The JUNKIEST MOWERS I've Ever Seen! ...can we FIX them?

Now comes the two trashiest, junkiest mowers I've ever gotten off the curb. Both are Troy-Bilt. One has severe deck rot and a non-running engine. The other has an engine that is skipping timing. The cam gear seems to have a mind of its own and skips timing inexplicably. Can we fix either of these mowers? Can we fix BOTH? Stay tuned until the end of the video to find out.
#repair #restoration #mechanic
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[@Fixologist1]

NOTE: In the video, I assume the timing of the cam gear and timing gear has gotten off; however, as many keen viewers have pointed out, the timing ratio between those two gears is 2:1. This being a 4-stroke engine, that stands to reason, as the pison has to travel up and down 4x per cycle of the cam gear. In a 2-stroke, the ratio would be 1:1. So the timing being off by 180 degrees means the timing was being thrown off elsewhere. In this case, I now believe the flywheel key had probably sheared off and the firing time was shifting as I pulled the starter cord.

[@kevinsands6769]

First thing you check when the cord wants to rip out of your hand is the timing pin in the top of the flywheel. It's a 10 minute fix.

[@brainndamage]

The cam timing was good when you took it apart. If you rotated the crank 360 degrees you would have seen the two marks align. You can see the cam was 180 degrees off, but that's correct too because they're geared 2:1 so there are actually two correct timing positions for the cam exactly 180 degrees apart. The problem was more likely a rusty valve not seating which is what that backfire through the intake was, actually leaking compression. The other possibility being ignition timing due to a sheared flywheel key. You know that if you have lubricated threads and are torqueing to a spec for a dry thread, you need to only torque to 70% (about 30% less) or you will overtighten the bolt.

[@brainndamage]

Even the 2nd time you took it apart it was correct. Rotate the crank 360 degrees and you'd see it's correct. The pulling the cord away from your hand and running backwards are symptoms of ignition timing (flywheel), not cam timing.

[@Fixologist1]

I went back to count the teeth on the gears and FFS, you're right. It's 2:1, not the 1:1 ratio I had thought.

[@bertgrau3934]

​@@Fixologist1 If it was 1:1, it would be a 2 stroke engine. That would be interesting to see if you could make a small engine run as a 2 stroke. Very doubtful.

[@Fixologist1]

Yep. Exactly. Totally my bad on that one. Glad I got set straight though. Won't happen again. @@bertgrau3934

[@phil36135]

Good job, you had a lot of work on that one.

[@phil36135]

Very nice work, it looks and runs like a new mower. The engine seems like it has not been ran very much. I would save that trashed motor, if nothing else they are lots if parts nuts and bolts. And it probably still fixable if parts are affordable. One more thing, these gas powered mowers and equipment may be hard to come by in the not so distant future. thanks again for the videos and giving this equipment another life.

[@paultopolski1978]

Hey Brad, you might want to look into investing in some Heli coils to fix the stripped threads. It beats junking an engine because you have a stripped thread. You can pick up an 8MM Heli coil kit for around 35 bucks. This includes the insertion tool and tap, sometimes even the correct drill bit. When you run out of the inserts provide all you need to do is buy more inserts for a few dollars. It only takes a few minutes to repair and the repaired threads are stronger than the originals. They work especially good in aluminum. FYI, Heli coil is a brand name, there are many different manufacturers of thread inserts.

[@bretthibbs6083]

the flywheel key has sheared that's why the timing keeps going off and I know probably you figured that out already but that's the only logical reason why it keeps losing time. Or it could be what you said about the timing gear I don't think it should spin like that on the crankshaft like it does.

[@Fixologist1]

Why would the flywheel key cause the timing gear and the cam gear to go off from each other? I don't see how that could be it.

[@bretthibbs6083]

@@Fixologist1the only thing i can think of if that if the crank is slipping at the flywheel due to the key being possibly sheared part ways it could possibly happen but not sure. Or the timing gear key is worn and to me it look like the timing gear is fitting kinda loose to me anyways. I'm not an expert by any means I'm just brainstorming like you.

[@TheGuitologist]

I'm with ya. I mulled all this over for the longest time too and for the life of me, I still can't figure it out.@@bretthibbs6083

[@Fixologist1]

Turns out you were right. The internal timing wasn't off, had to be the flywheel key. Good call!@@bretthibbs6083

[@bretthibbs6083]

awesome and thank you .@@Fixologist1

[@KaelynDreyer]

The key is broken. It shouldn’t be a two piece short key.

[@RyeOnHam]

I've worked on a few jacked up engines. Toss the good parts on the spares pile and the bad parts in the scrap pile. Aluminum pays pretty well. Really annoying when people hide problems, even on free or 'junk' mowers. Most of the time around here, the Junk ones are just small problems.

[@bebop425]

But what happened to the wheelbarrow?

[@waynestefinashen239]

A lengthy one but enjoyed your anguish. I believe there was nothing wrong but would have checked the flywheel key first. Additionally it could have been a stuck valve but the engine swap was the way to go from the start.

[@chrissullivan40]

Still don’t understand why the mower blade just fell off like it wasn’t even tightened.

[@Fixologist1]

The firing timing being off meant the blade got spun backwards really fast and it unthreaded the bolt.

[@shartne]

Cool I been working on a Honda mower. Cleaned the carb it dont run. LOL I may need carb parts?

[@jeffblackwell5493]

Brad thanks for including everything successes and failures. Many Tubers don't do that so those of us that fail think something is wrong with us.

[@Jonathan-tn7id]

Love the fact that’s it’s some late night mower pickup as if it’s a taboo art of mower hookery 😅

[@joehatch1602]

Brad you are so right about that heat in the Midwest. I'm originally from California and couple years ago moved to Oklahoma. Its so hot and humid here compared to California north coast. At least gas and housing is affordable around here but I do miss that California coast weather.

