giving it to a church. That would be a super generous donation. Like I said on your other videos, you have some seriously awesome luck👍👍👍

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Gary Allen. I appreciate it.

[@u.e.u.e.]

What a nice mower, even propelled! 😃👍

[@HomeGaragechannel]

You got that right!

[@unclebs4732]

Looks like a keeper to me, looks and runs very good .

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Uncle BS.

[@fastandfuriouslawnandlawnc1514]

wow looks brand new nice find nice work to

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thanks 👍 I appreciate it.

[@JCT442]

I taught HS for 23 years; you'd be surprised to know what the locals dropped off at night just to get rid of stuff. They continued that practice until we installed surveillance cameras at the dumpsters... had this mower been equipped with a Quantum it wouldn't have been dumped; if someone did dump a Quantum then that calls for arrest!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

lol.! I like your comment Justin Trabocco, thank you for making me chuckle today.

[@jeffreybrianring6392]

Great job, runs super great.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you jefferybrian Ring.

[@dwaynecollins4974]

I have to agree they probably overfilled it when they did their maintenance, quite possibly not understanding the specifics of certain things on engines. The gas look good and the oil was obviously brand new so between that jet being plugged up and overfilling the oil they probably figured that they broke it hahaha hey it's the score for somebody out there that doesn't have one!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I think you're on to something, although they put a lot of effort into getting rid of it.

[@jesterr7133]

You would be surprised why people throw away mowers. Well....probably not. I got that old Craftsman mower with the kill switch issue from a guy that had had it sitting in his back yard for several years. It quit running, and he just pushed it into the corner of the yard and abandoned it. When I got it several years later, I had it running in about fifteen minutes. I gave it a quick carb clean, and it ran like a champ. Unfortunately, it is really weathered from sitting outdoors, but it ran great before the kills switch issue.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

to be honest the reasons why they were given away are the interesting part

[@lewiemcneely9143]

That one doesn't compute with me either but am sure glad you got it. With all of my stuff there is NO doubt why I got it for free or very little. It doesn't take a good look for the tale to be told BUT all of them run fine and mow like a carpet but that one did clean up like new. GREAT JOb and BLESSINGS 2 U!.

[@mikes9571]

Great job saving this from the heap. At our local dump on any given day you will see 25-30 of what appear to be decent mowers and riders. People are actually paying to rid themselves of these machines. I would imagine that many of them are a good carb cleaning away from running again. Of course, you can not purchase them from the dump. Someone could actually make a decent living on refurbishing them.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are correct and it's a shame but I'm guessing it's because of liability issues.

[@Amedeus1756]

I got the same identical lawn mower sitting in my shed but not as new as this one, it served me well for a few years but then I noticed thru the years that the flywheel key kept breaking very easily by simply hitting the side of my concrete slab or a pebble under the deck I just gave up on it and got me a Honda.I still keep hitting the slab and pebbles but the Honda just keeps on starting.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

do you not edge before you mower?

[@Amedeus1756]

@@HomeGaragechannel I do my edging with my weed eater, the Toro if you keep it at the lower level on the height adjuster the flywheel key seem to break more often than usual (like I was saying above)if you hit something not like the Honda and I do keep it at the lowest level.

[@1thinkhealthy]

Thy probably didn't know how to fix it. Wouldn't it be funny if the mower was put out there by the school.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I think you're right.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

No shop classes anymore.

[@eathans_small_engines8665]

Nah no schools use push mowers

[@eathans_small_engines8665]

@@Jim-ie6uf mine got rm

[@1thinkhealthy]

@@eathans_small_engines8665 Yes they do along with riding mowers. They use them to get into least areas. As least around here. I watch them waiting to pick up my wife.

[@cmpphilip]

Simple reason for getting rid of this type of mower, location of the pull start. The handle mounted "safety start" is a shoulder killer, award pull angle can damage your shoulder, particularly if you are older. After doing just that my physical therapist told me I was not only case he had see. Generally early spring, wonder why? Only fix get an electric start. Cheers Phil

[@cmpphilip]

Make that awkward pull angle

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a very nice option to have

[@ronpost587]

Had a similar find many years ago. My wife worked at a small business that did their own cutting. I stopped in one day and the owner asked me if I wanted their mower. It was a Toro rear bagger with the cast aluminum deck. He said it wouldn't start and would kick back and backfire when they would try. I took it home and after taking the blower housing off I could see the flywheel key was bent and the flywheel shifted several degrees. So for the cost of a flywheel key and an hour of my time I had a nearly new mower. I used it for nearly thirty years before the engine finally died for good. By the way I was a designer at Tecumseh engines and did the design for that pretty shroud on the engine.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

wow, nice mower you got there, thank you Ron Post.

