Free Craftsman Mower - For Parts or Repair
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- Опубликовано: 18 май 2022
- This Craftsman lawnmower with was listed on Facebook Marketplace for free. According to the listing it ran last year, but will not start this year. Most likely a carburetor issue, but it turns out there are a few issues preventing this mower from running. Is this a parts machine or an easy fix?
Craftsman Model#: 917.370431 (917370431)
Briggs Engine Model#: 126m02-1525-f1
I use Harbor Freight Super Heavy Duty Degreaser in my ultrasonic cleaner.
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Angle Grinder: amzn.to/3Lm2bsw
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Spark Tester: amzn.to/3NptgMR
126m02, 126m02-1525, 126m02-1525-f1, 917.370431, 917370431, Briggs and Stratton, Broken Cable, Craftsman, Dirty Carburetor, Blade Sharpen, Blade Balance, Fixed, Generator, How To, How-To, Jelled Fuel, Lawnmower, No Spark, Quantum Engine, Small Engine, Troubleshooting, Will Not Start
I have the same exact mower and bought it new 10 + years ago. For the last few years, it has been running rough, hard to start, and hunting, I bought some carb cleaner and carb brushes, etc. and followed you. It runs like a charm now. Excellent content.
I want one of these also !
When your power washer quit, I thought you were going into a “power washer side-quest”.😂. Nice work as usual👍👍👍
User error! Fuel valve was shutoff.
I had to chuckle when the pressure washer quit.
That mower looked brand new once you cleaned it up. You have to love those easy fixes. Another awesome video.
Thanks Paul!
@@jcondon1 e
Is that Mr Clean you use in ultrasonic?? And ha, a tea diffusion ball, love it. Been doing that for years, great videos, have learned a bunch from you! Thanks, Al
@@alankelley2676 use dawn degreaser
It is nice to work an a clean mower.
Enjoyed the restoration of a "throwaway". Talked to our Garbage man and he said
he had filled up his carport and sold enough to buy a storage shed. Said he had
already filled up the shed with tools, push mowers, and generators. It is a shame
at what we throw away. Thanks for what you do...
I get all matters of stuff from the trash man. GOOD sources!
The real shame is that I took two mowers to the local small engine mechanic. He charged me $100 to tear them apart and tell me he couldn't get parts for them. They don't clean carbs, they just replace them. So I got a couple of mowers back in pieces, and $100 less money in my pocket for nothing. I didn't know then how to do it myself (hence why I went to them). The mowers went to the dump.
@@stargazer7644 sounds like the guys lazy and money hungry to not help you out at all and still wanted money for that
@@stargazer7644 those are easy to get running if it's not internal engine damage.
I bought a Brute 22 with the same engine from a lawn mower repair shop in 2023. I demanded a Briggs & Stratton flathead engine and it was the only one they had. It was made in 2012. Its former owner broke it rather severely while it was still new and let it sit around and get old before discarding it. It's just like new still! The repair shop got it somehow. I'm watching every RUclips video about it because I want it to last forever! Thank you, James Condon, Taryl, and others!
I once got a free riding mower like that. Sign said "Knocking, you can fix? You can keep."
No knock, just every bolt was loose and the carb needed cleaning.
Still have and use that riding mower.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Had a rider given to me because it was making "knocking sounds" and leaking oil. Every bolt holding the case cover was loose and the oil was coming out of the remains of the case gasket.
New gasket and it went to a new home with a nice profit.
The wind chimes are so calming
You encourage us weekend warriors to try to fix up our toys instead of tossing them for a new one which won't last nearly as long. Bravo!
As far as length of service, I bought a Honda push mower.
14 years ago.
Never a single problem.
I change the oil every couple years.
I’ve watched like 5 of these videos in the last couple of days to try to work on a mower i got for free. No promises I can get it working yet, but I’ve learned a ton watching these. Thank you!
A very common mistake is trying to start up a lawnmower in the spring with a tank full of last year's gas. Always make sure to empty the tank and use fresh, premium gas. It saves a lot of time and headaches.
Not often you get a free mower and a free clamp. Nice repair.
Some mowers now say you "Never" have to change the oil anymore.... Yeah, right... as long as you buy a new mower every 3 years. So much throw-away!