[@tyschmidt7404]

Great job You should play a guitar or drums at the end of these videos too

[@phil36135]

timing gear is slipping on the shaft. new timing gear is probably in order. I havent watched till end, but I think thats your problem.plastuc timing gears has given trouble from the beggining.

[@marshallborder9089]

It stinks I know the different shaft size has happened too me too ,

[@contrabandjoe7974]

The blade/shaft mechanism concerns me. That's an awful lot of RPM'S to spin that blade off and kill somebody

[@majurbludd]

I agree I would have just gotten a different blade adaptor. But once that blade adaptor is torqued down, its probably fine. I actually turned 2 broken mowers into one working mower this summer. Getting the right blade adaptor took some educational guessing but I did get it right the first time.

[@chrispappas6188]

Use a soldering iron for the tank I did it with my gas can it worked great

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Welcome to the new era of plastic gears, even plastic camshafts.

[@Fixologist1]

This has been going on for 20 years. The "new era" is no gas engines at all and everything you buy is dead in 3 years.

[@darrellkelly7614]

Great shoes bro.

[@phil36135]

I like your boots they are bad to the bone. Was the sizing correct? And were can I order me a pair.

[@TheGuitologist]

In my case, the sizing was spot on. I wear 10.5 and that's what these are. Fit like a glove.

[@phil36135]

Thanks Im going to look for a pair

[@kevinsands6769]

A soldering iron and a black zip tie as filler rod makes a perfect plastic weld.

[@James-fu8fj]

Brad, you need to check the keyway under the on the flywheel first at your timing along with the cam gear too, but I would check the flywheel keyway first

[@larryfischer1970]

Hey Brad ,you sold those rear baggers yet? I got a spare rear bagger mulcher plug off a 90s Murrey ,may work, free if you want it.

[@Fixologist1]

You mean the one for the Honda I did recently? Those sold.

[@peterdavies5358]

Surely if the metal cog rotates by 1 turn the plastic one will rotate by half and the marks will be right? Nothing's slipped? If I'm right you put if off by 1 turn at the start and that might be why it went backwards, or I might be totally wrong, I trust your judgment,

[@Fixologist1]

1:1 turn ratio.

[@peterdavies5358]

Is the plastic one not twice the size of the metal one? Like I say I trust your judgement.@@Fixologist1

[@peterdavies5358]

As far as I can tell it's 24 teeth on the metal cog and 48 teeth on the plastic one so we must be talking at cross purposes.@@Fixologist1

[@howdydoody]

@@Fixologist1 Difficult to see on the video but it looks like the metal gear has 25 teeth and the plastic gear has 50 teeth. 2:1 ratio. Two full turns on the metal gear would be one full turn on the plastic gear and the timing marks would then be re-aligned.

[@Fixologist1]

My fault. You guys are dead right! I had assumed 1:1 ratio, but it's 2:1. So likely a stuck valve or flywheel key.

[@moontheloon1969]

The key on the timing gear is called a " woodrough key" :)

[@dalestanley506]

Plastic cam gears can slip on the metal shaft. Amazing that you got it to run the first time.

[@josephfisher771]

Love the videos on both channels... Question: did you set the torque wrench to 14 ft. lbs. ? That would be 168 in. lbs. Maybe I misread the playback...but that could really be a problem. Not a criticism, just a question. We're all here to learn, right? Thanks for all of your perspectives...love the social/political commentary, by the way. :) How is the drumming going,? Thumbs up!

[@Fixologist1]

No, I set it correctly. Bolts just couldn't handle it.

[@rvdboston9568]

Incredibly unsafe mower after repair. You cut off like 10 threads from the bolt, now the blade barely holds. To make it worse the blade adapter does not fit the shaft. I only hope the blade does not fell out at full speed chopping somebody's legs. It could be a kid, you know, pls don't sell this junk.

[@Fixologist1]

I've had blades fall off mowers mid-mow. They don't go flying, they just drop straight down.

[@paulcroce7303]

Great vid,you are relentless

[@atariforever2002]

Are you filming next to an A.C. unit? I gave this 3 minutes and gave up

[@jacobdowler1]

Troy's Butt!

[@paulcroce7303]

Awesome

[@Podcastforthewin]

Seeing you repair this lawnmower makes me wonder, if i were half the man you are, my wife might actually respect me. Or at least not cheat on me.

[@Fixologist1]

Jesus man, if you want a woman to respect you, you must first respect YOURSELF! If you're unhappy, then leave. Don't tolerate the intolerable. Have strict definitions of what's tolerable. Get up, dust off, bull your balls out of her purse, and move forward. Good luck!

[@Podcastforthewin]

@@Fixologist1 I was only kidding! But I love your repair work

[@Fixologist1]

thank fuck for that. :D @@Podcastforthewin

[@Podcastforthewin]

@@Fixologist1 haha

[@chukzombi]

i think today's women would think you're a fool for repairing something broken when you're clearly supposed to throw it away and buy a new one. my GF saw me watching one of these mower repair videos and called me a nerd. shes's 44.

[@armyvet4081]

the cam gear is loose on the shaft

[@Fixologist1]

If that were true, the timing issue would occur between the cam gear and cam lobes. That isn't the case. Issue is between the cam gear and timing gear.

[@armyvet4081]

never use any gasket sealer on a lawn mower- use axle grease on the gaskets

[@waynestefinashen239]

Interesting i remember my grandfather doing that on the tractor repairs on the farm. Also remember building a fire under the oil pan to heat the oil in the winter so we could hand crank it over no electric starter at that time.