I'm sorry your salty rusty. IMO its a huge waste of time being bitter and in this application, loggers nothing helpful or insightful at all to help the OP with their issue. If you are only comfortable with the antiquated flathead design of some companies lawn equip then I myself would wonder if you have trouble pouring water from your own boots, directions included or not. To say that OHV design is finniky or hokey is quite amusing as its about as that design is almost as old as the hills aswell and is quite straightforward and offers myriad benefits in every aspect compared to other designs. I'm a 30y old car salesman and have been doing it for 10y. Even though I often work 50-60h a week, I have enjoyed replacing transmissions, engines, installing super/turbo charger systems on many different typed of real cars (perhaps to your delight/dismay, mainly Fords) and also just about every other electrical/mechanical process imaginable. So to make inaccurate, broad but mostly ignorant comments about younger generations just shows the exact same traits in yourself that you so loath in mine. OP, from what I gather with the info you have provided it sounds line you broke a chunk of the threaded plug material from the mower. IMO it would be best to either purchase a whole new engine (perhaps craigslist), or find a local reputable machincr shop and see if they can repair the problem. Other than that maybe you could get a gsv160 (newer Honda motor for lawn equipment) and put it on your mower. From the little searching I did on your motor, they are not readily available and when found are quite expensive. The gsv160 can be had brand new (not rebuilt/furbished) for ~$200.

I would much rather have either a liquid cooled Honda or Kawasaki than a brand new $1200 to $1500 aircooled 'tractor' . . . . even if the used ones were pretty well used For the money he's talking about, I don't see how he could go wrong with either one of the used ones he's looking at. While I'm not a big JD fan, I think I would probably buy the green one as parts will be probably easier to come by Don

Yes, mownie, it is a vee type engine. So, on monday, i will pull the engine shroud to inspect it further, to make sure there are no bare wires that i can't see, now. I suppose those coils are expensive, aren't they? The engine runs ok-no noises, but misses. Not a steady miss, just sort of a stutter. I had another tractor here that had one coil unbolted from its mounting area. The tractor engine would start and run well, but if i shut it off for a half an hour, it would not start, until maybe an hour, or a day later. I had installed new bolts to hold that coil in place, but it didn't help. This engine is a Honda 16.5, V-twin, OHD cam, Pressure lubrication. Model:917.273502 Serial no. 100903C001117. There are new spark plugs in the engine, so they weren't the problem. This problem is an intermittent miss when running. The tractor can be run and driven, and will mow well--its just the "miss" that has me stumped. I haven't done a compression test on it yet. Mainly because my tester is broken. And, at this stage of life, i don't want to invest in one! (89 yoa) Guess i'll go see Old Uncle Joe, and borrow his tester. Thanks! RJ

I think that's too much money to put into a RER that's been sitting outside, even one that hasn't been. And I don't think they are supported by Honda anymore, at least in this country (correct me if I'm wrong). Storage space seems to be a big issue with you (and it is for many other people). I would look for a nice used Snapper RER...they're dependable, they've been making them forever and still do, and of course you can always get parts. But the big plus for you is you can stand them on their back end for storage (and cleaning). You should be able to get a nice one for $900, going by what I see on ebay.