Got 2 older mowers like that. Air cleaner was full of oil on one and drive wheels stripped out on the other. Needed cables and a carb cleaning too and gave them both to the kids. We've got enough spares without any more. THANKS for no cussing and a gentle manner! Such a rare thing these days. I even slow down sometimes thinking about how you do things. You're a FINE influence! GBWYall and Thanks again!
Yes..that's right.
@@gradyhernandez4699 RIGHT right! 10-4 Grady!
James has one of the top flight RUclips channels for small engine repair and diagnostics. He offers very detailed discussions and provides excellent visual presentation of the machines. He even offers engine and part numbers, series numbers etc in the commentary and video description. Well done.
Nice repair, James. Isn't it nice when you don't have to completely take the engine apart? You deserve some "easy ones" every now and then. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks. The last mower resulted in a tear down. Nice to get one that did not need much.
James you should get the yellow spark tester, it’s only 70 bucks and it’s great when you are working by yourself and it’s so easy to use 😊
Well done! I have the same Craftsman mower, which I also got for free. Carb issues and it was overfilled with oil...red ATF oil! It's amazing what the average homeowner does. My guess was they overfilled it with ATF to the point it wouldn't start, then they put it aside for a while.
A couple years ago, that would be a $140-160 used mower that I would flip. Now, it's probably worth even more!
That is a strange one. Prices are definitely up this year.
Buyers are still cheap though can't get close to home Depot pricing
Something satisfying about sharpening a lawn mower blade. Don't think I've ever seen a blade with such a long cutting edge. I guess it's a mulching thing. I don't think this one tasked your skills too much James. Great job as always!
I owned a very similar 6.5 HP Craftsman mower before I turned the grass over to a lawn service about 5 years ago. It almost always started on the first pull, even after sitting all winter, but when it didn't, my first check would always be to drain the float bowl, and that usually did the trick. I'm a little surprised that James saves this for later, but we all have our go-to troubleshooting priorities. I always changed the oil at the end of the season, but that was about the only maintenance other than blade sharpening or replacing and general lubrication. After about 20 years of use, I had to replace the carb, muffler, wheels, spark plug and cables. I gave the mower to my son, and he says it still starts with one pull, and is going strong. That guy wasted his money on a new mower- this one seems good as new!
Ha! I had a similar mower that broke the brake cable after 9 years. Probably the best machine i ever owned.
I used to help out at a campsite. The tractor towed mower had 3 blades driven from the tractor PTO. Square aluminium plates mounted on the drive plates with 12 x 5mm screws. Each corner had a hardened steel cutter. One plate was cracked between 9 of the screws. It rotated at several thousand rpm. Had this plate let fly it would easily take a leg off. All 3 plates replaced with 3mm steel.
I miss seeing the countdown timer in the ultrasonic.....
Although I'm NOT a mechanic, I also enjoy working on these little projects, its rewarding when it works!!, greetings from the Cayman Islands
Lawn mower are first to show up on the side of the road for free, and most of the time they just need a little maintenance. To bad we live in a throw away society, good to see you giving new life to these machine keep the videos coming as I am always looking for a way to extend the life of my machines
Better than the mower I'm currently using.
I hope you never stop making videos. Everyone of yours results in me learning something about the engines and generators and what went wrong and how to fix them.
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Poor James will be 105 years old next week and he is still making RUclips videos fixing generators. All because one subscriber said I wish you never quit making videos.
Or James how come you've never retired? Because one subscriber said. I'd I wish you never stop making videos. What am I supposed to do now?
Thirdly...James Condon has sold his RUclips channel to Dandurch9989. Dan now knows everything I know. The channel is now Dan's.
Repaired a brand new looking one today similar to that one. I checked carb, it had spark but wouldn't do anything when I sprayed starting fluid into the intake. I was stumped because it would randomly start. I was about to give up thinking it must be the valves or something because of the puff of smoke then I decided to check to see if it jumped time. Sure enough the flywheel key was broken & it was off time. I just tinker with them for friends & family & have repaired quite a few now including riders. Picked up a rider for cheap & found the valve guide was broken resulting in a bent pushrod. That one looks brand new too & I use it every week. Thanks to your videos & others on RUclips Ive learned a great deal about small engine repair.
That’s a very strong durable model, one of craftsman’s last good mowers they made before MTD bought them out. I used to have this identical model bought it brand new in 2012. Sold it for a little older 22in black craftsman with the same engine, I adore these older craftsman’s. Very durable and strong mowers. Good old Husqvarna made!!
