[lzn197]

Hello. My name is Gordon. I have been in the Automotive field for over 40 years. 15 year Master Mechanic and then a special project Engineer for many years, travelling the country, repairing vehicles that others could not fix. I recently started working on small engines and lawn equipment mostly out of frustration with local so called mechanics who ran small engine shops in our area. It really burned me up to see what these shops would do to customers. Over charging and doing service that really wasn't needed. I have been known to get a garbage pick lawn mower, repair it and give it to a family in need. My current project is a Cub Cadet SRC621 self propelled mower with lots of blue smoke. Purchased it on craigs List.
It Took me maybe 10 seconds to diagnose it has a bad head gasket on the Kawasaki FJ180V engine. The part should be in today. My project before that was a 1995 Lawn -Boy commercial machine I brought back to life. It is now for sale to the one with the best offer. What a little monster that thing is. Too much fun! Give me some time folks and I will have some input on this page and share some of my knowledge. Beware, I sometimes get kinda grumpy with folks who post things that are WAY off in left field. But in the end it is all about helping the other guy who is in need. I also have little patience for folks who ask questions and it appears they have not even tried on their own. You know the type. They swoop in, ask a question and leave. I am from Michigan and love to go camping. I still own a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am I purchased brand new. Fun little car. Later guys!

 

[Austen]

:welcome: to MyLawnMowerForum, Gordon!

Thanks for telling us a little about yourself. That is pretty awesome that you have that amount of experience in the automotive field! Boy, I'd love to learn some of your tips and tricks that I'm sure you have learned a lot of over the years on different things. That's great that you recently caught on to the small engine scene. As you can see, they are quite a bit of fun to work on too and can be rewarding! You'll have to keep us updated on your projects.

Yeah, I hear you there about the people who post a tech question and never leave a thank you reply to the members who helped them out. Well, unfortunately that kind of thing happens every so often which is why we've had to learn to let it slide. You have to tell yourself that it's their loss, not ours.

 

[Mark777]

Welcome to the forum, Gordon!

I have been known to get a garbage pick lawn mower, repair it and give it to a family in need

A kindness nearly forgotten in today's world.

I live in a remote community where many retirees (on fixed incomes) have large properties and little else. I am the neighborhood push-over and offer my services to those that don't know how fix things or have little money to keep their yard equipment running. They have been victims of the same type small engine mechanics you so described...

Give me some time folks and I will have some input on this page and share some of my knowledge. Beware, I sometimes get kinda grumpy with folks who post things that are WAY off in left field.

Grumpy? At our age? It's to be expected. I have often counted to ten before I hit "Post Reply" just to be sure I keep it friendly.

 

[lzn197]

So now I get the call that the head gasket shipment is delayed. Sounds like a lot of parts come from a warehouse in Ohio. Sheesh. I really wanted to get that Kawasaki FJ180V running today. :soap:
I just KNOW that somewhere they have a TON of 11004-7020 gaskets.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

Welcome Gordon! :howdy:

If the warehouse is in Central Ohio to on South, odds are they have either been without power last week or might be putting the roof back on the building. Been a lot of that going on around here.

We do get a number of folk on the forum that are good on the computer or office type workers that know their job but when it comes to anything mechanical not so much. But I have to respect them for trying and cut them some slack. Willingness to learn new things and to trying and take care of problems on your own rather then relying solely on someone else seems to be a dying philosophy.