[@scrapman502]

I find a lot of mowers around my neighborhood around summertime or early fall. They are hardly ever in that good of condition. The people around here always try to repair it themselves, which is why they get thrown out. I always find them in pieces or partially disassembled. I manage to salvage a few parts now an again which I use to repair others I find that are worth repairing.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

it's true, they are never in this good condition, most are used, and worn out.

[@gregreitan3634]

I've never bought a new mower, every spring I find mowers in the trash because people store them with ethanol fuel still in the tank and they are gummed up. An hour later after some carb cleaning they are running like new. Last one I found they filled it with fuel and the needle was stuck and it filled the cylinder with fuel, hydrolocked. Took it home pulled the plug and cleared the cylinder, cleaned the carb, like new!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice work!

[@googleusergp]

Same for me in 2019. My neighbor tossed out an MTD mower. I took it to my house, leveled out the oil (it was clean), put a new plug and air filter and pulled the cord (after freeing it) and it ran like new. I just used it two days ago. The neighbor still gives me an odd look when he's out walking his dog and he sees me using it. His answer was, "I didn't need it, bought an electric" to which my reply was, "Yup, everyone throws out a good gas mower to get an electric so they can throw it out in three years when the cost of a new battery exceeds the cost of the machine". LOL.

[@kdscrapping4452]

I do Curbside scrapping for a living, Find good running mowers all the time !! I have a 1400 Canadian dollar mower for sale as we speak that needed the carb cleaned, so I have it for sale myself!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice!

[@ChuckP25.]

Great job!!! Thanks for your efforts!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Chuck P.

[@marshmower]

It's always the same folks. Calling card is the missing plug. They have been down south as well.

[@hunter7476]

This mower because it has a tecumseh flathead engine means it was a pre 2010 machine also what cleaning products are you using to clean this it definitely looks nice now I really like how generous and caring you are for the needy who needs a mower

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Hunter 747 I'm using the degreaser from Harbor Freight

[@hunter7476]

@@HomeGaragechannel nice it sure did a good job

[@loborobertson7212]

Great video

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks!

[@rickthelian2215]

True, they could just list it or put on the kerb with a label free. In your advantage it had your name on it😀😀😀 Love the Tecumseh engines...😀 I was expecting it to be full of grass on the spindle, I was supervised too😉 It’s a keeper😀🇦🇺❤️ Like the mower I brought $25 Victa 2 Stroke 19 inch, didn’t start, perfect condition, 4 new blades, new carby parts, new champion spark plug as well, parts $80 retail can’t complain. I did get it started after a few tries but it died so I think it’s the needle in the carb is sticking so I need to order a new one cheap but will try the metal ones rather than the plastic ones.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

good luck with the mower.

[@williambray4134]

I've lived in an apartment for 18ish years now. I can't tell how many times I've seen people not living at the complex dump large items by the dumpsters. I'm guessing they don't want to pay a fee to get rid of these items.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you make a good point, but there really isn't a fee to get for a mower, just leave it by the curb, over night, and it's gone.

[@williambray4134]

@@HomeGaragechannel let me rephrase. Nobody likes to pay to get rid of stuff. There's plenty of low IQ individuals who can't figure out stuff will disappear if they put it out on the curb either.

[@andyhamilton8940]

Fellow firefighter just gave me same mower said transmission was bad. One of the pinion gears was on backwards!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

never heard that before. Usually they just wear out.

[@gamewizard1760]

As soon as I saw it was a Toro Recycler, I knew it was one of the ones with a Tecumseh engine. Good luck getting parts for it, now that Tecumseh has been out of the small engine business for 16 years.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

aftermarket is still supporting them, so not a real issue

[@nickpicc4425]

what do you use in your spray bottles to clean equipment? seems to work really well

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Nick picc, it's the degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Well done!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Jim

[@ImSrry4BeingWhite]

That cleaned up great. Where I live I could probably get $130 for it eventually. Or an easy $100 very quickly

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you, it did clean up great didn't it.

[@jct300m]

Looks like a well cared for, older mower..maybe original owner passed away & family did not want to deal with it...Got a good mower there!!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you make a good point.

[@jblue4786]

What spray are you using it works amazing

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I'm using the degreaser from harbor Freight, it's some of The best stuff, I've ever used.

