Go to Post I wouldn't mind having this day repeat itself a few times. It would give us more time to work on our robot. - Mr.D [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > Technical > Technical Discussion
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 11-07-2005, 17:23
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,519
sanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Lawnmower Engine Starting Tips??

I still haven't gotten my mower running for longer than just a little bit. I still have to take the carb off again and take the yellow plastic fuel tubes out/apart and see if they are clogged or anything. Or maybe see if there's that valve thing Al mentioned a while back.

mtaman02, for your mower I have some answers. A spark plug wire is only one wire that goes to the plug electrode. The body of the plug is grounded through the engine block. Some mowers have a little metal "stop" tab on top of the head right next to the spark plug. (my 2hp b&s didn't have it, my 3hp one had it). You just flip it over (it is sort of hinged) so it touches the top of the plug. This shorts the iginition and the ground so no spark is produced. If your engine doesn't have a tab, you can short the top of the plug to the head with a screwdriver (the metal shaft of) to stop the engine. You probably want to hold the insulated end of the screwdriver to prevent getting a nice shock. I don't think it would hurt you (I've gotten a spark plug shock a few times) but I'm not totally sure, besides, it doesn't feel good to get shocked.

In any case, don't wire a switch in series with your sparkplug wire/cable. It is not necessary and probably not a good idea.

Also, usually you can pull the choke out all the way out and it will die in about 5 seconds or you can try putting your hand over the carb opening if there is no air cleaner on there, although that may take longer and might not work.

Last, by Engine Zone Cable I assume you mean throttle cable?
__________________
Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004

Last edited by sanddrag : 11-07-2005 at 17:25.
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 11-07-2005, 18:32
mtaman02's Avatar
mtaman02 mtaman02 is offline
FIRST's Spare, Queuer & Tech guy =)
AKA: Mike M. / Mouse =)
no team (FRC Volunteer)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Staten Island, NYC
Posts: 1,504
mtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant futuremtaman02 has a brilliant future
Send a message via AIM to mtaman02 Send a message via Yahoo to mtaman02
Re: Lawnmower Engine Starting Tips??

Ok if your engine has an air cleaner assembled to the carb you would want to make sure the screws assembling the too are tight other wise for some weird reason it will not allow a little bit to no fuel to go to the carb - I found that out the hard way but yeah make sure the carb & choke is clean take it apart and just spray the appropriate cleaner into it / WD-40 =) it worked well for me and has not upset the workings of the motor.

As for the spark plug it sounds like its too much work to mess around with I was just curious if I could just hook up like a switch to cut the spark off. Shorting this that and the third is not my kind of fun.

I could try holding my hand over the carb but i really don't like the idea of having my hand next to something that gets extremely hot let alone moving.

the engine zone control cable is how the manual describes it, there is no throttle cable on it - the throttle adjustment is seperate and is actually mounted on top of the carb and choke assy. for this particular motor however i removed it since it was broken and was unable to obtain a new one due to the mowers age so what i have done is just run the mower at a high rpm to keep it from stalling out when cutting alot of greass. the engine zone control cable is basically your engine cut off / emergency brake - in case anything god forbidden happens

On the Tecumseh Motors the Brake is assembled on to a bracket which has like a bike cable attached to that end (its spring loaded or so thats what how it apears that way when you release the handle bar it shoots the brake out) the other end is attached to a handle bar which you pull back so that you can start the motor. - I'm sure you already knew that but I figured I try and explain the main function of the engine zone cable. The throttle cable on some mowers is attached either right under the handle bar or on the carb itself so that you can increase and decrease the mowers speed. which as i said before do not currently attached.
__________________
Past FIRST Robotics Events that I proudly volunteered at:
FLL: NY State Competition '03
FRC: NYC Remote Kickoff '04 & NYC Regionals '04-'15 ,'10-'13 & NJ Regionals '06-'10, Finger Lakes Regional '09 & SBPLI Regional '08-'15 and the World Championship in '05 (Galileo Field) '07 (Newton Field) '09 (Practice Fields Attendant / FTA(A)), CeBIT Convention in '04 & NextFEST in '06 both held @ the Javitts Center, Monty Madness '07-'10, Panda-monium '08, B.Eruption '08 & '09, Ramp Riot '08, PARC '09 & '10, BR^2 '09 & Wol. Inv. '09 -'15
2015 FIRST Robotics Off Season Events that I hope to volunteer at:
Where is Wolcott Invitational
2015 FIRST Robotics Events that I will be volunteering at:
SBPLI Reg. & Championships
Volunteer Resume:
Alt & Lead Team Queuer, Field Repair/Reset, Field Setup/Breakdown, Spare Parts Attendant, Field Power Controller/Score Keeper, Co-Emcee & Official Scorer, Control System Advisor, FIRST Tech Advisor Assistant & recently Practice Field Attendant.
Closed Thread


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Weedwhacker Engine Project sanddrag Technical Discussion 9 25-02-2005 23:58
Travel Tips KathieK General Forum 5 13-12-2004 12:47
post your Chairman's Award tips Ryan Foley Chairman's Award 3 31-08-2003 22:54
I need tips on Starting a New Team. Rook Starting New Teams 6 25-03-2003 11:19
advice on starting a team.. archiver 2001 1 24-06-2002 03:20


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:31.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi