SUPER Old Lawn Mower Repaired!

[farmerjan]

I have a Montgomery Ward lawnmower my Dad bought... at least 30 years ago, probably more. I've been using it as my "weed lawnlower" for the past 10 years.

It has run surprisingly well during those years I've owned it, even though I've not taken care of it properly. Each Spring when I pull it out of the shed, I'm always expecting it to not run... but it surprises me each time it does.

Well, this year it didn't

I watched some videos (below) and things looked pretty old, dirty, and needing a lot of attention:
View attachment 15636

So I undertook some learning and work:

1) Drained all the horrible old gas
2) Replaced the gas line that was cracked / leaking
3) Took out the carb bowl and cleaned it all up, including the plugged-up bowl nut (most videos show this is usually the main problem) with carb cleaner
4) Carb cleaner all around everything
5) New spark-plug & air filter

Looked a bit better:

View attachment 15637

... but still didn't start up

Did some trouble-shooting, and discovered this:
View attachment 15638

Turns out "spark plug gap" is a bit more important to check than I realized

Now it runs GREAT!


Finally was able to do some overdue weed abatement

View attachment 15639View attachment 15640

nice transformation..... those older ones will run forever if you take care of them....

 

[CrealCritter]

Maybe we need a master tinker' title on here?

If feels good to get something old working again. It's a sense of accomplishment and well deserved.

Good Work

 

[tortoise]

I remembered working with diesel engines on trains in the Soviet Union in my youth. It was very difficult. They could break down all the time. Now we've moved to children in the U.S., and I can't even imagine how you can fix an engine device here without the help of specialists. My son's lawn trimmer broke, he uses it to tear up the grass. I used to do it with my hands when I was young. Here is this trimmer https://trimthatweed.com/ego-string-trimmer-review/ I saw him, the Internet does not say anything about the repair. While my son was trying to fix it himself, I had already pulled all the weeds on the property. My son said this is not the way things are done here. I can't get used to the new mentality, although the neighbors loved me.

Don't ever change. 😍 nothing wrong with pulling out weeds by hand! I don't know why many people are afraid of a little work.

 

[flowerbug]

I don’t think so on this one. @KristPom posted 6 times and this is the only one with a link. If you go to their profile and read all 6 posts, it looks like someone who has just moved to this country and is trying to make friends. But they were only here briefly on Tuesday morning, so we shall see if they come back and participate more.

The scammer ones usually post nothing but links.

that's what i hope, but i wanted to post a warning to see if they'd respond or edit their post or anything at all. normally spammers will not respond or edit to remove their spam links.

 

[Nifty]

What's funny: I didn't expect it to really work so well. In fact, I purchased this new carb kit / replacement fully expecting to have to install it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0816MT7YB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It comes with two primer bulbs, and the one I have it definitely done. It might be nice to also add a fuel filter inline as well.

... but for $13 to have a spare carb kit on hand seems worth it to me

 

[Nifty]

If feels good to get something old working again. It's a sense of accomplishment and we'll deserved.

Totally agree!!!

It felt good to keep it working and away from potentially ending up in a landfill.

All that said, I'm sure my feelings of pride & success would have been replaced with frustration had I not gotten it to work

 

[flowerbug]

I remembered working with diesel engines on trains in the Soviet Union in my youth. It was very difficult. They could break down all the time. Now we've moved to children in the U.S., and I can't even imagine how you can fix an engine device here without the help of specialists. My son's lawn trimmer broke, he uses it to tear up the grass. I used to do it with my hands when I was young. Here is this trimmer https://trimthatweed.com/ego-string-trimmer-review/ I saw him, the Internet does not say anything about the repair. While my son was trying to fix it himself, I had already pulled all the weeds on the property. My son said this is not the way things are done here. I can't get used to the new mentality, although the neighbors loved me.

unfortunately in recent years the appearance of new people quoting products or reviews are often signs of people who are primarily interested in doing one thing and that is spamming. so if you are actually a genuine person interested in being a part of SS you'll have to be wary of posting a lot of links to products. right now i'm leaning towards spammer. sorry, it's just too common of a pattern these days.