You do realize Craftsmen never made their own mowers right. Craftsmen never made anything of their own stuff It's a designer brand just like Toro not saying it's bad but that's what it was. It was like Apple phones are today, status symbol. Marketing genius but pure marketing. But you're right nothing is made like it used to be. It's designed to run for a while and break. The parts are way too expensive. Forcing you to buy a new and cheaper made product. The material they use is pure chineseium.
@@whatdoyouthinktodd Yeah of course. They were built by AYP then they changed the name to Husqvarna group. One of the best brands that made a whole under swing of brands and Craftsman happened to be one of their best sellers.
Nice little change of pace! Although, at around the 13:00 mark when you said something like "this one should be an easy fix" I cringed and said to myself, "I've watched enough JC videos to know that our boy might have just jinxed himself" 😂... you deserve an "easy" one for a change!
Thanks. The last mower I said that on, it ended up in an engine tear down.
When I first saw this I thought of my sister, who loaned hers to her daughter who 'stored' it outside. Rusted all the cables in two and broke the cable bracket on the handle. It also got a new carb because at $18 on Amazon it was better than trying to de-gunk the plastic-bodied one. $50 and like new again. Unless you've got a level lawn the front-wheel-drive is near useless; RWD is the way to go. No problems selling running mowers this time of year!
You made out like a bandit on this one! Cheap fix, good condition, high profit margin!
For blade balancing, I drove a conically sharpened 8d nail through a board and used a cone that I mounted a bullseye bubble level on.
Not only will it detect end-to-end imbalance, but it will detect a side-to-side imbalance that can cause blade oscillation.
The jelly is the ethanol from the fuel being drawn out by the water. you can use this as a method to remove the ethanol from the fuel for older 2-strokes that don't like it
Nice job. I always clean up the outside of the carb before disassembly.
It would help if you would say which sockets you're using: 1/4 ,5/16 or 8 mm . Phillips head screwdriver, ect. Great job though.!
i sure do enjoy watching your videos you seem to have what it takes to get things fixed.keep the faith and thank you aging for your videos
That mower cleaned up nicely and only needed minor repairs, nice work James!
This video is older but you should look into one of those large syringes for emptying oil.
Things been a lifesaver. I got a 500cc one. Never using a drain plug again in my small engines lol
Loved the video. Thank you for the information on the automatic choke and what the cable did on the bag release.
You got a great deal. After a good cleaning and a few parts it runs great. It looks like a new lawnmower.
Great find, nice fix, many thanks.
Very good job James.
I like the tea leaf screen trick,,, awesome
Another awesome video! I know how much time and effort goes into producing videos, so thank you! I did laugh, that little door latch is a cool feature 😂
Glad for the different content. Thanks for doing this
Looks like a keeper!
One common problem that people have with seasonal; machinery such as lawn mowers and snow bowers is this......
They fail to put any fuel stabilizer in the tank and run it for a few minutes to let it circulate before they put it in storage until the next winter or summer .
I am of the opinion that stabilizers are better than nothing but adding a fuel shutoff valve or emptying the tank and running the engine till the carb is empty is a much better bet.
@@homeFall1
Yeah, I agree
Thanks for all the informative, and entertaining content. I just purchased my first piece of machinery to repair, an old craftsman lawn edger.
Yep, you were due for an easy repair / service job after all those other ones over the winter. Enjoyed watching and it did help me.
Great job James
Awesome find and repairs! Thanks
Thanks again for a interesting view of fixing a mower and things to watch out for .
Thanks James great video.
It was funny when you disconnected the cable but still pulled the lever back 🤣 but this is a very great and informational video with very calming background noise
The bail had two cables connected to it. Was not sure at the time the purpose of the other cable. Thought it better to be safe.
@@jcondon1 yes I figured that loved the video keep up the good work
I have a very similar mower, but mine has a primer bulb. I've actually run the wheels off it and have had to replace all 4. Still running strong. It's about 20 years old.
Thanks for the great video. Came back to this after finding the same model free online. Very helpful.🙂
I find all your videos mechanically methodical and the level of success proves it!
Another great video James!
“Intresting” is not a word.
Absolutely correct plug choice for this engine. I find that Champion plugs work a lot better in Briggs engines than equivalent NGK, strangely with Honda, Kawasaki etc. it´s the other way round.
