[AT] Adding electric start

Fri Dec 18 12:58:42 PST 2015

My dad had a Sears mower like that in the 60's. The mower outlasted the
spring starting system.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mogrits
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 11:44 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Adding electric start

I wish they still made the old crank/wind-up starters. I remember my
grandmother had a B&S push mower with the handle you wound up to tighten a
spring. When you released it, it would crank the engine over and start it.
No batteries and no problem for my 80 yr old grandmother. I have not seen
one of those in many, many years.

Warren

On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 11:41 AM, ATIS <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:

> It's the Agri-fab 26 bushel unit. Right now at Lowes, here in the off 
> season, it's $200 cheaper than normal.  They have a unit that is a chipper
> as well as a vacuum.   I have heard from others that you do not want to go
> that route.  Too many air leaks around the chipper that diminish the 
> vacuum too much.  Apparently that is true regardless of the brand.
>
> Like all products, I wish it were better made and much less expensive but
> that is just the old grump in me I suppose.   It has performed beautifully
> so far, has better vacuum that the other units I have used.  It is 
> sold as a vacuum for lawn mowers, but there is an optional handheld 
> hose kit.  I recommend that hose kit:  you'll use the unit more that 
> way.  Denise especially has used that a lot for vacuuming leaves out 
> of flower beds, etc.  I use it for the outbuilding gutters and loose 
> hay out of the barn in addition to the yard.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
>
> Spencer Yost
>
> > On Dec 18, 2015, at 10:41 AM, Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com> wrote:
> >
> > Spencer, not any help with the starting situation, but what brand is 
> > it, and do you like it? I have my fair share of oak trees and I 
> > would love to compost the leaves. They are just to bulky to haul to the
pile.
> >
> > Mike M
> >
> >
> >
> >> On 12/18/2015 12:23 AM, ATIS wrote:
> >> Thanks Charlie,
> >>
> >> Denise is pretty good with pull start engines, but this engine has 
> >> a
> lot of rotating mass since there is an impeller and a flywheel.   She just
> can't get it up to speed about half the time.   She says the half that
> fails occurs when I'm gone. (-;
> >>
> >> The design includes a vertical discharge which means some debris 
> >> may
> fall into the impeller area when you shut it off.   Occasionally you have
> to pull through that too.   I think that is the majority of her issue
> actually.
> >>
> >> As for the drill idea.  I did not get to check it out tonight, but 
> >> I
> will within a day or two.
> >>
> >> Thanks again!
> >>
> >> Spencer Yost
> >>
> >>> On Dec 17, 2015, at 11:31 PM, Charlie V <1cdevill at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Just a thought to pass on to you on this subject, FWIW.  Last year 
> >>> it
> came
> >>> up with my little sister (over 65 years old, lives alone, and also
> quite
> >>> independent. Five feet tall and not much over 100 lbs, but athletic).
> She
> >>> sharee with me that she had always had difficulty with pulling 
> >>> ropes
> on all
> >>> small engines.  I was pretty sure I knew the problem right away as 
> >>> I
> have
> >>> seen it before.  Many folks yank the rope hard and fast.  Not very 
> >>> effective.  Via e-mail I politely schooled her (being very careful 
> >>> not
> to
> >>> insinuate she was wrong or anything like that) about pulling 
> >>> gently
> until
> >>> you feel the recoil ratchet engage.   If the rope is then out like a
> foot,
> >>> let it back in and re-engage to ratchet so pull handle is closer 
> >>> up to engine.  Now give it a long, firm, steady pull to rotate and 
> >>> hopefully start the engine.  Getting full benefit of the length of 
> >>> rope for as
> much
> >>> engine turn as possible is key to good starting.  A firm stroke is
> needed
> >>> but not super fast with most modern small engines.  Just do not 
> >>> yank
> the
> >>> rope past the end of it's outboard travel if you are a big strong
> person.
> >>>
> >>> Back to my sister:  She still has to think pull starting thru each
> time she
> >>> does it. but is over being intimidated by the job and is getting 
> >>> all
> her
> >>> stuff going fine now.  I think her largest is 3 1/2 of 4 HP but 
> >>> she is getting the job done and is thankful for the instruction.
> >>>
> >>> Not saying this is the problem at your house, but just in case, 15
> minutes
> >>> of pull starting class would be much cheaper  than an electric 
> >>> start conversion.
> >>>
> >>> Charlie V.
> >>>
> >>>> On Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 11:33 PM, ATIS <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Not exactly antique, but I figured the collective wisdom of the 
> >>>> group
> may
> >>>> be able to help me. I have a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine on my 
> >>>> leaf vacuum.  My wife just can't pull hard enough to get the 
> >>>> speed
> necessary to
> >>>> start. I can start it with no problem but my wife just isn't 
> >>>> quite
> strong
> >>>> enough. Adding electric start seems to be an option for certain
> models, I
> >>>> was wondering if anyone has had experience adding electric start 
> >>>> to
> these
> >>>> engines.  Internet research seems to be spotty and difficult to
> follow on
> >>>> the subject. Especially as it pertains to my specific engine.
> >>>>
> >>>> I have the Intek 900 model series 5HP  (model 1220 12 0140 B8 to 
> >>>> be
> exact).
> >>>>
> >>>> PS: my wife appreciates being independent, and really resents 
> >>>> having
> to
> >>>> wait on me to start the vacuum. She will actually appreciate any
> answers
> >>>> more than I will. :-)
> >>>>
> >>>> Spencer Yost
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> AT mailing list
> >>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> AT mailing list
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