Having a Lawn Mower is usually to get the Lawn Mower to keep the aesthetics of the home on its outdoors. However, it takes passion and commitment to rebuilding a Lawn Mower engine when the important primary component goes under.
Many DIY enthusiasts eagerly attempt to rebuild or re-design their Lawn Mower engine in the hope of enhancing the mower speed and efficiency. However, this could prove a challenging task for most novice users without the proper mower engine manual. This feat could be handled with ease and the right dash of common sense when the right knowledge and tools are aptly applied.
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Basic Steps in Rebuilding
Rebuilding a Lawn Mower engine need not be as difficult as it sounds if the right steps, processes and tools are taken. The processes are actually quite simple in basic steps which any determined DIY enthusiast could attempt successfully.
The process could be more intricate if advanced mower models are involved or special objectives are preferred by the mower owner.
Step 1 – Consult Mower Manual
The very first thing which the mower owner should do in wanting to rebuild the Lawn Mower engine is to consult the mower manual. The attached service manual is an excellent source of information for reference in the intended task.
The reference manual of the mower should provide relevant information about rebuilding the engine even if it is a small paragraph as this is a highly popular activity by mower owners. There may not be detailed instructions but recommendations in the mower manual as most manufacturers love to keep their design item intact instead of being clawed at by users who are not well-versed with the machine dynamics and components.
However, some mower manuals may offer specific recommendations that are helpful in engine operations such as engine tuning and increasing the speed of the engine. Otherwise, mower owners may need to check out other available sources that would allow them to tinker with their mower to achieve the right effect without endangering themselves or damaging the mower device.
Step 2 – the Disassembly
For a Lawn Mower engine to be rebuilt, it has first got to be disassembled or dismantled properly. This is a crucial process that must not be taken lightly as damage to the engine is possible if the disassembling activity is not carefully handled.
The disassembling of the mower engine is quite an easy activity with the right know-how and tools. However, the user must remember the original positions of the parts to ensure a correct re-assembly after the works.
Each engine component must be cleaned with soapy water before it is returned to its rightful position. Every piece must be checked on its condition as it is removed from the engine. This would be an excellent time to replace damaged or worn-out components which may affect the engine performance adversely.
When the process is finished, the rebuilt engine would generate better performance with greater efficiency and higher speeds for better mowing activities.
Step 3 – the Inspection
Every part of the engine is relevant and important with a functional role which must be maintained for longer durability. This is known as the inspection process where the user should take notes or video on the parts especially the original locations.
An important sign of poor condition for the engine components is the discoloration of the parts. This happens through the baking of oil by the heat on the component over time at every mowing activity when the engine is switched on. The constant strong heat that is directly on the engine tends to melt the aluminum which gets stuck onto other surrounding parts of the engine.
It is good to inspect these components carefully to understand the cause and effect clearly in avoiding another meltdown or breakdown of the mower. Hence, the cause must be identified and corrected to prevent another repeat. A careful inspection of the mower parts here would enable the user to decide if it is worth the while and cost in rebuilding the mower.
If the rebuilding cost is more than half the price of a new engine, it is wiser to replace the engine; that is the rule of thumb in engine rebuilding. Parts inspection could be made simpler through a reference on the mower manual for owners.
Step 4 – the Cleaning
When all the parts of the mower engine are rightly identified and removed, the engine must be drained of all remaining oil inside. The engine is likely to have accumulated dirt and dust from its previous mowing task besides gathering some soil and grass pieces.
All these must be cleaned out from the engine as dirt is the greatest enemy for the mower. Soapy water could be used to clean every part of the engine. When the engine is thoroughly cleaned and dried, it could be moved to a clean workspace for rebuilding. The workspace should be sufficiently big for the task at hand.
Step 5 – the Rebuilding
Some mower engines come with their own unique rebuild kits. This would make the rebuilding task simpler for the user. The rebuild kit offers a short-cut to the rebuilding of the engine to improve its quality, longevity, and performance. Hence, there is no need to replace the engine with a new unit which could be quite expensive.
The custom rebuild kit of the engine offers extra updated parts which would come in handy to the current engine. Mower users prefer to rebuild their mower engine to enhance its performance because the rebuild costs are usually more affordable within the competitive range compared to a new engine replacement.
The rebuild kit would contain plugs, oil pumps, seals and rings which would come in useful in a rebuild activity. However, there may not be belts and water pumps or alternators which are more expensive parts.
A rebuild kit for a mower engine could be purchased if it is not included in the original purchase package of the mower. The kit cost range between $450 and $3,000 depending on mower type, brand and model.
Some rebuild kits with missing desired components would have the user making an order for those parts. Gaskets are likely components which are required in a mower rebuild and it could be a daunting task to make extra parts orders with the wide array of options in the market.
Every engine part is a critical component on its performance; hence, mower owners could be spending thousands of dollars replacing or adding various components.
Step 6 – the Oil
When the engine is rebuilt, there are fluid factors involved including the type of oil preferred for the rebuilt engine. The best oil for the engine is preferred to ensure a higher performance from the engine that has been rebuilt.
The engine should be run for about 5 minutes at full throttle if possible once it is ready from a rebuilt. Then cool the engine down and change the oil inside for removing the metal deposits from the first break-in cycle.
Certain mower engines may require the head bolt to be torque again after a complete cooling of the engine. The mower manual may contain relevant information on this issue according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When the mower engine is used after 10 hours, the oil should be changed again to optimize its performance. If the oil is frequently checked in the new engine, higher performance could be expected of the mower. It should be noted that rebuilt engines function similarly to new engines which use more oil during the break-in cycle period.
Professional Engine Rebuilding
A mower engine that is to be rebuilt could enjoy professional services from a machinist or a mechanic. The latter must be familiar with rebuilding a mower engine using the relevant tools and know-how.
There is a distinct difference between a machinist and a mechanic when it comes to rebuilding the mower engine. The latter replaces parts using relevant tools while the former produces those required parts using the right machine. A powerful engine rebuilding exercise should engage the expertise of both professionals.
However, the distinctive differences between the two professionals may create a challenge to mower owners as machinists and mechanics are specialists in their own field of expertise. It is recommended to engage a reliable mechanic who collaborates professionally with a machinist to prepare the right components for the engine rebuild task to enjoy optimal results.