Hey guys,
Sorry I haven't been around -- got a new job, found a new tenant, also preparing for hunting season. Basically a lot of stuff coming at me and no time to really think about the mower.
I bought the pipe bender, but it is useless for my purpose. It just kinks the tubing, I believe it is suited for thicker pipe. For that reason, I have decided to keep the stock mufflers at least until next year.
However, I have noticed that the engine is consistently very difficult to start. I tested the compression today, and the values are equally low....
It takes 10 cranks to hit 60-90PSI. I am assuming that is not very good, yes? It should be hitting that level within the first 4 or 5 cranks. I believe that the engine is just really old and has many many hours on it.
Using this for a snowblower is going to be a real issue, because it will be next to impossible for me to start it in the winter time. I will have to wrap the battery with one of those blankets, and also us a little magnetic block heater (more $$ into the bottomless pit)
For that reason, I am thinking about using some of that Restore stuff. You know, the blue chemical that comes in a silver can. I've read a lot of good reviews about it. From what I've gathered, it won't make a new engine out of it, but it will certainly improve compression enough to make starting it easier.
Do you have any ideas or input?