lawn boy repair

[Schultz]

I'm trying to repair an old lawnboy push mower that my wife loves, but I can seem to figure out how to get the engine off the mower deck. It's probably from the early 80's and still runs fine but needs new gas line & seals. The engine burns 16:1 mix and the deck is a magnesium deck.

If I could only free the engine from the deck. I'd like to swap the engine off a 3yr old lawn boy (cleaner buring, less gas oil leaks) to this deck because it's so much lighter than the new steel decks. I've removed all the mounting bolts and the engine now flops around freely. It seems if I could remove the part that holds the blade I could remove the lower muffler casting and it would come apart/off easily, but it appears to be pressed or welded on. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I don't want to break it so I haven't tried a puller or a hammer.

Does anyone have any experience with this? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Tim

 

[powershop]

Use a large punch and hammer an knock it off like it was a nut. Heat always helps. If you bend it up there are replacements available. You may have to bolt the engine back on the deck to get a good swat on it. it is just a taper fit so you can pull it if you wish.

 

[fishman]

I'm surprised at the 16:1 mix. I've had an early 70's model and still have an early 80's model and both specified a 32:1 mix.

It would be neato to keep the original motor and fix it up. I'm going to have to do the same with mine real soon.

 

[Schultz]

Maybe it's quite a bit older than I thought. My father in law got it at a garage sale three years ago for $20. It's alway run fine. Does anyone know how long Lawn Boy has been making these? The color is also quite different than any I've seen. It's sort of a pastel green, not the vibrant lawn grass green that they are now.

 

[Schultz]

Thanks for the advice. I used a little heat and another aid that may have helped too. As I heated it I melted some paraffin wax on the shaft & blade holder. Then I gave it two hits with a punch and off it came. The wax made it about half way down tappered fit fo the shaft. Wether it helped or not, I'm not sure, but it came off quite easy.

I'll probibly just get some gaskets for the carb and an exhuast/muffler seal and put it back together, rather than swap the engine. It looks like the new engine won't bolt on as easily as I hoped.
Tim

 

[fishman]

If it's got a metal shroud instead of plastic, it's probably quite a bit older than the 70's

 

[skent]

Ole Evinrude (yes, of the outboard motor brand) was in the history of lawnboy. Quite a machine. I've had mine for 18 years and keep going back.
I've had Toro's, Sears, Snapper. None have outlived (or are easier to use) than the Lawnboy. All I've ever replaced was spark plugs and wheels.

Check out their history at:

http://www.lawnboy.com/history.htm

 

[Bird]

Yep, Steve, it's a darned shame OMC got rid of the Lawnboy and they went to 4 cycle engines. I bought a used one in '71 (supposedly either one or two years old) and only used it 18 years. It was still good as new when I retired and we took off traveling and I gave it away. A fellow who worked for me said he'd been using the same one for 25 years. I did replace the points and condensor in mine once and tried to remember to put a new spark plug in it every couple of years.

 

[Molerj]

If you post the model number, I will look up what year your lawnboy is.

 

[Schultz]

I dont have the model number with me but when I get home tonight I'll get it, but I do have the number off the engine. The number is 678609
Thanks