OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions on Rover Ride On Mower Help with old school rover ride on mower

Hi everyone

So I live on just under 1 acre and have been using a hand me down ride on rover lawn mower for about 3 years now. It's been very reliable, had a few hiccups here & there but other then that I couldn't have asked for a better machine and in all honesty saved me from spending upwards of $1000 like neighboring houses

I wish to keep this machine and spend money if required to fix the issue. I was mowing along and heard a sudden bang sort of sound and the motor instantly turned off, it sounded as though something had been caught where I've circled in black in the below photos.

Now for some reason when ever I try to pull start the mower as per normal, that unit just free spins. I'm at an absolute lost with why it's free spinning, hopefully the photos do it justice, if not I can upload a video maybe?


Any help would be muchly appreciated.





https://s28.postimg.org/itye2xp3h/Photo_11.jpg
https://s23.postimg.org/b4ttqijez/Photo_22.jpg
https://postimg.org/image/b434v748t/3856d54b/

Regards MTJ

Just take the engine cowl off and you will probably see what has gone wrong. The pull start and cowl will lift off in one piece

Yeah I removed the top off the engine and every looked fine from what I could tell. I can remove again and take a photo to see if that helps.

This one I think would have the square drive shaft on top of the motor? I'm thinking this will be where the problem is. Rotating it clockwise should engage the crank

G'day all

This is a 10 Series 4hp.
A squeal coming from the starter assembly will be as Norm says -
when the starter clutch goes dry they can grab.

If the recoil turns fine (when removed) the culprit will be that
clutch grabbing (I think). Prying off the clutch cover and applying
light oil should fix the problem.

Please let us know how you go.
A sort of procedure may be found here:-

[video][/video]
Source:

Hope this helps.

Don't forget to check recoil pulley if it is the square drive starter clutch. I have seen the double square completely worn out by bad starter clutches.

Of course the other likely thing with old motors is it has "thrown a leg out of bed" or in other words, has snapped the con rod and the motor will just free spin when trying to start. Check to see if the bottom pulley is turning when you pull on the starter. If it is, it's new motor time.

Good catch Aussietrev. Now that you mention it that could be the source of the loud bang. Should have thought of that myself since a I rash of failures a couple years ago where the operators at a nursery here was breaking rods left and right from not keeping the oil level checked. Rod journals were overheating and seizing the the crankshaft journal. Usually destroys the motor as the broken end takes other things.

Usually you still fell the weight of the flywheel spinning though or could be just experience that teaches you the feel. Maybe I have been at it too long...