More dumpster diving---sort of!

[MFDAC]

Today at work a co-worker was thowing some junk in our scrap metal trailer at work. It looked like a snow blower so I went over and checked it out and sure enough it was a little MTD 22" he had taken apart. He said the carb was junk and the engine was built by MTD so parts were expensive. I told him I'm going to haul it off and he said fine.

He took it apart that far to stick it in the trunk of his car to haul it. Looks to be all there, and from what I see it just looks like a Honda clone of some sort. I took the float bowl off the carb and it looks pretty good inside. I may just clean it up and put it back together. Worth a shot I guess!

Anyone have a guess as to the size of that engine, CC wise or HP?

DAC

 

[JDJake]

22"? Probably a 5-6.5 hp.

 

[MFDAC]

22"? Probably a 5-6.5 hp.

Look like a plain old Honda clone to you, Jake? It sure does to me! He was fed a song and dance that only MTD carb will fit and you had to buy a whole carb, kit parts not available. Carb looks ok to me so far though.

DAC

 

[MH81]

Nice rescue.
Heck, enough metal and pipe, you can adapt damn near anything in.

 

[JDJake]

Look like a plain old Honda clone to you, Jake? It sure does to me! He was fed a song and dance that only MTD carb will fit and you had to buy a whole carb, kit parts not available. Carb looks ok to me so far though.

DAC

Pretty much nowadays if it doesn't have a established name brand on it somewhere you can pretty much guarantee its a clone. I'd guess it's a 6.5.

 

[secondtry]

Did you ask why he took it apart. I would clamp it down on a bench squirt some gas in the intake and give it a pull. Don

 

[4getgto]

Sold this one in December for $290. Nice machines. MTD,Yardman,Craftsman Murray are basically the same even some of smaller JD's. Still worth a few bucks in parts. And parts are still relatively easily to get.

 

[Lily'sDad]

Does it have a model/serial number on the sticker?

 

[MFDAC]

Pretty much nowadays if it doesn't have a established name brand on it somewhere you can pretty much guarantee its a clone. I'd guess it's a 6.5.

I found this sticker on the bottom of the blower housing. 179 cc. The HF 212 cc engine is called 6.5 hp. I'm now guessing like your first guess, 5-6 hp.

Did you ask why he took it apart. I would clamp it down on a bench squirt some gas in the intake and give it a pull. Don

Yes, I did Don, he pulled the engine so he could put it on a workbench instead of kneeling on the floor. He took it apart some more to fit it in the trunk of his car to haul it to our work's scrap metal pile. I did your idea, first time with no carb. Shot a bit of ether in the intake port and it fired right off. Put the carb on it and added some gas to the tank. It fired right up again, but wants the choke almost shut to run smoothly, even after warmed up well. It's running in this picture. Yes, it still has clean oil in it---LOL!

Sold this one in December for $290. Nice machines. MTD,Yardman,Craftsman Murray are basically the same even some of smaller JD's. Still worth a few bucks in parts. And parts are still relatively easily to get.

Looks like that was a very clean machine! I'm finding out that once again the locals he went to for parts and info fed him full of you know what! I googled 179 cc carburetor and all kinds of them came up. I have darn near quit buying anything locally any more as all they do is lie to jack up prices. He was told that it was an MTD only carb and would cost 75 bucks plus shipping. I found one on ebay for 13 bucks shipped. it's on it's way.

Does it have a model/serial number on the sticker?

I read this on my phone this morning while in the waiting room at the doc's office. I don't do any type of replies on that tiny little keyboard though---LOL! When I got home I tipped the engine on it's side per your suggestion and found that sticker I posted above. There's a couple other numbers and a bar code but this one was enough info to find the carb!

Thanks for the replies!

DAC

 

[4getgto]

My advice is don't get a lot of money in it. I bought and sold 5 Snowblower this winter and didn't pay more than $75 for any of them in various state of repair. All with electric start. I only buy something I would want and like to use. And sold all in the $180-300 range. And we didn't have any snow to speak of (eastern Pa). People look for something in nice shape and cheap as possible.

BTW. The one I pictured I paid $50 for and it needed a blower belt. I do go thru them and service, repair as needed ect. and make sure everything works as they should. Just a little something to pass some time in the winter and make a few bucks.

 

[Jazz]

I got a case and a half of Pabst Blue Ribbon dock workers set beside dumpster the other week. Cases were damaged, dock workers did not want the beer so I brought it home. Ya its dumpster beer alright..yech!

 

[MFDAC]

My advice is don't get a lot of money in it. I bought and sold 5 Snowblower this winter and didn't pay more than $75 for any of them in various state of repair. All with electric start. I only buy something I would want and like to use. And sold all in the $180-300 range. And we didn't have any snow to speak of (eastern Pa). People look for something in nice shape and cheap as possible.

