Gentlemen, start your mowers!

[Larry B]

The 277 is twice the machine as the big box store specials.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Yep. My grandpa bought it new in the early 2000's, now my dad has it. It eats through stuff that would otherwise have to be bush hogged.

 

[Larry B]

That Lx277 uses the Tuff Torq K62 trans vs the K46 used in virtually all the big box store mowers and the lower end E series JD mowers from Tennessee. That mower will last a good long time. Just had a guy bring me a 20 yr old JD445 tractor to go over after he bought it. PO ran it in the ground. Still only needed spindle bearings, a seal in the trans and new fuel pump o ring and anti scalp rollers and all fluids changed. Solid machine.

 

[FergusonTO35]

The K46 sounds like a real POS, makes me not want to buy any machine equipped with it regardless of good qualities it might have.

 

[sixonetonoffun]

I have a Deere RX75 trying to sell.

I have 2 if these sitting in the shed. They were very good in that you could put any dummy on one. Bought 1 new and one used both were run hard for years.

Valve is stuck on one. I think between the 2 I could get one going.

Dad worked with mentally challenged adults on a lawn care crew for years. They used these exclusively until they jumped the price up to double what they were initially.

 

[FergusonTO35]

.Dad worked with mentally challenged adults on a lawn care crew for years.

So, just your typical lawn care crew? hahahahahaha

 

[Larry B]

Not trying to demean anyone but around here Juan, pablo, and Manuel are the usual lawn care specialists.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Boy am I dumb. I go to replace the valve cover gasket on the new mower and decide to adjust the valves while I am at it, they were pretty loose. I'm a dim bulb, and removed the adjuster nut so I could understand how exactly the adjustment works. That done, the exhaust valve pushrod slipped down into it's bore! Turning the flywheel doesn't cause it to pop up. So, what have I screwed up here?

 

[Larry B]

If you have a long magnet you can probably retrieve it. I had to do it once. The intake pushrod is aluminum and the engine and the exhaust steel. On some engines the pushrod can slip into an oil drain back hole. I have a 12" pair of forceps that help too.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks. Why exactly would it slip down into the bore? Wouldn't it sit on the lifter atop the cam like an auto engine? The rocker arm doesn't retain the pushrod in any way I can see.

 

[Larry B]

Look and see if the pushrod is off the lifter and in a hole the block. Valve train works like a pushrod car engine. Check for a bent pushrod. I'd the valveguide in the head backs out it bends the pushrod. Briggs heads famous for it.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Ok, now I see. Apparently it had slipped off the lifter and fell into another hole. I was able to coax it out with a small pair of pliers. Far as I can tell it is straight, i didnt try to crank it over or anything while it was off kilter. Got the valves adjusted and every thing back together. Will fire it up tomorrow and see how well I did or didn't.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I set the intake to .004 and the exhaust to .006. Mowed some yesterday and it worked great, valve train was alot quieter too.

 

[Larry B]

Good job.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks bro, your help has been invaluable!

 

[Larry B]

Glad I could help sir.

 

[FergusonTO35]

My biggest gripe about zero turns has always been that most of them are big and heavy. I see that Hustler now has a smaller 42" cut series called the Dash, equipped with Kawasaki engines. I'm thinking I may get into one of these at some point.

 

[Larry B]

Once you go zero turn you never want a tractor type mower again. My 61" 3100 Ferris is heavy but is nimble as a cat.

 

[Wisconsin Welder]

I cant drag enough of these home lol

 

[FergusonTO35]

Sweet!