QuestionMy brother gave me his old mower. He was using, engine shuddered, but kept running. Will still start and run. He said one cylinder not moving. He thought might be "connector rod". Also, no smoke or leaking oil.
1. Your opinion of what is wrong?
2. Is the repair small/large, inexpensive/expensive?
4. While engine is apart for repair of "rod", should I do anything else?
5. Any other info. you think would be healthy
Thank you.
AnswerWell if it in fact had thrown a rod, the likelihood of terminal damage
to the engine is high, but in some cases, just polishing the crank and replacing the rod is possible.
First I would remove both plugs, turn the flywheel by hand, and with a finger over the spark plug hole, feel for compression and
see if you feel no compression on one side.
If you do, remove the valve cover on that side and look at the valves, etc.
If you have compression on both sides, put the plugs back in and start the engine, and while running, remove one plug wire and see if it keeps running, do both sides.
These tricks will let you know which side is bad before tearing the engine down.
The job is kind of big, but well worth looking into, given the price of a new engine, and the full extent of the damage will not be known
until you tear into the engine.
If possible, I would replace the rod and run the engine, and watch the oil level.
Fish