[@scrapman502]

I found a similar looking lawnmower in a dumpster in front of a house down the other end of my street. It was along side another mower that was in pieces. This was a newer design mower that had a sticker on it boasting "never change your oil again" "Just Check and Add". Well, that's exactly what they did. every time they used the mower, they added a little more oil. They added so much oil, it hydro-locked. I removed the plug and pulled on the cord a bunch of times to clear out the oil. Amazingly, the mower started up and ran. Quite poorly, as it smoked so much. I dumped out about a quart of oil and then proceeded to mow my lawn with it. The smoking eventually stopped. The next day I ordered a new blade, and filter, gave it a proper oil change and emptied out the fuel. Now It runs Like new.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

wow very nice find!

[@lesswatt]

Everyone I know that's had Tecumseh mowers they seem to run forever. I know they have an odd carburetor connection and I've seen them leak oil from the top of the motor from the rubber plug that goes to a crankcase filter I think. But I don't understand why Tecumseh had a bad reputation. They seem to last longer than a lot of Briggs and Stratton engines especially the new ones.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

oh they're not that bad at all, they just need some getting used to.

[@googleusergp]

Because as I stated it's the "mechanics" that attempt to "fix" them that are the problem. Nothing wrong with a Tecumseh engine.

[@timewa851]

@@googleusergp had both. they can go 12+ years of heavy non-commercial use. But then they burn oil, (B&S), or toss a conrod right in your lawn. (Tecumseh). The Quantum seems to have solved B&S's problems. Have no idea who tweaked it but wow, what an engine. 2x better than any Tecumseh, or Briggs before it. Scary bulletproof. I thought the paper element filter was too automotive like, but it keeps the internals so clean, the Quantum I now use will probably outlive me. : (

[@googleusergp]

@@timewa851 Nah. I've had Tecumsehs that were from the curb that were over 15 years old when I got them. Who knows what care (if any) they got. Not one of them has ever been apart. I just do regular maintenance on them and once and a while a carburetor replacement, but that's about it.

[@STho205]

I have one thats 20yo. Last year Sears sold them before going Briggs. Runs great...even idle. The 20" newer 5yo briggs i have for another property...fast slow fast slow fast slow. I know it's that stupid diaphragm carb fuel paper thin tank gasket that pulls an air leak on one side, a design flaw they haven't addressed in 50 years.

[@cabman86]

I used to keep a pack of paper clips in my tool box just to clean out the carb jets.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

hmm.. I'll have to do that, thank you Roger Culver.

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Definitely a clean mower for me if I’m buying it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Growing Little Country homestead.

[@surrounded_by_blue6186]

Those toro mowers carbs are a pain to work on.

[@benrobles752]

It's a Tecumseh carburetor.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes they can be.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes it is.

[@ogbobbye]

one reason as to why someone would throw out a mower is they are moving. when my neighbor retired, she decided to sell her house and moved to an apartment not only her mower when to the curb but a snowblower trimmer and many other lawn and garden tools. she said she did need them and didn't want to have strangers coming to her house to buy them. even offer to let me take them if I wanted them. sometimes people's lifestyles change, and they simply no longer need the things they have.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

makes perfect sense.

[@briansutter7696]

Mower looks great, just wondering what you sprayed on mower to get it so clean, degreaser?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes it's a degreaser from Harbor Freight

[@aundreis]

👌Magnificent

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@docpalazola491]

Once again....great video from Home Garage. Does anyone think the mower was stolen...and they dumped it at the school?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

so far, I've gotten one comment about it possibly being stolen. However thieves aren't that motivated to try and leave it by the trash.

[@ChrisJones-qw7bn]

Looks like they tried to do a basic service to fix the clogged carb issue and never looked at the carb. Nice find and an EZ fix for anyone even minimially mechanically inclined.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are correct, looks like they did what they could

[@marshmower]

This is getting weird. Maybe check the rear view even though it was curbside. 01/26/06 on the fuel hose so it was probably assembled that spring. That's a survivor for a mower museum. Maybe sell a different one first

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I think, you'r on, to something

[@googleusergp]

Makes sense as I looked it up on the Toro website and the owner's manual has a date of 2005, so a 2006 manufacturing date of some components makes sense. Tecumseh went out of business around 2008, so it makes sense with the date coding.

[@shmiggz]

I'm guessing they gave up an bought a battery mower that will be trash in 5 years. Nice job fixing and cleaning it! I wonder how many other mowers were thrown away due to carb issues.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

plenty from what I've seen, and yes Battery is probably the next step. Thank you shmiggz.

