Hi I have a 9hp B&S vertical shaft model 28B702 engine. I recently replaced the flywheel with a used geared one so I could add a starter to it. I sheared a couple of flywheel keys until I noted a torque of 80 ft. lbs was needed, I did that but today while starting it backfired a couple of times and now will not start. So I need to pull the flywheel and change the key again I guess. I also did not pay attention to the Delieve washer but noted someone mention it had to be dish side down. I think 80 ft. lbs should be okay, but I think I saw somewhere it my be up to 100 ft. lbs torque. Thats quite a bit of torque I don't think I can handle that as I have shoulder issues. I"ll try the 80-85 ft. lbs first and hopefully it stays torqued. Could it be that the used flywheel need lapping so it fits tighter to the shaft? I cleaned the shaft and flywheel hole with some brake cleaner so it should grab better. Thanks for any suggestions Hugo 138

Equipment using rigid gear drives 'may' use shear pins to protect the transmission or engine from shock traveling back when 'something' happens that immobilizes the gear train, however briefly. Years ago, all outboard engines used shear pins to protect the powerhead if the prop hit a submerged obstacle. Brush hogs use a flail blade to protect the gearbox of the mower. Belt driven equipment has a built in 'give', or resiliency that might keep damage to a minimum. I suspect it was the forward speed of the mower that caused the damage to the spindle. The blade also probably flexed and bent as it contacted and rose over the 'tree trunk cut close to ground level', which tried to twist the spindle horizontally. Did you ease over it with caution or just cutting at normal speed? I've done that many times (thankfully no broken mandrels or spindles, though). At the lake we have lots of cypress and are forever nicking the tops of knees trying to 'rise up above the rest' when forgetting they're there. Lots of spindles and mandrels on today's tractors are made of aluminum, which doesn't give us a lot of leeway. Wanna buy a stump grinder? 8^) Which reminds me. I've often thought about putting a gator blade upside down on an old push mower to dress down areas like that. They are twice as thick as a normal blade and maybe sharpen up the 'fingers' normally on top. Whatcha think deerslayer? Anybody else?

If you do a lot of pruning, good tools are essential. I have no hesitation about recommending the Felco brand to anyone. Those of us who have Felco's DON'T lend them out!!! :-) These pruners are a forever purchase. The very inexpensive ones can be considered disposable, but there's nothing wrong with that, if you don't do a lot of pruning. By-pass pruners (which is what you mean by off-set, I think) are the way to go. You don't want the kind of pruners where the blade comes down on a flat plate. Those are called anvil pruners. Scissors action (by-pass) pruners, if sharp and clean, will cut properly, rather than mash the stems. Here is a link that might be useful: Click here

"Why do you have to memorize your tag number?" Several years ago I got one of my license plates stolen. I didn't realize it. I got a ticket in the mail that "my" car was parked in a handicapped parking spot. It listed the location, date, and time of the infraction. I was at work 45 miles away on that day. I contested it and had to prove where I was on that day and time. I was able to. By now I know my license plates because I had to write them down in the letter I wrote, and a couple of other documents I had to submit. I'm now waiting to hear back from the court, and a month has gone by. I come home from work one day, park my car, and then open the trunk to get something out. I glanced down and noticed the license plate and realized it wasn't my plate. Walked to the front of my car and my plate was still attached. I called 911 and an officer came to my home to retrieve the plate that wasn't mine and also took my plate. The plate that wasn't mine belonged to a car that had been stolen. My plate was put on the stolen car. So I'd been driving around for who knows how long with two different plates. The officer took both plates and I had to get new ones. And told me I was very lucky that no officer did a random plate check on the plate that was stolen. The officer said they call for back up when they spot a stolen car. They would have thought I was driving a stolen car if they ran that plate. That's why it's important to know your license plates. I check my front and back each time I get in my car and go someplace now. Like Save