Toro Recycler mower w/ Tecumseh 6.5 engine - starts and immediately dies - DIY Chatroom

Pickngrin · 10-10-2009, 10:22 PM

I picked up a Toro 22" Recycler mower from the curb a few days ago. It looked relatively new and visually fine. It's got a 6.5 HP Tecumseh engine, model LEV120–361560B. The spark plug looked pretty new, as if the previous owner had just replaced it. Wouldn't turn over. I drained the old gas, monkeyed around with it a bit, and got it to the point that it will start and then die out 2-3 seconds later. Today I went to get a rebuild kit for the carburetor and rebuilt it. It's no better than it was before the carb rebuild.
Any ideas on what else I should be checking on this mower? My knowledge of small engines is very limited..part of the reason I'm doing this is to learn from the experience (and, of course, to have a running mower!)

Thanks

bob22 · 10-11-2009, 07:24 PM

A nice little project that can drive you crazy. Following site is pretty thorough and should give you much of the info you need. Post back with your progress.
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lmfaq.htm#lmaoil

piste · 10-15-2009, 10:14 AM

Spent my whole summer, literally, trying to get my Toro 22" Recycler bought Aug 2008 to work. Went through everything you could possibly imagine...would take me 30 minutes to type the whole story. The shop had it more than I did this summer. I think the Toro Personal Pace is the best drive out there....but Toro does make its share of lemons and I got one. Mine is a Briggs and Stratton engine.

As part of the carb rebuild did you replace the intake gasket?? That's what it ended up being for mine..and this was done as an in-warranty repair at a local shop....after several other in-warranty repairs earlier in the summer....They replaced and/or doubled up...not sure which...the gasket between the intake/throttle body and main engine. I've heard tell that those sometimes warp or have issues...especially after heating up. This was done to mine I think sometime in August and it's worked fine since. Whereas before it was finicky as all get out...especially in taller wet grass. Good luck and keep us posted.

jcalvin · 10-15-2009, 05:50 PM

I bought a zero turn from a buddy this year that couldn't get it to run for $200. There was a fuel sut-off solenoid that had lost power due to a burnt wire. Took me about 30minutes to diagnose, fix, and start mowing. After a couple weeks, it would start dying after about 10 minutes, if it sat unused for a couple of days, and when I would fire it up it would die in a matter of seconds. I piddled with it on and off for a couple weeks. I checked everything and couldn't find a thing wrong with it. In an act of desparation, I unscrewed the fuel cap and looked inside with a flashlight. Lo and behold, a dead ladybug was in the bottom of the tank. I fished it out and never had another problem. Check for lady bugs!

Viper16 · 10-16-2009, 02:47 PM

When you rebuilt the carb. did you open up the filter bowel for the gas? those bowels like to fill up with debris and water and will cause those surges...perhaps checking that out may help you.

Pickngrin · 10-16-2009, 08:29 PM

Thanks for each of the replies. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as it would have been an easy fix), there were no ladybugs in the tank!
Today, I change the gasket between the intake valve and the engine block. No change in engine behavior -- it still starts and dies almost instantly.

Funny thing, a few days after finding the Toro Recycler with the Tecumseh 6.5 HP, I found another Toro Recycler at the curb in my neighborhood, this one with a Briggs & Stratton 6.5. I figured between the two mowers, hopefully I'd get at least 1 running well, but maybe both. Well, the Briggs engine started up but gave off heavy white smoke. Turns out the previous owner had too much oil in there. Today I removed the carb bowl and cleaned it. Replaced the air filter. Starts up beautifully now, with barely a tug on the cord! So this one is running nicely, but I haven't figured out the problem with the Tecumseh engine yet.

Viper asked if I opened up the filter bowel for the gas? Do you mean the bowl under the carb? Otherwise, I am not famiilar with a filter bowel, and didn't find anything when I just Googled the term.

Thanks again

bob22 · 10-17-2009, 11:00 AM

Yes, that bowl. Try to remove the bowl, float, and needle valve. Spray Gumout carb cleaner up into the hole the needle valve sits in to get rid of any debris/build up that may be gumming up the works. Reinstall and try again. Have to assume you are getting spark (does it get wet after a few pulls of the starter? Right plug?). Choke/linkage adjusted correctly? Mixture and idle screws at right settings?

Pickngrin · 10-17-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob22

Yes, that bowl. Try to remove the bowl, float, and needle valve. Spray Gumout carb cleaner up into the hole the needle valve sits in to get rid of any debris/build up that may be gumming up the works. Reinstall and try again. Have to assume you are getting spark (does it get wet after a few pulls of the starter? Right plug?). Choke/linkage adjusted correctly? Mixture and idle screws at right settings?

Oh, OK. When I did the rebuild, I disassembled the bowl, etc., sprayed Gumout, installed a new needle, etc. I am getting spark (I used an inline spark tester to check). I don't see any mixture or idle screws on this carb. I believe the choke/linkage is adjusted correctly, but last night I was looking online for a picture of how it should look.

Pickngrin · 10-29-2009, 11:56 AM

Ok, I got the Toro with the B&S engine running like a champ with a minimum amount of effort, and I was getting frustrated with the Tecumseh, so I listed it on Craigslist and sold it the same day. I'm happy with the outcome.
Thanks for all of the input and suggestions.

bob22 · 10-29-2009, 10:20 PM

Nothing like selling off a problem; best fix of all!

Pickngrin · 10-29-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob22

Nothing like selling off a problem; best fix of all!

:-) Well put!