[@markp.7165]

Last spring I found an older model Bolens push mower sitting out for the trash down the street so I picked it up. I am no mechanic but I saw a chance to make a few bucks so after draining the gas which was full of water and sharping the blade it was running and ready to sell. Sold it for $125 cash and yep I was happy. Come on honey let's go out to eat!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice work Mark P.

[@jonlambshead5115]

Good Video - It Amazes Me What Good Stuff People Will Throw out, They must Have Too Much Money ? What a Good Find. I personally Hate Working On Greasy/Dirty Machines. I Will Do The Same, Wash It First. It Is Much Better To Work On & You Don't Get Filthy From All The Grease. I Always Wash Customers Machines Before Working On Them And Give Them A Quick Wash Before They Go Back To The Customer.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

who know why they tossed it the way the did, at least I was able to fix it.

[@timskylark]

I got one out of the trash your 4 years ago it's a electric start Toro personal Pace and still starting up on the second Pole every time I go to use it it's a shame how no one knows how to fix anything anymore they just throw it away and go buy another and the only thing that was the wrong with the one that I got out of the trash bad gas

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you Tim

[@LivingLife128]

picked up one just like that. put a new carb on it . figured out why they tossed it . the pull assembly kept breaking and hard to pull. i figured out the decompression valve was bad or the valves were bad not activatiing it. not worth the time or effort to tear it apart and fix it. on a good day they only bring 60 to 90 dollars for these. stripped it for parts and left it out and it was gone in a couple of hours

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice use of the parts, thank you Whyme123

[@mikey_likes_it_]

I found the exact same mower on the curb in pristine condition. Ran great too! I wondered why, but whatever. Easy $100 😃

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes you are correct, easy money.

[@paulburns3788]

Hello Home garage how are you doing I think they don't know how to fix it or just don't care about it anymore

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I think you're right Paul Burns, thanks for your time.

[@rogercamp6071]

I fixed up one just like that that even had the bagger on it once I ironed out the bugs it ran great,ended up selling it to someone.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice work.

[@tommclaughlin1041]

Bicycle chain oil for the wheels. Doesn't attract dirt.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

ah thank you for the information

[@thomascaulfield9277]

i find this a lot in the uk ,there are a lot of get rich quick mechanics who are ripping people of so when their mower chainsaw or whatever next plays up the just dump it and buy a cheap one with 12 month warranty on it ,making it impossible to make a living put of repairs

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I see what you mean by that. thank you Thomas Caulfield.

[@ricklloyd320]

What ratio did you mix the degreaser to water? I just picked up a gallon of the cleaner and it's some pretty strong stuff. Thanks, I enjoy your videos!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

full strength! no mixing

[@zhannawilliams4040]

And also, what is that spray stuff you used to clean the wheels. It looked like it worked really good!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks, it's the only degreaser Harbor Freight carries

[@robertgoss4842]

Excellent video. I too am baffled why someone would pitch it, AND go to needless extra effort to do so. I suggest it was a family member, perhaps acting on behalf of a very senior grandparent, and at the behest of a group of other family members. Of course, he couldn't just set the mower on the curb where Grandpa would see it. Hence, a late-night drop-off at a dumpster far from Grandpa's neighborhood. That seems to hold water.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thats makes sense, thank you Robert Goss.

[@shelldwell331]

I'm getting to the age where the 25 YO L head is leaving my back a little sore. I have a light weight TB110 trash mower in the closet. Who would buy a self propelled walker?

[@pacmanmespacman1056]

Hey what was you spraying on it when you was washing it just wondering so I can buy the same spray 🤯

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I was spraying a degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@pacmanmespacman1056]

@@HomeGaragechannelok thanks bro 👍

[@Jay-be1xk]

I live in the uk and id love to have a toro mower

[@HomeGaragechannel]

So they don't sell them there then?

[@Jay-be1xk]

@@HomeGaragechannel yeah they sell them but hard to get one. i use one at work and one thing for sure they are fast and id love to have one

[@WApnj]

Should have lubed the bowl gasket with silicone grease. Prevents that corrosion on the aluminum bowl....

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a good idea.

[@artillerest43rdva7]

amazing how clean it turned out. what did you use to clean it? I have a What i think is a toro with a honda motor. not sure will have to go over it. and double check it. and write the numbers down.nice video.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks, I'm using a degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@Corvette1658]

That mower is really in very good shape for its age.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you're right about that.

