While SVL's method will work, if your shaft is bent, a good small engine
shop should have a special device to straighten the crankshaft while still
in the engine. The engine is removed and mounted in the device to do this.
Anytime you hit a solid object with a push mower, the key in the flywheel is
suspect. Use only the factory type replacement key, or you risk major damage
next time. Also be aware that direct blade-to-shaft-mount push mowers don't
usually crank well at all without the blade on, as they usually have
aluminum flywheels and need the blade swinging for extra momentum while
cranking through.

RJ

"PrecisionMachinisT" wrote in message
...

"Noozer" wrote in message
news:Tsjae.1109690$8l.249104@pd7tw1no...
...now it's buggered up.

Today, I pulled my mower out for the first time this year. I changed the
oil
and air filter, cleaned the plug, topped it up with new gas, swapped the
old
blade off for my dethatching attaachment. She started first pull and ran
BEAUTIFULLY!!!

Great I though... Day was going well. Things were getting done. Got about
two-thirds of my yard dethatched and I hit a 2"-3" rock. OUCH! Mower
shaking
around making a knocking noise. NOT GOOD!

I stopped the machine, pulled the plug wire and started checking it out.
Blade & springs seems tight and straight. Shaft seems straight. No loose
bits that I can see. So I start it up again and it's knocking and
shaking.
Off it goes quickly.

So I pull off the detatcher and put on the old blade, just to see if I
bent
the detatcher. Now she doesn't fire at all. CRAP! Could just be flooded
or
maybe the key finally gave way, or the timing it out enough to keep it
from
firing.

At this point I'm hoping that all I've done is shear off the "key" and it
will be an easy fix... except I don't know where it's located and I don't
even know if that's the problem. To make matters worse, I don't know the
make of engine. ARGH!

Mower is a 5.5 horsepower Sears "Eager-1" with 20" blade. Takes a
Champion
RJ19LM sparkplug.

So... any advise anyone? Where should I start?



Wow.

If it wont start now, then I'd try replacing the key where it times the
flywheel to the crank.

If the crank output shaft is bent, and the whole works is vibrating, then
hit it with a *big hammer*...IOW re-straighten the shaft....

Suggest use wood or some soft metal between the hammer and shaft so ya
dont
cause any more damage if your whacking on the crankshaft though.

--

SVL