Mowing ..

[John 13]

I bought a GV35 Honda Engine in 1978, before Honda mowers were generally around. put it on a Rover chassis, then on to a Pope pressed steel chassis when the cast alloy chassis cracked up. Several sets of wheels, blade plates and handles later still running faultlessly. I keep it for the rough work, other peoples overgrown yards and verges.
I got tired of repairing the recoil starter, now use a power drill to start it. Replaced plastic air cleaner (elbow split) with tube to a generic metal canister type.
About 5 years ago picked up a lawn beetle LBP350 motor on a plastic chassis for $20.00 at tip shop. Apparently never had petrol in its tank, so never been started. Put it on a Masport rear delivery chassis, now used regularly. Admittedly carburettor had a problem. Internal thread for fuel bowl bolt was rubbish, appeared to have been bogged up with some filler. Just enough meat to tap in a 3/8 UNC and made up new bolt to suit. Later discovered that mower shop sells complete new carburettors for around $60.00.
And now Ryobi straight shaft w'snipper. Owner claimed had ceased after thrashing it on an overgrown yard. My investigation found that heat generated/build up in the clutch/bearing housing had melted the plastic which had run into the ball race and solidified when the machine was shut down. Enough of the plastic housing to machine a seat for a metal insert to hold a new bearing. Currently working well.
Also have inherited a virtually brand new Ryobi bent shaft w'snipper virtually impossible to start. Any ideas ? other than the obvious.