[@eathans_small_engines8665]

@@stellarproductions8888 mines got surface rust on the bottom

[@joshbrotski6538]

Hello I am wondering what you used as a cleaner and polish to get this mower looking like brand new. Specifically the stuff you sprayed on the wheels I can never get my plastic wheels to look like that. Thank you

[@HomeGaragechannel]

the cleaner I used, was a degreaser from Harbor Freight. It's the best stuff I've used. As for the shining part, I'll keep that to myself but if you go into the car care aisle it will have everything you need to get the deck looking good!

[@joshbrotski6538]

@@HomeGaragechannel was the degreaser used on the wheels as well?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

oh sorry about that, yes it was.

[@TheDronzDr]

I noticed that it was a Tecumseh engine. Their carburetors are really finicky To work on but are good carburetors.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you're right about that. thank you The Drone Dr

[@mariocestra1156]

Great job as usual. What do you use when degreasing in your spray bottle. Thank you

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no problem and thank you, I use a degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@InTexasMatt]

What are you using for the spray cleaner? Nice mower!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you InTexasMatt, I'm using the degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@kfreshdrip3496]

My dad said his mower is smoking from the carburetor side. The mower is a troy bilt tb110

[@HomeGaragechannel]

on this mower, the carb and exhaust are on the same side.

[@kfreshdrip3496]

Im talking about the troy bilt. have you ever ran into this issue

[@HomeGaragechannel]

sure, the oil was overfilled.

[@badeadrian]

You should put some paint at the bottom...at least will stop the rust for a while and then grass from sticking to the rusty metal

[@HomeGaragechannel]

hmm... I've thought about it.

[@Dhalin]

They likely gave it away because of the bowl bolt issue; the mower stopped running, they replaced the fuel, perhaps accidentally overfilled the oil and couldn't figure out why the mower wouldn't run and said 'aww screw it" and put the mower by the dumpster at the school figuring someone with technical know-how would figure it out and fix it up. that, and there's a huge push towards electric mowers lately. I wanted to replace an old 2-stroke Lawn Boy (that I could not get to start whatsoever) that the family was using and when I went to buy a mower, it was electric this, electric that. I just wanted a simple small lightweight 4stroke no bells or whistles mower. Luckily I eventually found a Bolens at Lowe's, just like the old mowers I used to use when I was a kid and just as I thought, it mows like a champ, even difficult slopes and extremely thick and heavy overgrowth if you do it right.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that makes sense

[@Mike-su8si]

I got one of those for free to before and fixed it in a month then sold it for $40 there wasn't nothing wrong with it just a dirty carburetor and air filter and i put the engine on a better frame because its frame on the back was rotted out the guys still using the mower now I told him if you have any trouble with it just give me a call

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice work Mike.

[@AnnihilatingKaos2012]

Probably someone from an upper class neighborhood that would rather buy a new mower than spend any time fixing the old one. I got my husqvarna all wheel drive push mower from the curb of a nice home and the only thing wrong was a few seized idler pulleys and carburetor. All in all around $30 fix for a very well running mower.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you might be right.

[@danikmcintyre2068]

i picked up a lawn mower in the trash a few years back, give one pull on starter and it started right up, the only thing wrong with it was the belt on the self propel was snapped, 30$ later it works fine, we are a throw away society, people prefer to buy new rather than getting it fixed.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, it's a real shame.

[@jonnysnipes3123]

Actually the problem I had with fixing those mowers is the cover bolts would get so corroded that it was impossible to unscrew them out without them rounding out or stripping so I would have to split the cover case in half because you can’t acces the carb with the cover being in the way. That’s the only poor design of this mower other wise they tend to last a good 20 years being well taken care of

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes the cover bolts would collect any moisture and rust, and then get damaged when taking them off.

[@googleusergp]

I have at least 10-15 Tecumseh powered pieces of equipment, and most of them were from the "curbside store". What I find is that most times is that bad fuel is left in them. I'm running ones I picked up 10-15 years ago (meaning most are 25+ years old now) and they still run great with basic TLC. Tecumseh engines require clean air (air filter), clean fuel (carburetor) and clean and full oil. Do that and they run, run, run, run, run, run and run some more for years and years. They are excellent engines and very misunderstood. I'll bet that old fuel was left in it between seasons and then new fuel (what you saw in the tank) was added, and it ran for a few seconds and stopped. The person didn't know any better and discarded it. Tecumseh engines' problems can be summed up with this: It's not the engines that are the "problem", it's the "mechanics" that attempt to "fix" them that are the problem. Nothing like a Tecumseh engine and like their motto said at one time, "Better From The Start".

