Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hi all --

I've got a Briggs and Stratton 6.5 HP engine on my mower. It's a 1997 mower, with engine model 110600. Anyway, last summer, everyone here helped me find an oil leak, which involved pulling the head, and replacing a gasket. It's working fine now, but seems to have a lower amount of power. Generally runs fine, but just seems to be running with less umph.  Since i had to take off the linkage to pull the head/carberator, I'm wondering whether I messed up an adjustment..

Anyway, on these little engines, is there a throttle adjustment? I want to get as much power/RPMs out of the engine as I safely can....

Any suggestions or leads to what I may be able to look for?

g,
Check the governor rod.
It can bind up in the hole of the throttle plate.
Check that the governor rod is not rubbing on the heat shield of the engine.
When you took the starter shroud off (or moved it too take off the head) you may not have noticed that the starter shroud and the heat shield "lock" together around the area where the governor link is.
If these two pieces arent in the proper position......the heat shield will spring away from the engine...and rub against the governor link. That governor link needs a clear path from the governor arm on the engine too the throttle plate of the carb.
It is real easy too miss seeing that the heat shield and the starter housing lock together in that area when reassembling.

Thanks BL -- I'll take a look this weekend to make sure that the linkage is not hitting on anything.  It just sems to be running slightly slower....could just be old age....

g,
Also check that the governor spring didnt get stretched accidentally.
Or the adjustment arm that the governor spring is attached too was bent.
These units should run around 3000 rpm.....do you have a way of checking rpm?
Having both the model # (110600) and the type # (????-??) we can get you the exact rpm.
PM or email and I can scan the illustrations of exactly what I am refering too.
But....start with heat shield suggestion.

Well -- The weather here in the northeast finally broke, allowing us to get outside and mow dry grass. I also had a chance to look a little closer at the throttle rod, which is not hitting anyhting. BUT, when I push the throttle rod towards the front of the engine, I'm getting much more revs from the engine. In fact, if I push the throttle rod as far towards the front of the engine as I can, I sense that I'm getting too many revs....unfortunately, I don't have a tach.. is there any other way to check RPM than a tach?

I sense that the governor spring is a little weak, so I'm planning to get a new one. Other than that, am I correct in being concerned about having too many RPM's coming out of this engine? It's clear that I've got more RPM's in the engine than what I've been mowing with, but now the challenge is to get this engine running at the right number...

Any ideas or suggestions?

Yesterday I had a change to mow with the new Throttle Spring installed -- seemed to run with more power and output. Interestingly, it also ran smoother.....I judge this by the extent of the pull rope dancing as it comes to the handle.

So, now I'm left wondering whether the smoother run of the engine is due to: (1). Flipping the blade (it reversible); (2). changing the oil from straight dino 30 Wt., to 5-30 Synthetic; or (3). the engine running faster and thereby possible smoother.....

Any opinions?

gsnod wrote:
Maybe all three.

ive never seen a blade that was reversable ...please explain

later chris

Blade thats reversible -- meaning that you can just flip it and use the other edge to cut the grass....

I've never seen one either.  Isn't there only one way to put one on?  Maybe you could post a picture up for us? 

Can't post a picture, but the blade is designed to be reversed on the lawn mower deck when it is worn/dull. When reversed, a new cutting edge is exposed.

Does this clarify the point?

gs is right.
Scotts/murray have it for a few years.
If I can find a junk one laying around...I will try and get a pic.

Here's what I found for a picture under the Murray brand.  Part number 672573E701.  Thanks 'Lint for the help in pointing me in the right direction.  Hopefully the pic doesn't disappear.

Sherri

That's interesting I've never.... seen a blade like that.  I wonder if blades are made like that  for my Craftsman. 

These blades work pretty well, but two years ago, I thought I'd try a Gator blade on my Scotts mower. I had great expectations, but found that the gator did'nt do a very good job of mulching at all. I went back to the original, which I sharpen several times per mowing season.

Up here in the northeast, I think I've mowed about 6 timres so far -- seems like a lot for this early in the season....