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

My wife and I fell in love with this older Ariens reel lawnmower/snowblower, but it has been problematic.  The latest is that when I started it last time, I noticed it running a bit rough with some black smoke coming out of it.  Thinking that it was just a bit cold, I let it run for a couple of minutes.  It died, and when I tried to pull the cord to start it, it would not pull.  I took the spark-plug off to see if it was compression lock, and removed the cord mechanism to see if it was that, but neither effort was successful.  I am now convinced it is something major.  Is this something I can fix by cleaning the pistons and valves, and replacing the headgasket, or is it likely the engine is shot?  I am some experience doing work on my car, so I should be able to do most things.  In the meanwhile, I am going to get another engine until I can get this one fixed if possible.  Thanks in advance.

The Model number should be on the rewind assy/ blower cover. The numbers on a Briggs should be on the cylinder side of cover, above the spark plug wire exit or eather side to the left or the right of it.

The number is stamped into the metal cover and is hard to notice if you have never seen it before...

It will have 3 groups of numbers with "model", "type" and "code" Written over them..

Also... are you sure the snowthrower/ mower unit is not locked up? Sometimes a unit will rust a bearing and lock up the drive, or will not allow the motor to turn freely. It is strange that the motor would run one day and be locked the next..


Good Luck,

Friiy