For a price of a control cable and little bit time cleaning carburetor you got great deal 👍👍
I had one of these mowers. I gave it to my BIL when we moved. It was a very reliable mower. It's probably 18 or 19 years old now and still running great. I bought the new, current replacement model at the new house. The new mower is not an eighth the mower the original was, at twice the price, of course. I'm now staying away from this Craftsman MTD crap.
Me 21 years old and I still have the older version of This lawn mower
It’s really sad to see how we have become a “throwaway” society. I blamed a lot of this on the fact no one is going into the trades and those who do, find it impossible to compete against the price of new replacement products. I have a 1961 Troy-Bilt rototiller with a Clinton engine on it. I have made it a personal mission to keep it running every season. Not because I am a Cheap Bast$#d, rather I think about the legacy of the machine and that it has been handed down from generation to generation.
That’s not the issue. The issue is the owner didn’t take it to a small engine mechanic. Period. He was lazy and cheap and James benefited from his idiocy.
@@madjimbo4176 I've tried that. They tell you to junk it as the vast majority of "small engine mechanics" work on commercial machines. They also tell people to junk them because the cost to fix a machine like this at a small engine mechanic is more than its value.
@@madjimbo4176 That is the issue. The cost for someone to repair this machine at a shop or at the customer's home would have been 120-150 dollars. They see a new one at Walmart for a little more and it gets junked. Its sad. But I do agree he was lazy and cheap. The new mower he bought is without question of lesser quality as the quality degrades every year.
@@cats400 You’re absolutely right about the commercial aspect. I have a Gravely walk behind that a shop would gladly charge me $300 to tune it up but won’t touch my chainsaw.
Jame’s channel along with Mustie, Donboy and the others got me to attempt these repairs myself. I just wish one of them lived next door when I have questions.
That is a throw away mower. Use it until it dies and buy a new one. I have the same mower. I paid maybe $150-200 for it 10-12 years ago. I have kept it running and maintained, new carb some time ago. If you want something thats worth servicing, spend the $5-800 on one.
Its a few months on now before I caught up. If I lived near you and needed a mower, or generator come to think of it, I would buy one from you straight away. Great quality work as usual, always something to learn too. Thanks :)
I have a troy built mower that someone threw away, now, after fixing it, it runs GREAT
Excellent video as usual! I have a similar mower, it runs great, but the mower cut off lever control is bypassed. Your video encouraged me to buy a new cable to fix it properly. Thanks!
A quantum! Great engine in a good mower chassis! Thank you for saving it from the dump!
Excellent score! Great repair. Love your videos man.
Thanks 👍
I LOVE free! Looks like an easy flip for you. That particular cable tends to break all the time on that particular craftsman mower(had the same exact thing here last week)
Last of the good AYP Craftsman mowers, keep that one for yourself. Always check the cyl head bolts for proper torque too, especially the three around the exhaust port. Very nice save!
just got done working on the same motor , had to re-gasket and crank seal , ck head bolt torque , mine had 1 missing and all were loose , good job
Thank for the great content and professional presentation. I'm surprised no one asked what the water hose connection was on the rear top of the mower housing. A new method of cleaning the blade or a way of adding liquid fertilizer while mowing, Also, I noticed your still using power tools, especially ones that are not brushless, so close to gasoline. Be safe.
Wow another great diagnosis and repair. You are right the mower should be good for a long time to come-- unless my daughter buys it. Great job for sure and thanks for the videos.
Geniune Briggs Oil... how fancy! Cheapskate me would have used HD30 from the auto part store. This reminds me of all the mowers my Dad and I used to fix. I still know how, but I rarely find any on the curb. My personal mowers just don't fail on me.
We used to have throttle cables. Great video.
Hello James. I very much like your videos. I watched this one and would like to offer a bit of advice about sharpening the blade. I'm a machinist by trade and made tools and dies. One thing I was trained on was sharpening cutting edges. When you sharpened the blade the rotation of your media was starting from the center of the blade and moving towards the cutting edge. This allows heat to build up and be driven to the very fine cutting edge and can cause the edge to get burned and lose temper. If you sharpen using your media's rotation first engaging with the cutting edge, there is no heat build-up prior to the cutting edge so all of the heat is driven into the mass of the blade. I hope this helps. Thanks!!
Great tip, thanks for your insights.
Good point. Was thinking at the time just about keeping the sparks away from the camera. Ruined a camera recently doing something similar.
I enjoy picking those mowers up, I find them on the curb all the time with free signs,Some fix easy some still end up parts only
Something about that Red Mower💯
Nice one James.
