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Please help with power assisted starter for lawn mower.

17 years ago

Can anyone help me with a project my elderly father wants to attempt? He heard there was a way to attach an electric drill to the top of a rope-started lawn mower engine to start it. There is a site on the web saying there is a patent for this,and there was a very unclear explanation.Could someone please provide me with a simple diagram or simple directions for my Dad. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks.

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Comments (8)

bill_kapaun
17 years ago
IMO, if he's too frail to pull the rope, a big enough electric drill to spin a lawnmower engine would have him wrapped up in knots.

Probably be better off with a "true" electric start mower!
rosemallow
17 years ago
I have seen what you may be looking for. The starter is removed and a ratchet is used with a drill.
It was on a Briggs 5 hp go kart. Ck some of the Go Kart sites.
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tinkerer_gw
17 years ago
Here is what I think you are looking for.
Bill

Here is a link that might be useful: East Spin
walt2002
17 years ago
Just mention another option that I have seen in magazines and my former next door neighbor had one.

You remove the recoil, replace it with a v-belt pulley (IF your engine does not already have a drum sticking up on the crankshaft Tecumseh style) mount a 1/4 hp or so electic motor, with 1-1/2" or so pulley, vertically on a garage wall stud with pulley height to match the one you installed on the mower. Slip a V-Belt over pulleys, plug in or turn on electric motor, pull back on lawn mower handle to tighten belt, push forward and flip belt off (if it doen't by its self)when mower starts.

Check direction of rotation of the electric motor first and mount in which ever direction gives you the right rotation.

Walt Conner
nod702
17 years ago
If i've had to replace the coil on Briggs engines, i usually use a drill and deep socket to spin the engine to check for fire before i go to the trouble of putting the rewind back on. I have the plug out to do this though. To my knowledge all Briggs engines turn clockwise. I personally wouldn't try it with the plug in. My 1/2 inch drive Makita would wind you up like a clock. lol
larryf
17 years ago
Another option.

Look for a mower equipped with Briggs easy start engine. This engine does not require a primer - just pull the cord slowly and the engine starts - even in cold weather. This is ideal for seniors who no longer have the arm strength to start normal engines.

Honda GC engines also start very easily.
rustyj14
17 years ago
I have a kit for just that purpose, but i can't get to it right now. It had a pointed rubber cone on a mandrel, and a matching cup that bolted to the crankshaft. You'd tighten the mandrel into the drill, insert the cone into the cup, have the engine primed and ready to start, And operate the drill. This would prevent trouble if the engine back-fired, or balked at turning!
I have seen crank-shaft end nuts broken off with the impact wrench way, so be careful!
walt2002
17 years ago
Best use the hint I gave above, save twisting your arm off.

Walt Conner

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