So I'm an idiot and didn't check the oil before starting up my lawn mower at the weekend. Result is seized engine, as in it won't turn on the pull cord.

It's a Briggs 190cc about 10 years old.

Is it worth trying to fix it? I'm guessing stand it up on it's end with a load of penetrating oil in the bore, leave it a couple of days to soak, and then try to persuade it to turn again.

Or am I wasting my time and it's just scrap now?

Anyone got any experience to share?

Chris

No experience to share but this is Locostbuilders.....

So I think you're obliged to fix it and provide us with photo's of what you do to fix it plus a video of it running when you've finished

You have got to give it a go

easy to fix. fill it up with diesel, let it soak over night, try turning the blade (welding gloves and spark plug out). If it won't turn whip the head of and hammer it down with a wide as possible bit of wood till it free's.

My dad always was great at running out of oil on his, done this too many times over the years

can't say I ever noticed any ill effects from all of this, these engines are so forgiving of abuse, never worn one out either, amazing

[Edited on 29/3/17 by Mr Whippy]

In my past experiences with B&S engines, I have found the parts prohibitively expensive.

The price of a replacement engine is often double the cost of a new mower fitted with the same engine. ( Figure that one out )

Nothing to loose if you can free off the engine, clean up the bores without spending out on a load of parts.

My last 2 B&S powered lawn mowers have been very poor, both lasted less than Two seasons.
Current one will start on 1st / 2nd pull, run for 5 mins & then cut out then will refuse to start until its cold again.
Fuel issue of sorts.
changed carb, fuel primer bulb & fuel tank all to no avail.

It was a good little runner before this, and an expensive mower when it was new (Hayter Harrier 48) so I am loathed to bin it. There is one on eBay that is a runner but with a knackered auto drive which (if the worst comes to the worst) sounds like donor material but it's 300-odd miles away.

Anyway, sounds like I should give it a go. Have got some diesel up at my unit so I'll bring that home tonight and see if I can get any luck with it.

Chris

My last briggs died a heroic death like the many before it, so after it,s viking funeral i went to Homebase and bought a cheap chineese one,it is miles better than the briggs,i think briggs are just selling on their name now as quality has deffo gone out the window.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy
easy to fix. fill it up with diesel, let it soak over night, try turning the blade (welding gloves and spark plug out). If it won't turn whip the head of and hammer it down with a wide as possible bit of wood till it free's.

My dad always was great at running out of oil on his, done this too many times over the years

can't say I ever noticed any ill effects from all of this, these engines are so forgiving of abuse, never worn one out either, amazing

[Edited on 29/3/17 by Mr Whippy]

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I had one off an old cylinder mower that stood for donkey years, solid as a rock... Big bar across the pulley wouldn't budge it..

Head off , some oil in the cylinder, big hammer with a block of wood freed it of, back together, cleaned the carb and it started first time..

If it isn't hydro locked due to oil getting into the upper cylinder via the crankcase breather and the flywheel brake is not stuck on then soak it in Redex and try gently working it back and forward with spanner. Don't force it might take a couple of weeks of soaking and working everyday to get it moving.
Briggs engines are ultra reliable if stored properly .
My last one was scrapped because the rest of the mower wore out. at 16 years old. The only thing that really goes wrong with them is dirt in the carb and sometimes magneto issues otherwise throw them a new plug every year as use 5w/30 synthetic in the sump and if the flywheel magneto air gap is right they start on the first pull.
Carbs are cheap but sadly magnetos are expensive. A box of spark plugs off ebay cost buttons and is a good investment.

[Edited on 29/3/17 by britishtrident]

Thanks everyone. As was suggested, I stood it up and put a big squirt of WD40 (all I had at the time) in the cylinder and left over night. Next day gave the blade a whack with a rubber mallet and it freed up easy. Checked the oil level, plug back in, and it fired up after a couple of pulls.

It's got a bit of a low-pitched knock that I'm sure wasn't there before but it runs fine. Just cut the lawn with it to prove it!

Thanks for the advice.

Chris

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisW
Thanks everyone. As was suggested, I stood it up and put a big squirt of WD40 (all I had at the time) in the cylinder and left over night. Next day gave the blade a whack with a rubber mallet and it freed up easy. Checked the oil level, plug back in, and it fired up after a couple of pulls.

It's got a bit of a low-pitched knock that I'm sure wasn't there before but it runs fine. Just cut the lawn with it to prove it!

Thanks for the advice.

Chris

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quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisW
Thanks everyone. As was suggested, I stood it up and put a big squirt of WD40 (all I had at the time) in the cylinder and left over night. Next day gave the blade a whack with a rubber mallet and it freed up easy. Checked the oil level, plug back in, and it fired up after a couple of pulls.

It's got a bit of a low-pitched knock that I'm sure wasn't there before but it runs fine. Just cut the lawn with it to prove it!

Thanks for the advice.

Chris

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quote:

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Originally posted by gremlin1234
now fit it to a scooter, go-cart or shopping trolley?

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Sounds like you got off lightly.. some fool didn't out oil in my lawn tractor and the resulting failure sent shards of conrod through the crank case... total write off... forunately they haven't changed the design much over the years so a used motor dropped right on

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisW
It's got a bit of a low-pitched knock that I'm sure wasn't there before but it runs fine. Just cut the lawn with it to prove it!

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shame to here it lobed a rod,

talking of old mowers i pulled my granddads old sufolk colt 12" cylinder mower out of the asbestos shed that was about to be demolished been in there over 25 years, drained the sump of water, pulled it to bits, cleaned it, smeared all moving bits in Vaseline gave it fresh oil and fuel and commenced cutting stripes into his lawn made him proper smile that did, then took it all to bits again painted the lot and gave it back almost as fresh as the day he bought it. its almost funny watching it occasionally pull him around the garden if he bumps the throttle leaver accidentally, sorry about the OT

tom