BTW. The one I pictured I paid $50 for and it needed a blower belt. I do go thru them and service, repair as needed ect. and make sure everything works as they should. Just a little something to pass some time in the winter and make a few bucks.

Thanks. I'm hoping 13 bucks is all I will have to invest. It's got some new stuff on it already so with any luck, the new carb will get it running. Then I will have to compare it to my other one and see which one does a better job! Sell the other.

I got a case and a half of Pabst Blue Ribbon dock workers set beside dumpster the other week. Cases were damaged, dock workers did not want the beer so I brought it home. Ya its dumpster beer alright..yech!

PBR used to be my beer of choice back in the late 1970's early 1980's but they got bought out by Stroh's if I remember right and they changed it. Never tasted good to me after that.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

So far it's a $13 snowblower! The carb came in today and I put it on. I was able to work in the shop after the day job with the bay door open! Clamped the engine back down and once I remembered to give it a bit of throttle and choke, it fired on the first pull! Ran great, had to adjust the full-throttle screw out a bit but that's it so far. I don't know if I'll have time to put it together this weekend, assembly of a basket case can be time consuming and the weather really got nice! Should do some outside stuff. I may buy a new gas cap too. Haven't searched the 'net for one yet.

Looks like the priority might be on finishing the mower deck rebuild for the MF12G, if the weather stays so nice!

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Well this thing is getting expensive,---LOL! I went ahead and ordered belts and a gas cap too. Looks like I will have a touch under 40 bucks wrapped up into it. Got the engine mounted and all the covers and such put together, but figured I just as well wait until the belts get here to join the augers to the engine and wheels. It was kind of a pain figuring out how it went back together. Of course, even though the PO assured me all the bolts were in the zip-lock bags, a couple are missing. No biggie. One cover is missing too, but I will probably build one, last thing. I'll also clean up the oxidized paint and plastic some too.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Made the decision to put this thing together today with the old belts. I needed the welding table it was sitting on. Looks pretty easy to change them out assembled. Got that done, and it fires up and worked as it should on the first pull! No primer needed since it is in the shop. I'm thinking I will like this one better than the older 24" I have!

DAC

 

[Propane1]

Need comparison pictures Doug, of the newer snowblower and old one. Side by side. Then list the good and bad of each. That way, we can help you decide which one to use. Hehe.

Noel

 

[MFDAC]

Need comparison pictures Doug, of the newer snowblower and old one. Side by side. Then list the good and bad of each. That way, we can help you decide which one to use. Hehe.

Noel

Ha this should be interesting! Can't do a side by side shot tonight, I brought the '55 GMC in the shop tonight so no room. I can do side by side pictures though. First pics from tonight, I asked the P.O. about that pulley guard and he said it was in the parts boxes. Nope I said so he looked in the trunk of his car and there it was! Don't have to fabricate one after all! This one is a 197cc Honda clone, two stage 22" MTD manufactured in 2008. The other one is pretty old. 5HP briggs 24" "Western Auto" brand. Don't know who may have built the W.A. one for them. I guess we need snow again now to test out the new one---wait I don't want no more stinkin' snow---! Winter ain't over by a long shot yet.

DAC

 

[4getgto]

These are a few products I use to make plastics look new.


They don't last forever but make a world of difference. Just let them dry real good.
Below is a Craftsman with the plastic that looked similar to yours..

 

[MFDAC]

These are a few products I use to make plastics look new.

They don't last forever but make a world of difference. Just let them dry real good.
Below is a Craftsman with the plastic that looked similar to yours..

Thanks for the heads up on those products! I have heard of 303 before, but have not used either. That machine looks like brand-new! I'll probably try some stuff I have laying around here for now but didn't get to it yet.

Tonight the new belts got here already so they went on, everything works great still. Needed to do a couple other things so that was it on the snow blower. Did test the "emergency" kill switch and it worked well too. Just a plastic key that you can pull out and it won't start without it shoved in the switch.

DAC

 

[4getgto]

Thanks for the heads up on those products! I have heard of 303 before, but have not used either. That machine looks like brand-new! I'll probably try some stuff I have laying around here for now but didn't get to it yet.

Tonight the new belts got here already so they went on, everything works great still. Needed to do a couple other things so that was it on the snow blower. Did test the "emergency" kill switch and it worked well too. Just a plastic key that you can pull out and it won't start without it shoved in the switch.

DAC

Had one guy that "thought" the plastic key turned...!
Nope....and they're 2-3 bucks a piece..