I've had those wasps in excess polypipe when stored outside in the corner under the tree - can't see the clog a few inch into the pot.
The best was a 4ft tall retic riser - screwed it on and wouldn't go - unscrewed head and out hops this gecko - ran off and he was fine
Good to hear they didn't get into the barrel
I love my gxv120 Big Bob. Picked it off the curb, and with carby cleans (crud was continually blocking jet), new throttle, air filter, blades, plug, oil, it goes really well. Slashes thick 1-2ft weeds easy
Covered in surface rust, but strong metal still - its one with the extra steel rods to brace the handles to prevent cracks
I love my gxv120 Big Bob. Picked it off the curb, and with carby cleans (crud was continually blocking jet), new throttle, air filter, blades, plug, oil, it goes really well. Slashes thick 1-2ft weeds easy
Covered in surface rust, but strong metal still - its one with the extra steel rods to brace the handles to prevent cracks
Yep, they're a good unit, for sure. Capable of achieving a good 'lawn finish' too, if you fit 4 blades.
I changed the oil on the Wesco mower and barely two tablespoons worth of black muck poured out. I gave it a run after giving it gulps of fresh oil and went ok but started blowing smoke after a couple of minutes use. It cleared away when I shut it down and restarted it. Phew!! Must have slightly over filled it and oil overflowed internally(?).
Another issue is no throttle control. It's either high or shuts down half way back to stop position. Not going to worry about it.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Many of these motors will blow smoke for a while in particular if they have been stood up on their nose so the oil sits up against the back of the piston. Stopping and starting them a few times often clears it
I just had that problem with an old Quantum, it partly rolled off the shed shelf - ended up with the rear wheels on the shelf, and the front wheels off the shelf and the body resting on the shelf.
Smoked really badly and just wouldn't clear up. stopped it and immediately restarted - barely a trace
MF - probably throttle cable adjustment or someone has screwed the idle screw in a fair way - mine idles down to a nice near silent tickover
The blades arrived today. They are easier to remove and fit than Victa as you don't have to apply pressure to the bolt to stop it rotating with the nut as the bolt and bolt hole profile in the blade carrier is semi circle shaped to stop it rotating. A breeze in comparison to the PITA Victa design.
Mower still blew smoke periodically but cut the lawn well. Will have to keep an eye on the oil level.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
You would think the blade turn up/down would give him some idea something was not quite right, but they are out there and the problem is they also breed.
You would think the blade turn up/down would give him some idea something was not quite right, but they are out there and the problem is they also breed.
Yer. No clues, and no common sense, either.
It's not as if it's as hard to access 'how-to' info as it once was, before the interwebs.
I remember those days all too well, and I seriously wouldn't want to return to them! That said, one does need to have a working 'bullshit filter', to make effective use of what info's out there, in cyberspace.
Cheers, Gadge
"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."
"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
With the way the Gumtree mower's been set up, it's not going to cut properly. That's just lazy and doesn't instill confidence in the type of seller or the mower itself.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi all, my neighbour just left the Wesco for me to top the oil up for him. He says it's blowing blue smoke a lot of the time and in the three months or so since I put new oil in, the dip stick read about 3/4 full (1/4 consumed). When I tested it, it shoots a plume of blue smoke before clearing for a few moments but the smoke starts slowly returning until it's blowing constantly and filling the yard with a blue haze. I shut it down and let it rest for a while but it did the same thing when I test mowed with it. Could it be the valves need adjusting or has damage occurred as a result of the very low oil level it had when I first changed the oil three months ago?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
What oil did you put in MF - I had an issue with one batch of gulf western. Would smoke after a few mows (not the wesco). Changed it out with Nulon and no problem. Yet other mowers are fine on it.
when you say PCV valve under flywheel, is it faulty or just getting overwhelmed with oil somehow? Do you mean the flywheel has to come off to get to it?
Oil looks ok on white paper serviette and not sludgy. See pics.
I discovered I've got a bottle of sae 30 oil. Should I tip this oil out and put that in?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi MF and all, Disconnect the hose from the crankcase breather that goes to the airbox. If it drips oil and stops smoking then yes, it's the PCV valve. If it still smokes it's more than likely rings or a scored bore in which case it's stuffed. The oil isn't important just yet. Cheers, Ted
I agree with bigted's troubleshooting (it will nearly certainly pinpoint the problem), but have a caveat regarding the oil - I have know some of these cheaper oils to really shear down quickly. 15w40 is a very shear resistant oil, but still possible.
Presumably, the neighbour has had it 3 or 4 months, so maybe around 8-10 hours run time (that would be how much I would have put on it anyway if I were using it every fortnight/) which could see it shear - especially if run hard/the cooling fins are blocked.
I would personally tip it out, keep it (because its probably fine), and put some more KMX in. If it stops, you know its shearing too quickly.
Also, didn't know Kmart KMX was made in 15w40 - only ever seen 20w50 - learn something new everyday
