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[countrywoman]

First cut! the idiot next door has been cutting his for over a month, he cut it on Friday and again today. I think he uses a laser line for the stipes and measures the grass with a Vernier--------

[TheBoy]

diagnosed correctly as a gunged up carb. I spent £30 on genuine Briggs and Stratton carb kit and service items. It's been right as rain ever since. 

I think knackered diaphrams are common on B&S, as I'm sure YZ250 will testify.  Genuine diaphrams are around a five, for under £20 for the B&S service kit including primer bulb, plug, air filter etc....

...and when you get stuck, phone YZ250 and he'll tell you what you've done wrong

[TheBoy]

First cut! the idiot next door has been cutting his for over a month, he cut it on Friday and again today. I think he uses a laser line for the stipes and measures the grass with a Vernier--------

I think I'm on my 6 or 7th cut.  The constant sun-rain-sun-rain has made mine go mental.

[TheBoy]

LOL, how spooky is that, I just had to find this thread again, as less than 30s after adding the last post, I've just heard the doris over the road start up her electric mower, and listening to it struggling to cut the grass.

Petrol all the way!

[YZ250]

diagnosed correctly as a gunged up carb. I spent £30 on genuine Briggs and Stratton carb kit and service items. It's been right as rain ever since. 

I think knackered diaphrams are common on B&S, as I'm sure YZ250 will testify.  Genuine diaphrams are around a five, for under £20 for the B&S service kit including primer bulb, plug, air filter etc....

Yep, the diaphragm can go stiff or split (less common), which prevents it resonating to act as a type of mini fuel pump to keep It running after the primer bulb fuel has emptied. Some mowers do have a float chamber carb so all you can do with this type is wash it through with clean petrol and a thin wire strand for the jets.

..and when you get stuck, phone YZ250 and he'll tell you what you've done wrong

 
I blame her allotment buddies for turning my garage into a mower mending workshop. 

[YZ250]

…………..
May continue to play with the old one in the background, but need something that works and is appropriate for what I have.

Yep, keep it for when you want to tinker with something.    I’ve recently repaired my neighbours rotary recoil starter as the pawls cover plate had sheared off. The nut for the bolt is moulded in to the underside of the top cover so I drilled a hole in the top cover, drilled and tapped a bush for the underside to replace the sheared moulded in nut, put a washer on the other side and tightened it all up. It’s as good as new now and stronger than the original design. 
There’s a mower scrapyard seller on eBay, he has a yard full of old mowers and will strip parts off them as required. He’s based in Aylesbury Buckinghamshire and he’s really helpful and easy to speak to. I’ll try to find a link to his site. 

[Jimbob]

…………..
May continue to play with the old one in the background, but need something that works and is appropriate for what I have.

Yep, keep it for when you want to tinker with something.    I’ve recently repaired my neighbours rotary recoil starter as the pawls cover plate had sheared off. The nut for the bolt is moulded in to the underside of the top cover so I drilled a hole in the top cover, drilled and tapped a bush for the underside to replace the sheared moulded in nut, put a washer on the other side and tightened it all up. It’s as good as new now and stronger than the original design. 
There’s a mower scrapyard seller on eBay, he has a yard full of old mowers and will strip parts off them as required. He’s based in Aylesbury Buckinghamshire and he’s really helpful and easy to speak to. I’ll try to find a link to his site. 

Quite like the idea of that...may be able to do something like that yet.  This cylinder is far from ideal for me.....So ill go to a rotary anyway....but be nice to get it right if time and inclination allows.  Its certainly not worth me spending more than a few quid one...its too wrong for me to invest in.

Found a couple of Stihl, and a couple of Al-Ko that fit the bill, very similar machines but Al-Ko's about £100 dearer.
Not paying 100+ plus a load of mileage for an Admiral....but if I see one come up very cheap and local, I may well grab anyway, but havent the time to wait right now.

[Jimbob]

Ill doubtless be inherreting another unsuitable one one day too...just like this, my dad's pride and joy
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256501013268?_ul=UK&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338353466&toolid=20006%26customid%3Ds%253AGS%253Bgc%253ACjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fvdRxFdJr2Jdz5mCa504B5sLii-otyB3A47s3JjCcOXZ2r3BOoh3iBoCiMgQAvD_BwE%253Bpt%253A1%253Bchoc%253A2&customid=s%3AGS%3Bgc%3ACjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fvdRxFdJr2Jdz5mCa504B5sLii-otyB3A47s3JjCcOXZ2r3BOoh3iBoCiMgQAvD_BwE%3Bpt%3A1%3Bchoc%3A1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fvdRxFdJr2Jdz5mCa504B5sLii-otyB3A47s3JjCcOXZ2r3BOoh3iBoCiMgQAvD_BwE

[Jimbob]

Ok....so I can deffo do a nut / bolt solution for the pawl's that fly out.....once I can work out how to rewind the spring 

[ronnyd]

I don't really cut the grass on my crap lawns, i just decapitate the weeds. 

[YZ250]

Ok....so I can deffo do a nut / bolt solution for the pawl's that fly out.....once I can work out how to rewind the spring 

The spring replacement can be a bit of an arse. You have to put the outer part with the hook on up against a peg/casting on the outer side of the inner hole and then gradually rotate the casing while feeding the spring inside its own loop. Do this until the whole spring is inside itself. It can be awkward as you have to fit a spring that is open to around one foot in diameter in to a recess of around two and a half inches. 
Once the spring is fitted, fit the pull cord through the pawl plate hole, then you have to carefully lower the pawl plate on to the spindle and wiggle it in to place until it’s in position. There will be a peg/pin on the underside of the pawl plate that should grab the inner spring hook when you turn the pawl plate. It usually grabs by turning anti-clockwise. It will resist and try to turn back when it’s caught the hook. Keep turning it against the resistance until it’s fairly tight, jam the reel with a screwdriver and feed the pull cord through the casing hole and fit the pull cord handle. When you release the screwdriver the wheel should pull the cord on to the reel. 
If this doesn’t make sense, watch a YouTube video of how to do it. 

[STEMO]

Ok....so I can deffo do a nut / bolt solution for the pawl's that fly out.....once I can work out how to rewind the spring 

Watch a YouTube video of how to do it. 

Ahhhh......that's better 

[YZ250]

Ok....so I can deffo do a nut / bolt solution for the pawl's that fly out.....once I can work out how to rewind the spring 

Watch a YouTube video of how to do it. 

Ahhhh......that's better 

 
When I got halfway through I did think that it warranted a ‘Long boring post’ warning, or at least change it to a PM. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I don't really cut the grass on my crap lawns, i just decapitate the weeds. 

My lawn looks like a Ukrainian battlefield after neighbours a couple of doors down had new fences put up, and the local badgers decided it was easier to get into my garden to carry out their excavations. 

[STEMO]

My front lawn looks like block paving, and the one at the back looks like decking.