Lawnmower help

[mpats]

Well, plugs were out, no oil in the pistons, cover off and couldn't get the flywheel to turn. Made sure the grass chute was empty, the blades were free to turn.
I suppose it's possible it's the transmition on the engine side of the hydrostatic clutch, as you can still push the mower and the wheels turn, that is jammed, but I can't see how. So no joy I'm afraid, thanks again for all the suggestions.
They are going to get the service place to come out next week and have a look/pick it up.
Going by the mass of solid green that I eventually managed to drag out the grass chute I would hazard a guess that it was cut while still pretty wet and also quite high but he tried doing it in one cut instead of 2. Which would explain the smoking belt, perhaps cooked the engine at the same time?

 

[normspanners]

IF it was run on any angle or bank and low on oil it could have started rattling as it ran out of oil he has thought oh flip lets put it away whilst it is still running, but then the bearings have cooled down and seized, then oh s**t is usually said, and they think oh best top up with oil, familiar scenario with someone else's gear.
we see it regularly with the rented pumps funny when the oil is drained, it is still a nice brown colour, and the bearings are wrecked ??? weird
We see them at crazy angles dropped into dug holes when draining sites etc

 

[mpats]

IF it was run on any angle or bank and low on oil it could have started rattling as it ran out of oil he has thought oh flip lets put it away whilst it is still running, but then the bearings have cooled down and seized, then oh s**t is usually said, and they think oh best top up with oil, familiar scenario with someone else's gear.
we see it regularly with the rented pumps funny when the oil is drained, it is still a nice brown colour, and the bearings are wrecked ??? weird
We see them at crazy angles dropped into dug holes when draining sites etc

To be fair it's a pretty flat field they have, not much scope for getting it on a slope. Still confused why he topped up the oil, perhaps he checked and there wasn't any in it. As an aside the folks had their lawnmower serviced at the same place, dad went to use it the other day but it was hunting a lot, then a wee gasket dropped out onto the grass. He asked me to have a look and it was one from the carb stack up, between the air filter and the carb. As they are in their busy period it's not entirely out of the realms of possibility that it didn't have any oil in when it came back, but it is very unlikely.

The electrical clutch I referred to is usually for the deck belt, not the hydro unit (that runs it's own system).

If you've got the area under the engine (where the pulleys and clutch live) chock full of long grass/twigs/squirrels that could be the cause. I've also seen the clutches get so full of rubbish (or get so badly adjusted during service ) that they try to drive and brake at the same time and go up in smoke then seize...

I see, yeh the electric one was definitely disengaged. Had it on the ramps coming out of the container to get the green mass out and have a bit of a look at the drive and it seemed ok, brake was coming off by the looks of things. I was having a look because it looked like something in there was bent, but perhaps that was the shape it should be as it seemed to be pulling the pad on to the little disk ok.

I think if I had a bit more time I might try disconnecting the drive to the gearbox at the back but I had to get back to start cleaning and tidying for friends coming up this weekend.

If they are picking it up Monday or Tuesday I'll head out to help load it and see if they have any more ideas.

Thanks again for all the help chaps.

 

[Ton-up]

Make sure the starter Bendix has disconected. On the guvnors Westwood, I've had the starter jammed on and that eventually had siezed up, pouring out smoke. Cause was a knackered ignition switch.

 

[Gareth J]

Another idea for the smoke. Yours is a twin I think so may not apply but my Briggs mower hates having a sealed rocker cover so periodically leaks onto the hot exhaust. I dutifully gloop it back up (new cork gaskets can only be bought in a very comprehensive and expensive gasket kit) and it's fine for a couple seasons. But it lets me know when it's time to redo it as it smokes.

 

[Bill Edwards]

IF it was run on any angle or bank and low on oil it could have started rattling as it ran out of oil he has thought oh flip lets put it away whilst it is still running, but then the bearings have cooled down and seized, then oh s**t is usually said, and they think oh best top up with oil, familiar scenario with someone else's gear.
we see it regularly with the rented pumps funny when the oil is drained, it is still a nice brown colour, and the bearings are wrecked ??? weird
We see them at crazy angles dropped into dug holes when draining sites etc

On arriving to the breakdown of a vehicle where the engine appears to be seized, always look behind the drivers seat, in the boot or a nearby hedge for an empty (but new) bottle of oil...
Can't remember who but I remember being told by someone (think it was Jaguar he worked for) where his job was to remove engines for warranty assessment without tilting them - and in every case but one (i.e genuine) there was a layer of black sludge in the bottom of the sump and some new oil sat on top. Idiots, bugger an engine then make such a mess of trying to hide it.

 

[mpats]

Just to let anyone who's interested know, we picked it back up on Thursday, it was the clutch that had gone. The guys were unsure why but it was a warranty job so its back and running now. Going to meet up with the bloke doing a lot of the grass cutting on Tuesday to go over the mower a bit with him to so he knows how it all works.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[angellonewolf]

Thanks for the up date nice to see and end to a problem

 

[Farside]

On arriving to the breakdown of a vehicle where the engine appears to be seized, always look behind the drivers seat, in the boot or a nearby hedge for an empty (but new) bottle of oil...
Can't remember who but I remember being told by someone (think it was Jaguar he worked for) where his job was to remove engines for warranty assessment without tilting them - and in every case but one (i.e genuine) there was a layer of black sludge in the bottom of the sump and some new oil sat on top. Idiots, ****** an engine then make such a mess of trying to hide it.

Bingo. 99%, as you say.
Seems to be an automatic reaction for clowns to do when they stuff it up. Of course, nobody will ever have thought of that before, oh no.
"Oh dear, I'd better put some oil in it."
"Really? If you'd thought of that in the first place..."