Free Mower in the Trash - Serious Problem or Easy Fix? 

It was trashed because the homeowner had neither the tools nor the expertise to fix it. Great job, I was impressed that it started on the first pull.😊

Can you imagine how many kids would go into small engine repair/engine repair if he was their High School Shop Teacher? The *Perfect* persona for a leader and teacher.

I once got a "junk" mower that was being thrown away. Started up but smoked really bad. Checked the oil and it was overfilled, drained some out, the smoke cleared up and sold the thing for $40 bucks. Easiest beer money I ever made in my life.

My next door nieghbor fixed trashed mowers until he could no longer do that because of age. He was so good at it. thanks for sharing.

That blade is a mulching blade hence the reason for the extended raised sharp area of the blade. It suspends the cut grass and chops it finer.

I had someone give me a riding mower. Her husband had worked on the mower but then couldn't get it to start again. Being mechanically inclined and needing a riding mower, I took a shot at fixing it. It took me while it turned out the engine shaft key was inserted wrong. The motor timing was 180 degrees out. It started right up after putting the key in correctly. It was a 6 hp Briggs and Stratton with a 42 inch cut. A real beast.

Jim: The higher step on the blade that is sharpened is supposed to be for mulching the grass clipping to a finer cut. At least that is what I was told. I got a free mower years ago that was new and only used a few times. The guy hated the mower and gave it to me. I found the blade had been installed upside down from the place he bought it. I used that mower for about 12 yrs. Thanks

I cannot thank you enough for your patience in fixing these machines & sharing what you find step by step with us. I have a Yamaha EF1000 generator that I took to a Yamaha dealer for repair about 6 years ago & they fixed it, but it started surging after about 6 months, so I took it upon my self to clean the carb & it's been working beautifully ever since. I couldn't believe it! I fixed it myself! ;) Currently, I sadly let it sit for almost 1 year without cranking it monthly & now I'm paying for that huge mistake. I tried cleaning the carb twice, but it still isn't working, so I ordered a new carb from Yamaha & I just received it. I sure do hope that's the only problem once I get it installed. I asked a local mower shop guy if he knew anybody that would work on my Yamaha, but he woulds only refer me to a local Yamaha dealership & said nobody else will work on these machines because they can't get the parts. I told him 99% of parts are available for this Yamaha, but he wouldn't take it on nor refer me to anyone else. He said I'm better off fixing it myself. Ay yi yi! Guys like you who are willing to work on old equipment are very hard to find. I would love to find someone half as smart as you are about small gas engines & as patient as you are to work on my Yamaha. I would be willing to pay whatever it takes because everything I read about the EF1000 says it is worth fixing. I watch videos here all of the time where guys are working on small gas engines because I'm trying to learn anything I can & become comfortable working on them. So, this is the 3rd video of yours that I've watched in the last 2 days & I'm learning so much! I don't mind learning, especially with a great teacher like you, so I'll just continue to watch you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge & fixing stuff that would unfortunately go in a landfill if you & others like you didn't care & take the time to fix things others have discarded for trash. James, you are very inspiring, to say the least. Thanks again for taking time to film your work & share it with us. :)

I have pulled countless number of mowers just like that off the road and dumpsters. One quick carb clean, plug and at times a new blade. I have sold several for 60 or 100 bucks depending on the brand. Also, if I see a person that is starting a little lawn care service, I will just give it to them to help them out.

James - you are now an official Grass Rat ™. Well done! Taryl and the gang would be proud, keeping this MTD out of the junk heap.

Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ru-vid.comUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.

Nice to see you giving that mower another chance. I have a former neighbor who picks up disposed of mowers off of curbs and trash pile. He gets them working again and sell them very reasonably priced. I have purchased two from him and have been pleased with both. Thanks for the video.

Funny, I also have a neighbor who he & his friend collects mowers, power washers & snow Blowers out for garbage fixes them up and has them on this front lawn for sale, usually like $20 for the mowers. Now I see he has a small Craftsman air compressor out for sale too.

It to bad we live in a throw away society, my daughter had a lawnmower that would not start in the spring and was ready to go buy a new one. Ten minutes with some carb cleaner and torch wire and it was running like new

I really hope you teach small engines repair somewhere. You would be an excellent teacher. I would go out of my way to take your classes.

Hello James, I enjoy watching your methodical approach in fixing small engines. You are one of the best in your field.

Just a suggestion. If your hoses sit outside flush them before hooking up to pressure washer the first time. There are frequently bugs and debris in it.

