[AT] Adding electric start

Dennis Johnson moscowengnr at outlook.com
Fri Dec 18 13:53:37 PST 2015 

Phil,

I remember them from when I was a kid trying to mow a little. They worked OK if all was well with mower/engine.  If something was old or worn, it took a lot of cranking to start.

Thanks,
Dennis


Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 18, 2015, at 3:21 PM, Phil M. Vorwerk <pvorwerk at newulmtel.net> wrote:
> 
> 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
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