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

Hey Guys,
I have an old, but mint looking 1987 front wheel drive Toro push mower, model 16775.  It is a 21" mower that has I believe the original 3.5 hp engine on it.

It seems to burn a bit of oil, so I always keep a close watch on it, adding some almost every time I use it........(30 wt is a cheap fix)

I checked it today before I used it, and the oil was just above the full line.  I just use this to trim around trees, etc. Today while mowing, I noticed it started making a faint tapping noise, not loud, but enough to be a bit concerned.
When I was done trimming, I let it cool down, then tipped it on the opposite side of the spark plug, as I have done in the past.  This time, oil started comming out of where the air cleaner is.
I set it back down, cleaned up the now soaked foam thing and the plastic thing the foam sits in, and rechecked the oil level.
To my suprise, the oil level is now much higher then before.
I'll let it settle some more.
Question is, do I have anything to be concerned about?  I know that this is not concidered a high end mower, but I do like the front wheel drive for trimming around trees. The deck is new looking, although I wish the engine was a bit more powerful.

Should I start thinking about getting another mower??

Frank D.

God Bless Frank for doing what you do...and stay safe yourself. 

If the machine has been burning oil for a while you may have a carbon buildup on the head and the top of the piston.
The tapping that you hear could be the top of the piston slapping the carbon buildup.
The carbon can build up and pieces will break off....get spit out of the exhaust....get caught under the valve faces...shift around to different spots...restick itself in other areas.....do all kinds of different things...sounds will come and go. Sometimes it will just be a tapping noise...and sometimes it will sound like you are about too blow a rod.  Depending on diffenent conditions....the carbon can get rock hard....or soften and turn into a soft goo....like opium.
That is a simple enough fix...just remove the head and decarbonize. If its never been done in 18 years...you might be at that point.
Doing that will also let you see what shape the cylinder and valves are in.
All it will cost is the price of a head gasket and if you really want too be frugal...and if the gasket looks ok....just reuse it. (Although that might get you in trouble with the OPE authorities.) God forbid.

faithfulFrank wrote:

See you Monday night Frank. LOL  

Oh, use, add oil, use, add oil, repeat till fade. 

Hey Guys!
Good to be back.......just got home this morning.  Happy 4th!!
I actually got more overtime when I was at work, so I worked thru another 24 hours, making it 62 hours straight.
I was also offered working today, which would have made it 86 hours, but in the interest of keeping a marriage, I declined......

Thanks for all your help here with this mower....I think I will investigate further........I think it is worth it.

I'll try to post some pics of the bug also......it's about the size of my eXmark, so it may qualify for OPE.....

Maybe I'll get to check the mower out more today...back to work at 5 tonight though.....gotta go babysit the city's fireworks tonight...fun duty.

Have a blessed and safe holiday!

Frank D.

Although you don't fight fires in my area, I got to still say thanks for doing this.  Please enjoy your 4th, as I sure will mine. 

Frank,

Overtime!!! Buy a new Toro.... I had an older one just like your's and got tired of fiddleing with it  and replaced it last year. ...I got some OT myself this weekend. The daughter needs a new bike so the OT was timely.

                                                                                                                       Dan

Dan,
Maybe you're right, but I think I'll fiddle with it awhile longer, while keeping an eye open for a replacement.
We finally got some much needed rain yesterday, so I know it will be time again to mow in the next day or two......
i'll try out the mower again and report the results.

The oil is back to the normal correct level, I think it was just goofy for awhile because of the tipping.
i'll listen again for the tapping.  If it continues to work, I will then perhaps ask you all about doing that valve and ring job thing....
A friend of mine has a mower that has a bad deck, maybe I should check on swapping engines....although I think mine has a pully above the blade to run the front wheel drive, so they may not be compatable..........I'd have to look.  I do not think it is worth putting too much money into it. I do wish the engine was a bit more powerful then 3.5 hp.  The deck still looks brand new, and I do like the mower a lot, so maybe it is worth taking apart and learning something.

Maybe the whole mower will just blow up the next time I use it, and I'll have to get a different one......although I always thought that if i was good at keeping oil in the thing, it would never go bad on me.......

In any event, I depend on you guys to educate me.......i'll keep you posted.

Frank D.