Thanks for making this video; it probably took more time than the fixing itself. I am sure a lot of people will benefit from this. Cheers from Canada

That balancing tool was so cool. Never seen that before nor sharpened my blade. Amazon here I come. Thanks for the video, well done.

I'm a little surprised you didn't recognize this blade as a high lift mulching blade...the large wing behind the part you did sharpen is to lift cut grass and the part you didn't sharpen recuts the grass. Totally necessary without a bag or side discharge. Love your channel!

I'm grateful that people like him are helping to right the wromgs of our throw away society.

it always amazes me what some people throw out just because it wont start! their loss is your gain james!

25:40 That blade having a sharp area closer to the center is for mulching. Helps chop up the grass if you have the chute covered up for mulching.

You know James, besides making videos and teaching us, you are also doing a service to the environment by stopping this throw away culture we live in. Your saving that from going to a landfill, which would be horrible. So, your making an honest buck, helping lots of people and the environment.

Most always a carb stoppage. I had to give away all my toys. Took 2 trailer loads to haul them off; 8 mowers. Too old and goofy to deal with them. They all ran. Got the wife a Stihl self-propelled battery mower and kept my old 85 Snapper for a spare when it dies, if it does. Getting a 16 horse spare Craftsman rider for a spare for the 20 horse opposed so all will be in the shed is 4 mowers, a pressure washer and 2 blowers. I have ROOM! Very strange. BLESSINGS to yall! And we both have the same balancer!

I always wrap a layer or two of electrical tape around the top of the plug. As the natural shape of the H.T. Cable , if dislodged, may spring back to make contact with the plug. I also find , ( when tipping the mower on its side for whatever reason ),, when working with a tank with petrol in, to undo the cap , put a plastic bag over the hole , then screw the cap back. This will stop fuel from leaking out of any breathing holes.

Hey Mr. James Henderson, Nevada shouting at you. Love your show very informing. I’ve had a Honda knock off for about 20 years. The first day. It was started when it was new. I put full synthetic oil. It still runs perfect 4 gallon five horse. Keep up the great work.

I've been using starting fluid ever since it was nearly 100% ether back in the day, never a problem. Now, starting fluid is only about 20% ether content, so it should be much safer than the old good stuff. We call starting fluid a can of "Instant Motor" 🙂 I've been using Heavy Duty diesel engine oil in small engines ever since I was old enough to change the oil in them. SAE 30HD in the old Briggs' (summer engines) and now the new Hondas and CHONDA's with the OHV heads I've been running 15W40 HD Diesel oil (Mobil Delvac 1300Super is my brand of choice) with absolutely zero wear related failures. The engines seem to appreciate the diesel oil, it is supposed to have higher levels of zinc additive than regular automotive engine oil, which is reported to be beneficial for small engines.

I found a 1997 Gary Fisher Marlin mountain bike (made in USA w/USA rims) in the curb trash this winter. I took it home and went over it. It looked to be garage kept its whole life. All it needed was two new tires and rim strips, a spoke replaced in the rear wheel and a trueing (probably why it got trashed), and new brake pads and just a solid going over and tuning everything.

Lovely film. Helps the baby feeds just fly bye.... Greets from the UK...

One mans garbage is other mans treasure 😂

10:12 "I'm not sure what that is...." I believe that's called a "D" drive head. Great video, as always James.

Last 2 mowers i used to cut my lawn(5years) were salvaged from local trash,changed oil,new plug,cleaned air filter,fresh gas=free mower.

Hey James, I think maybe that blade was sharpened like that because it is a mulching blade. Good video, thanks for sharing.

10w30 car oil is a good viscosity for small engines. As thick as 30w when hot but 10w when cold. A little easier to start when cool. It’s what I use.

It amazes me how many people don't use a fuel stabilizer. Conditions like this are easily prevented. Enjoy your videos. You are very thorough...

Right around 25:00 I see your Eastwood Bender. I bought one 2 months ago and it this great! Last bend was 3/16' x 2" bar for a project.

Most of the time there is no need to pull the carb and all the linkages. Just drop the bowl and unscrew the jet. It's way to easy, if you don't take pictures, to totally bung up the various linkages. If it's more than a clogged jet, then take the carb off.

I love your videos you make the viewers feel as if we are right there with you discovering the problems as they show themselves. As always you have produced another classroom quality video thank you and have a blessed day.