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you got that right, thank you Google User GP.

[@googleusergp]

@@HomeGaragechannel Just worked on one today, a 1996 Sears Craftsman mower with a 6.5 HP Tecumseh Vector. A new carburetor bowl and some TLC and the machine runs like new.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice work. what are your plans for it?

[@googleusergp]

@@HomeGaragechannel I've been using it since 2010 when I pulled it off the curb. It was made in 1996, it's an AYP made "917" model prefix Craftsman.

[@googleusergp]

@@HomeGaragechannel I haven't bought a lawn mower since 1992 and I still have that one I bought in 1992. I use whatever strikes me at the moment that I need to do a job (snow blow, edge, trim, mow the lawn, etc.).

[@kdrapertrucker]

Probably by a school employee, schools usually use commercial grade mowers.and they didn't have the know how to fix it, and it would cost more to get a repair shop to look at it then a new mower costs.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a good possibility

[@sferg9582]

Most homeowners don't know squat about small engines and it's sometimes easier to just buy another one than to clean the carb.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very true.

[@justinl9677]

I think they didnt store it properly, which gummed up the holes in the bowl nut. When they removed the bowl, they didnt get the orientation correct, causing the float to stick. Not knowing what to do next, they probably got rid of it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a great theory!

[@tonym6920]

What cleaning solution do you use, does a great job! 👍👍

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thank you Tony M. I use the degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@robertlovett8354]

Having trouble finding replacement bag and frames for mowers I work on any recommendations, Thanks!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

is it the same as the one in the video? If so, a new bag and Frame is over $100 on amazon.

[@jeffmuller1489]

This is the same model as my mower. I've had it for about 17 years and it runs pretty good. On start up and shut down, a noticable banging noise is happening. It's probably doing it the whole time, but it's not noticable when running at full speed. I moved the blade back and forth a few times to see if I could hear it but nothing.. any ideas? It seemed to start doing it after I reinstalled the blade after sharpening. I think it's torqued well enough, but I used an impact driver not a torque wrench.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

sure the cold be an issue with blade adaptor, and I would block the blade and use a torque wrench.

[@ENGINERESCUE86]

Cant believe someone threw that gem away

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, although it was pretty rough looking, when got it.

[@ENGINERESCUE86]

I like those old tecumseh engines. I have the lawn boy version of that we Use for my buddy's small grass cutting business

[@sticustom]

They probably thought it would cost to much to repair or the mower shop would give a massive repair quote so they simply bought a new one. Who knows unless you find and ask them.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you make a good point, repair bills like this would be quite high.

[@jimpark4600]

What are you using to clean with in the spray bottle? Purple Power?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I'm just using the bottle, to hold the degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@markmenezes2386]

Hi, just subscribed, and learning alot in general and just got my first Honda used , in great condition for 100 bucks!! But my question is this... what are you using that degreases every thing so quickly and when you wash it, is there anyharm in spraying down the mower with a light sparay of a hose like you have done? When im done i usually wash the under neath and from the motor base down. Am i doing any harm in spraying down the top where the pull cord area is ... Thank u.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks again, I'm using a degreaser from harbor Freight by most automotive degreaser will work. And to answer your question, its okay to spray water, anywhere you want except the muffler and where the air filter is .

[@markmenezes2386]

@@HomeGaragechannel great thanks!

[@jeffscott8323]

Got a free mower from a coworker he couldnt get running I got it running in less than 30 minutes. Strechted governor spring replaced primer bulb the guy I gave it to is still using it 6 years later

[@HomeGaragechannel]

very nice work

[@RajuBearings]

What type of cleaning chemical using please mention so to that we too use

[@HomeGaragechannel]

it's a degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@ConnorsLandscaping]

What cleaner do you use to clean the equipment

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I'm using the degreaser from harbor freight.

[@scottfirman]

I always clean any lawn mower I get before working on it and again before selling it. I think people are more apt to purchase a clean lawn mower over a messy mower. I always clean the deck and eather replace or the blade, change the oil and filter as needed. If someone wants to buy a crap lawn mower that's their problem. I prefer to sell a clean tuned mower that I know I can make a few extra dollars on resale.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I feel the same way, although I'd like to try to sell one, that wasn't clean, just to see, how the conversation goes.