[thebriggsdude]

Wrist pin connects the rod to the piston... it should still turn over unless its essentially broken some and jammed.
Of course you never actually know unless you look...

I'd look under the flywheel first for anything hanging up, if no... then it has to be internal.

[broddam]

So, I take it your talking about removing the flywheel before I remove the engine and look internally? Can the flywheel be removed without taking the engine off the frame?

[thebriggsdude]

Of course, just a nut to be taken off... of course the flywheel is fitted on (essentially its stuck on good) and a puller will help a lot to get it off... or light taps from underneath with a rubber mallet (but the ring gear you have to worry about messing up so not a good idea)

[broddam]

Ok, here is where I am now. Nothing has changed since my last posting (I have had no time in the past several days) except I have removed the engine from the frame and I have drained the oil.

Now, since we can manually turn the flywheel to a certain point, and it stop till we put just a little more pressure we are assuming a broken wrist pin. But that does not explain why when we try to crank it, it only moves about 1 inch then stops. I am wondering if the starter gear itself is messed up and it will not allow the flywheel to turn. You also mentioned taking off the flywheel. My idea was to turn the motor upside down and tear into it to look at the wrist pin and anything else that was damaged.

3 things here and I am not sure what to do first

1)starter (can I still test it with the engine off the frame? Or did the engine being mounted actually 'ground' the starter since only the hot wire goes to it.

2)flywheel - I don't have a pulley puller but I feel like you were leaning towards me doing this route first, of course that was before I removed the engine.

3)tear into the bottom of it and worry about other two later since we are 99% sure it has a broken wrist pin.


Which route do I take?

Thanks

[broddam]

After reading this post:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/lawn-g...art-32213.html

I am now wondering if I do not have a broken wrist pin. Should I be able to turn the flywheel continuosly in the same direction through the compressin stroke and beyond? I thought you could only turn it to a certain degree. The guy in the post I copied also can turn his by hand almost freely, yet when he tries to crank it, it only goes an inch or so...

And come to think of it, when I drained my oil, it sure was thin, maybe it was gas that made mine so thin. I am as lost as a puppy dog now...

[broddam]

Well, I found out my problem. Took the engine off, turned it over and pulled the bottom off it. WHat I found was a broke rod, and the part the rod connects to at the bottom (looked like cast iron) was also broke on the sides. ALthough the rod was still fully attached to it. It was all jammed in there crooked and all. Now I have to decide if this thing is worth rebuilding or not. Not sure how much they cost...

[thebriggsdude]

Man that's freaky... (the conrod, should attach itself to a steel crank) if that's what your talking about that looks iron?

I'd either short block it, or find a good used.

[dodgehemi1]

Ok, Yardman is several years old (i believe about about ten years or so) but i have had it a few months. Worked fine for awhile. Last few times I would cut it would cut for a good while then it would just cut off. Battery is weak so i would always have to jump it off beforehand. No problem with that, just kinda aggravating. Well, when it would die on me in the middle of a cut, I would not even be able to jump it off. Last time it cut off, I pushed it back to the carport and it was VERY hard to push. Even after it sat for awhile it would not jump off or start or anything. Oil level is/was fine. I thought maybe the engine locked up, but like i said the oil level was fine and fairly fresh.

I found this site a couple days ago and noticed all the solenoid problems. I had noticed a clicking sound so I found the solenoid and jumped the two pegs with a screwdriver. Got a minor spark but that was it. So I hooked up cables (with truck turned off) and tried, got a little bigger spark. Tried holding the key turned on and tried the solenoid again. Nothing. SO I cranked my truck to get more battery power. Ok, now, when I jump the solenoid I get a BIG spark and can actually see the starter engage (hood and cover are removed). The starter does try to turn but the flywheel wont turn and the starter gear cannot engage it.

Please tell me this thing is not locked up. What else can I check?

Also after I did all this, I disconnected the cables (truck to mower) and turned the key. NO clicking no from the solenoid and it would actually engage the starter yet it still would turn the flywheel.

Take the fly wheel of look and see if any of the magnets are lose. If so that will stop the flywheel from turning.