Excellent video and very helpful james, thank you. I make a recommendation that you shoukd also remove the top plastic portions of the mower to expose the air cooling vanes to make sure that it is entirely clean because it is an air cooled engine. And there could be some debris inhibiting the air flow and hence, cooling. I personally believe this is the most important part of the air cooled engine to keep clean and I hope you agree. Take care. 👍👍👍

I’d recommend getting an ultra sonic cleaner. I’d would’ve saved the old carb. Use it in combination with tickopur R33 and it makes them brand new. They aren’t even that expensive and you can basically use it for cleaning anything made out of some sort of metal. I have fixed roughly 250 machines and have never had a carb that I still couldn’t use after cleaning. It was my best investment ever!

Most common for me to repair on a trash find mower is I always find that 9 out of 10 mowers is,,someone has hit something and sheared the timing key and they pulled their insides out trying to start it and push it to the curb thinking it is gone.I do check the blade for a broken piston rod..more over the parts come in handy.I learned from my daddy who taught me.I like your videos Mr. Condon.

25:30 That's a mulching mower. Blades for mulchers (aka 2-in-1 blade) are sharpened much further up than straight blades.

I love guys who hate working on the floor. (Like me) That lift is worth it's weight in gold.

I literally just found a Hyper Tough lawnmower in the dumpster and dug it out. Took carb off, cleaned it up. Five minutes later I had it fired up. I just need a couple of parts that will run me about 20 dollars USD.

thank you. i know very little about motors. my main study in life has been computer area and security equipment, programing and sensors. i like learning how all the motor components work together.

back in the old days, the usual setting at the curb lawn mower, has either a messed up pull cord or out of timing and hard to start because of hitting to many rocks. this issue is caused by the blade moving the shaft key just enough to through the timing off. replace the soft metal crank key it will usually start.

I was at the trash pickup place. The guy beside me was throwing away a mower. I asked him what was wrong with it . He said it's fine I guess. I just don't like it . I took it home and put gas in it. Started on the second pull. It was the smallest self propelled I've seen. It went slow. It wouldn't really freewheel. It just took longer than a standard mower. I finally gave it to my neighbor. He gave it to his mother who walked at the same slow spèed she liked it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that tries to salvage things. Not a hoarder. And I'm assuming it worked out or he wouldn't have posted the video right? Smile

You know, i admire that you fix everything on the stuff you work on. There is FIXED and then theres FIXED ENOUGH, I fall into the latter category.....lol It sounds like a new mower.

Most people do not know how to store small engines. All mowers I found on the streets had clogged carb. Easy fix. I fixed 5 so far. Some of those I fixed also had very worn out engine from not replacing oil. Smokes until engine warms up. I gave them away after I found a mower with good engine and stainless steel deck. :)

I have a craftsman lawn mower I pull the rope it won’t pull out but if I pull it real easy it comes out. But if you pulled it hard fast it won’t budge.

James. I totally enjoy your videos! I see now that I've most likely tossed a couple of good mowers 😳 The videos are clear, you explain the how, and what perfectly. 👍 Thanks for sharing!

Sharpening tip. After you grind the bevel edge take a fairly fine file and remove any burr on the flat side being sure to keep it flat.

I have that same mower! It’s a 3 in 1 mulching mower. Sensitive to overfilling the oil! Smokes like crazy if over 16 Oz of oil. I’ve had it for 3 mowing seasons now. Good mower. No user controlled throttle. $240 at Walmart.

I tried a tip from another youtuber, I tipped the mower forward on its nose and let it down and it started on the first pull after winter hiberbation.

Throwaway culture is so sad sometimes. A little while ago I saw that one of my neighbors had put one of those high end upright Dyson vacuum cleaners out at the curb for trash day. Looked alright so I thought I'd test it before scrapping it for the copper. It powered up just fine, but it didn't seem to pickup much and overheated and shut itself down before I could finish a room. I put it away to play with later. When I got around to looking at it again I wondered if the over heating problem could be the result of a clog somewhere. Bingo! There was a spot at the junction where the floor sweeper meets the upright portion that was jam packed with dirt. That passage had a cross section that was long and narrow instead of roughly circular, which just begged to be clogged by anything larger than say a popcorn kernel. (I think this machine was designed for people that vacuum so often that all it ever encounters is dust.) So I clear out the machine, reassemble it, and now it truly sucks in a way that vacuums are supposed to do.😁 Another time (may have even been the same neighbor) someone put out a smallish Stanley brand shop vac. You know what the problem with this one was? The replaceable filter was caked up dirty! That vacuum has been quite reliable for me once the filter was cleaned. I didn't even need to replace it, just rinse it out. Don't give up on your appliances or tools so easily, unless of course you like providing your neighbors with free stuff.😂

Good job, I've had my B&S 190cc for 18 years now. Grass box & plastics look a bit ropey now, but it has never given me one bit of trouble. Change oil a few times a year, clean or replace plugs or air filter sometimes and it just works every week, year round. Our seasons are hot and not so hot.

