My Yard King 52" riding mower, model 52161x89B caught fire yesterday after mowing where there was a lot of straw. I had just turned it off and the engine was smoking. Before I could blow the straw off the engine/muffler it erupted in flames. It burned for about 3 minutes (seemed must longer) before we remembered the fire extinguisher in the kitchen and was able to put it out. My question is it worth trying to rebuild. It melted the gas tank, dash and engine/air filter cover and the baffle. Of course wires and the fuel line was burned as well. If I replace the burnt parts (assuming I will be able to find one to cannabilize) would it run again i.e. is engine still OK? Thanks for any help/advice anyone may give.

Hey, all you need to test is a bleach bottle and a few fittings. Get a gas line to come out of the bleech bottle with a tiny hole for air. You can figure out something.

Air cleaner isn't needed for the test.

See if it works.

I really don't expect too much damage. Gasoline vapours burn. When gas wets something, it burns.

Yep had to deal with a car engine fire once. Sacrificed a jacked. Just got a 1" burn mark in it. I've seen other cars that were not so lucky.

Almost all the damage will be cosmetic. If the carb got hot, you'd loose some plastic parts there.

Thanks KISS for the reassuring comments. Think I will give it a go... now if I can just find a mower junk yard that has my mower.