Garden tractor acquisition

Mower trouble? Are 2-cycle engines the bane of your existence?
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Sun May 10, 2020 3:50 pm I may also see if I can get the parts to rebuild the longer starter that it originally had. That may be a better unit. I might just need the brush assembly but probably should get a new gear if it's cheap.
Cover with brushes is 494988 for the longer 4-3/8" starter. eBay prices are around $30. I sent an offer to a guy for $20 so we'll see. New whole starters aren't much more than $30...and the gear is under $10 but not sure I need that.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HIGH-TORQUE-ST ... 4&LH_BIN=1

$36.

Maybe I'll just run what I have for now. I just want the long, high torque starter for good cranking in the winter. But if it costs $30 to fix the old one....I'm not sure why I wouldn't just replace it, and get a new gear, new bendix, new bushings, new rotor, new everything. As long as it's not junk. That's the only thing. That $30 cover with brushes (the actual thing that broke) is a genuine B&S part, not the cheapest aftermarket part. But it gives me brand new brushes and a new lower bushing.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I think $30 for a new OEM cover w/ brushes is the way to go. I just inspected the original starter. It seems good other than that.
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This is not rocket science but I'd still rather have OEM and this starter may be OEM. Plus I just like fixing stuff.

Ordered it.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Sun May 10, 2020 3:50 pm I also rigged up a small bungie to act as a throttle control. That was sweet. Anyway it seems quite healthy. I may actually put it in the Deutz over the summer.
Pics or it didn't happen.
Bungie
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And I forgot to mention that I rigged up a paperclip to hold the choke open. It worked.
20200512_070114.jpg
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2020 6:57 pm But in case I do want to put together a 10A charging kit (works with my current flywheel - if I get the large magnet flywheel, it would do 16A out of the exact same hardware), here is what I will need:
Used 592830 stator, this one came off a Vanguard V-twin but it is the same as what I would need, and is only $28:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18hp-Briggs-an ... Sw9xJd5oIT

Voltage regulator, P/N 845907. This one is used and only $19.81:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BRIGGS-STRATTO ... 3629182066

After that I simply would need to wire the single 10A DC output into the wire that normally feeds the battery. Hopefully it can carry 10 amps. Now I'd be charging the battery at up to 10A, regulated (not sure what output is, maybe 14V?). Anything else I could hook up to either the battery or possibly the ignition switch. Not too complicated really. I could rewire my existing headlights to connect to switched battery power so they'd be bright all the time or add the LED lights (probably not both on only 10A - still needs to be able to charge the battery).

Maybe I should add the DC pigtail so I don't have to cut and hack as much.

P/N 692306. $13.94.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-Briggs ... SwONBZCj~Z

Yellow connector, P/N 399916, $4.99:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-NOS- ... SwDbhbouA5

So about $67 to convert. That is really not bad. This gets me 120W total theoretically (12V * 10A). Some goes to the battery but otherwise free to do various lights. And with this type of charging system, the lights would be battery voltage regardless of RPM so more like a car. And if I locate a flywheel with the large magnets, the output jumps to 192W total. Rear lights....oh yes.

The alternate plan is two of those converters @ $13/ea. So $26. Less power, less invasive install (mainly not having to pull the flywheel and swap stators). Lights bright only at max engine RPM. Not sure about reliability and I don't think these are weather rated. Less than $62 but honestly at these prices the money is not the issue. It's more...what do I want to do?
Decided to do this because, well, I enjoy tinkering and it will give me some cool options in the future with a regulated charging system (lighting, sleeve hitch with electric actuator, electric actuation retrofits to my snow thrower like chute rotation and/or tilt, etc.), so I went ahead and found all these parts on eBay. And I did better than the prices I originally found. Recap:
Used stator, $20, $8 cheaper than before: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Briggs-Stratto ... 2749.l2649

Used voltage regulator, $11, $9 cheaper than before: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Voltage-rectif ... 2749.l2649

NOS yellow connector, $5, same as before: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-NOS- ... 2749.l2649

NOS DC pigtail, $9, $5 cheaper than before: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Briggs-Str ... 2749.l2649

So before it was going to be $67 before tax. With the new prices I got everything I need to convert to a 10A regulated charging system for $45 before tax. Now that's pretty cheap. It helps that these parts seem to be interchangeable with charging system parts used not just on some opposed twins, but some later V-twins, so they are plentiful.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Ordered 5 steering bushings for the Deutz.

2176440SM

$30 total. Should tighten up the steering.

At this rate I may even try to paint the thing. We'll see.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Sun May 10, 2020 6:58 pm I think $30 for a new OEM cover w/ brushes is the way to go. I just inspected the original starter. It seems good other than that.

20200510_195410.jpg
20200510_195417.jpg
20200510_195424.jpg

This is not rocket science but I'd still rather have OEM and this starter may be OEM. Plus I just like fixing stuff.

Ordered it.
Received my (NOS) starter cover. I wish I knew what NOS items are in danger of being depleted but I really don't. Probably shouldn't embark on a journey to hoard old B&S parts...unless I actually need them.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

It's comical how easy these are to take apart. You need a small punch, a hammer and a 5/16" socket.

Did some light sanding on the upper rotor shaft, air blasted everything, cleaned everything, greased everything, and reassembled. Should be ready to go. This took 30 minutes taking my time. If I didn't clean or grease it would have taken literally like 5 minutes.

You can see how failed the old one was with the broken off stud. Funny thing is the brushes look barely worn.
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I like those brush retainers. They resemble large staples.
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kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Tue May 12, 2020 6:39 pm Yellow connector, P/N 399916, $4.99:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-NOS- ... SwDbhbouA5
Sigh. Order canceled. I think he was in a state were he was not allowed to like do business, get to his shop or something like that. The message said "Sorry, I was unable to get to my stock of parts."

I'll have to find another seller. I've received everything else.

Wait, it's back on eBay but now for $20. Wtf? Did he just have second thoughts about his original listing price? What an asshole.

Next cheapest is $12....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233568785607

From New Jersey. Hope it's not rusty.

So $52 instead of $45 to convert to the 10A regulated charging system. I'll live.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I was bored this morning while Jamie did an errand so I pulled the flywheel off. Check it out.
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The nut was 1-1/4" and I had a perfect socket for it (those HF 3/4" drive sockets I bought for the Deutz flywheel). Buzzed off instantly with my HF electric impact. I blew the holes out for the B&S puller and threaded the bolts in. Just a turn of each nut and the thing popped right off the crank. Amazing. Easiest flywheel pull ever.

Next up:
- Swap the stator for the upgraded 10A one I bought
- Install the longer starter that I fixed

I do think the upper sump gasket is leaking a little, in the corner where the starter sits. I don't know if it takes a gasket or just RTV. I'll look into that but may as well swap that while I have the engine out. I would also have to seriously consider doing the crank seal at that point because that would be the time. It does not appear to be leaking at all.

All of this stuff is cheap and easy because the engine is just sitting around. It's the time to do it.

I do think I will end up installing it into the Deutz before the summer is over. Or even sooner....
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Side note, I mowed again with the Simplicity. It runs great after I blew out the main jet and adjusted the low speed mixture last time. My idle and full throttle RPM settings have maintained as well.

Also I have seen zero oil consumption so far since switching back to my coveted Delo 400 SAE30. Old Briggs side valve engines just want straight 30.
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