Hi James great sitting in your class today mate What a great little throwaway It cleaned up nice well done James
Thanks Dean
I think I've been watching too many of your videos. I knew the moment you put that ziptie on it was not tight enough. And it was going to give you trouble. Excellent video as usual thank you Jame
I liked how you covered up the carb, never though of that. Will do from now on :)
thanks that is great
Very good save. 👍
Thanks Danke!
It amazes me that people can't deal with simple maintenance items on their mowers and instead go buy a new one.
This was a pretty lucky find.
I always blunt the cutting edge of the blade after sharpening it. I'm not looking to shave with it. If it's sharpened to a fine edge, it'll get big dings in it as you hit the first rock or pinecone.
Great video as always. Keep 'em coming!
Enjoyed watching the video. You sure do have a pretty lawn.
another great repair.
my dad used to have a John Deere pushmower with a Briggs engine, and I swear we went through 3 or 4 engine brake cables on it before the piston rings finally gave up the ghost and we sold it as a parts machine. It was a good mower though, and it lasted a pretty good long time.
OI got a Kawasaki engine off a Deere mower and put it on a Snapper 21 incher. Years and years and it's STILL going!
Great video! Golf tee works great in the fuel line off the carburetor even if it is broken. 👍👍
Thanks for the great video.
Spent most of the video trying to figure out what the third cable was for. Glad you cleared that up. Never seen that type of Grass door release mechanism before. Sort of seems like a silly feature.
I was wondering the same thing about the extra cable. An interesting idea, but not necessary and just something else to break.
@@jcondon1 Yes I bet it added cost to replacement.
And yes, I was wondering what that extra cable did. Thanks for 'splainin! I find it easier to sharpen blades mounted flat in the vise. I can see the bevel better. If I need to remove more metal to balance the blade, I use a black magic marker to "paint" the bevel to keep my sharpening device {usually a "dynafile" with 30 grit belt} at the right angle. Great job as always!
I've always sharpened my blade using a hand file and balanced it by hanging it on a nail afterwards and never had an issue to be honest. Love the videos man
The whole purpose of a mower is to cut grass, not tear it off with jagged edges. Looks bad, unhealthy for the grass, and harder on the equipment. Always sharpen the blades.
I never even knew of an ultra sonic cleaner till your video.. I had to look it up. Thanks! I may have to get one. Pex
Same mower I have with the exception of the large wheels.
10 yrs. old and still starts within two pulls.
Regular/yearly maintenance is a must on these engines.
Clean carb., change oil and air filter yearly.
New sparkplug bi-yearly.
Some have a plastic carb., they are inferior in comparison.
It bags well,but I rarely have that need. I don't like mulching with ANY machine,too much buildup and extra work cleaning.
The "self-clean" water port is practically useless.
I always use side discharge.
Having a sharp and balanced blade is A MUST with these decks,even then the cut is sub-standard.
The drive system works well with zero issues in 10 yrs., although I thought I would like the front drive better,wish I had rear drive,or even all-wheel.
These sold for between five and six hundred,got mine off season for four.
All that being said,I am happy with it overall.
It's just a lawnmower.🤷
Good content for those who need it dude.👍
My two cents🙆♀️
🙂✌️❤
🙈🙉🙊
Great video as always. Leaving the lawn mower outside will definitely shorten its life. I think the cost of repairs discourages people from fixing there lawnmowers. They would rather put the money into a new one. It doesn’t take much to keep these machines going if you spend a little bit of time every year on maintenance. Non of my neighbours do maintenance and are not willing to buy the tools. I have helped a few of them out. Watching your videos has given confidence to tackle some of these jobs particularly the carburetor cleaning and rebuilds. Repairing stuff as you know is very satisfying. Thanks.
Amen. My neighbors are the same way and I will assist to a very small degree. Because if their time is too precious to buy tools and repair it themselves, so is mine. But it drives me crazy to see them buy something new when you know the crap gas clogged the carb. But I will offer them 20 dollars for the Honda powered item that they think is garbage but I know only needs a carb cleaning. If they don't care, neither do I. Lol
I used to sweep the back edge of the blade just once, after sharpening to take off the burr. The blade was sharper. Nice job.
Always a good idea. I used a file, but did not show in the video.
Blade = Hardened edge James. You just tempered it. And it will now dent easily. Maybe a very light file. That’s it.
Another great job!
Thanks