Excellent Video! Thank You!

...great job James....I never get tired of watching you clean carburetors....thanks for posting... 🙂

Thanks for sharing James 🦘

The inner part of the blade needs sharpening because it is a mulching mower. A non-mulching mower cuts and sends the cuttings to the bag with the air current from the shape of the blade (like a propeller). A mulching mower does not have the propeller shape and once cut, the cuttings circulate under the deck, hopefully being chopped smaller and smaller until they fall back onto the cut grass where they should be small enough to be inconspicuous.

Thanks for the Video James!! Always pickup something new!!👍👍

Carb spray, along with brake cleaner and most starting fluids, contain Ether as a main ingredient. Only the stuff marked "non-flammable" use Methylene Chloride instead of Ether.

Another top notch video James.....BTW, I bet that you are glad you bought that lift for putting equipment on, instead of wearing out the knees of your trousers ! Cheers!

Mower cleaned beautifully…..going the extra mile…..that is why I watch your videos

I use Pennzoil Platinum 10W-30 in all of my four cycle equipment. They do not use any oil. I change the oil each Spring and Fall and fill to the full mark. I do use 30W in my tiller because it is only used during the summer. I use two cycle to prime engines. I keep a squirt bottle full of it in the shop. The extra oil lubricates things that might need it.

Another great find. It's amazing what and why people throw things away.

I KEEP LEARNING FROM YOU ON ALL YOUR REPAIRS...THANKS. I WAS A DENTISR, LOST MY SIGHT.I BECOME ALMOUST BLIMD BUT I HAVE TO TINKER AND I NOW, REPAIR ANY LAWN EQUIPMENT I FINE FREE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. REGARDS !

What i learned from your videos is, a engine is just then trash if it still doesn't run after you cleaned the carb and changed the sparkplug. It's kinda tragic how easily things like generators and lawnmowers get trashed due to small issues like a clogged jet or a faulty fuel line. All repairs everyone that knows in wich direction you loosen a screw could make. Noone would trash a car only because the sparkplugs are done or the carb is filled with dirt.

Nice job. I usually clean off the whole blade as some of the stuck on stuff can put the blade out of balance.

As always, very nice. Thank-you!

this video is prof that a little maintenance can go along way as far as being able to keep what you bought in good shape for years to come!

Well done.

Brilliant video James. Thursday just got better

Turning something thrown out into something useful. Good job James.

I'm a true fan of your videos and enjoy your step by step approach to making engine repairs. Your videos guided me through restoration of a curb-found Troy-Bilt generator. It's running great!

Thanks James

Great video thanks for sharing, we appreciate people like you sharing this information

good save thank you for sharing 😀

Great job as always.

You did amazing work. 👍👍

My Honda powered Troy-Bilt mower just turned 15 years old and is still going strong. I chalk it up to regular maintenance, clean fuel, and the fact that here in Southern California it does not spend the Winter sitting idle in the garage. The down side is that I don't get an off season either. 😄

Nice vid. Thanks for keeping us with something mechanical to watch.

Nice find and a Great save.

I've learned quite a bit about working on engines and generators from your channel. You do a great job fixing someone else's treasures.

Nice job on that found machine keep up the good work

Easy fixes like that are good.

I got a cub cadet pushmower from a friend cheap. It has a powermore engine. Had it 5 seasons. I have used mobil 1 10w30 and non ethanol gas. Always starts first pull. I do run it out of gas for the winter months.

Always great information

Was going to add it's a mulching blade but other astute viewers knew as well, great stuff James.

The most opulent and relaxing mower repair video I've ever seen❤

😊 Happy for you. This was perfect. ❤

I don't touch a dirty machine , i clean it very well !!

Excellent fix James 👍

A really interesting video. Thanks so much.

Good fix my friend thanks for sharing this video

Started right up.

Been sharpening mower blades over 50 years and never really felt satisfied with angles and consistency of material being taken off plus precise balancing, So, a few years ago I started using an Allamerican blade sharpener and Magna Matic blade balancer. Can't believe how much better I sleep at night. ( Ha Ha ) I didn't get the nick name Over Kill Will for nothing.

Thank you for the video