N_W, thanks for the added engine info. For the original poster, it may be best to go ahead and buy a Sprint/Classic/Quattro as he advised, since those are cheap and your engine is on it's way out. BTW, I found the manual for the 1992 Snapper AP21509B "Classic," which which is very much like yours except it shows the Quantum engine I was talking about. Owner's manual: http://manuals.snapper.com/Manuals/manuals/24332.pdf Service manual for all V-series mower (I think): http://manuals.snapper.com/Manuals/manuals/07001.pdf Parts manual for the Classic: http://manuals.snapper.com/Manuals/manuals/06192.pdf According to the parts manual, the Quantum model # for this engine is 124702, with the mfr type 3251. If you could find _that_ engine and then get the throttle cable indicated in the parts manual, that would be the choice setup, I think. The Briggs parts manual for that engine (among others similar to it) is: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/pdf/illustrated_parts_list/100/MS5839.pdf And that manual shows the fuel tank as being part# 494358, "TankÂFuel(Black, Special)". You might be able to buy just that tank and retrofit it to any Quantum motor (but try at your own risk). If so, then your search for a good Quantum engine could be easy.

I just got back from my dealer. Parts in hand. 2 drive belts, new idler springs, a brass float, steel side chute, tecumseh rings and gasket set and a new paper/foam pre assembly. This summers overhaul. I have a suzuki 4 stroke bbc recycler in line next then the BS quantum bbc recycler. Time to clear out my overstock. Niece and nephew are buying a house so they will get the quantum. I don't know what I will do with the suzuki, it's heavy duty like the snapper. I was looking at the new snappers and my dealer was telling me that I should look into one but I still can't buy a new one. I guess I will fight to the end. It took all my might to leave a couple of lawnboys that were in the bone pile there. I'm just rambling on. Peace

I haven't owned a Toro for MANY years, although judging from a lot of the posts here, most of the folks really like them. I have nothing against them, I just haven't looked at them much. From what I've read about the Snappers, it sounds like for many, the bagger version bags better than it mulches. Another possibility is grass that gets too tall, can also cause problems. The deck stays full of grass which prevents the blade from cutting it up as it should, and instead either clumps or blows it back out. When I was looking at the Snappers, I asked whether the mulch deck converted to a better bagger, or the the hi vac deck converted to a better mulcher. Two different dealers told me that each deck is "purpose built", and in spite of the conversion pieces that come with the mowers, you will lose performance when its used in a different mode. That is what kind of steered me away from them, as I needed a mower that could do both well. Mowing with the hi lift blade and the mulch plug in will give you poor results. The hi lift blade - especially with wings installed is like a fan, and creates a lot of turbulence. When the plug is installed, there's no where for the air to go but back out from under the deck, carrying the grass & leaves with it. Definitely use the Ninja, or a blade designed as a mulcher. The Gator blades also have a fair amount of lift, and may be too much for Snapper's deck design in mulch mode. The only other option I can think of is to take it to a Snapper dealer to see if they can come up with a remedy, or at least a suggestion. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

You may be experiencing the effects of "cumulative wear" at several places on the machine conspiring to lower the main frame and the cutting deck height adjustment parameters. The main frame tube (front section) slides and pivots on a plastic bushing (Snapper part # 2-2509). Excessive wear to this bushing will effectively lower the overall aspect of the frame operating height, and that will lower the cutting deck height despite moving the deck cable ferrules. The rear lift arm has plastic bushings (Snapper part # 2-2112) in place where the lift arm pivot stub shafts mate to the left and right support rails. Excessive wear to the bushings and/or the stub shafts and/or the holes in the support rails will result in the cutting deck height being lower despite moving the deck cable ferrules. Any wear in the deck cables (Snapper part # 2-6274) top end heads and/or the main frame pockets that the cable heads stop against..........will result in the deck cutting height being lowered. Have you gone to the Snapper website and down loaded a copy of the Illustrated Parts List for this machine? If not, do so and you can see all the parts mentioned. Choose the middle IPL (of 3 offers) to get the chassis parts manual. The other 2 offers are for engine and accessory items.