How to Remove the Engine From a Riding Mower
If you want to rebuild your riding lawn mower engine, or it is broken, you must remove the engine from the mower frame. This is harder than it sounds, as there is a variety of connections from the engine to the mower. Removing the engine yourself will save the few hundred dollars a mechanic would charge.
Follow the fuel hose from the base of your gas tank to the carburetor on the side of the lawn mower engine. The hose will be clamped onto the carburetor. Squeeze the clamp with the pliers and slide it up the hose a few inches. Pull the hose off the carburetor and direct the hose into the bucket. Allow all the gas to flow out.
- If you want to rebuild your riding lawn mower engine, or it is broken, you must remove the engine from the mower frame.
- Follow the fuel hose from the base of your gas tank to the carburetor on the side of the lawn mower engine.
Locate the throttle linkage. It should be right under the carburetor. A cable from the gas petal or throttle will be screwed into this location. Use the correct type of screwdriver to unscrew the throttle linkage cable.
Locate the riding lawn mower starter if it is an electric start mower. The starter will be on the side of the engine and will look like a pop can. Unscrew the red cable bolted to the side of the starter with the proper size wrench.
- Locate the throttle linkage.
- A cable from the gas petal or throttle will be screwed into this location.
Place the correct size wrench on top of the bolts holding the base of the engine to the riding lawn mower frame. The wrench on top will prevent the bolt from spinning when you remove the nut. Unscrew the nuts off the bolts located on the underside of the riding lawn mower frame.
Lean the engine forward. Slip the belt off the pulley on the crankshaft coming out of the base of the engine.
Pick up the engine and set it off the mower frame.
Remove The Starter Gear From A Kohler Mower Engine
Park your Kohler riding mower on a flat, hard surface, such as a driveway or sidewalk. Turn the lawn mower off, remove the ignition key and engage the parking brake. Open the hood and allow the mower to cool completely. Remove the red battery cable in the same manner. Grasp the starter's bottom nut that holds the red battery cable onto it with a pair of pliers. Turn the nut counterclockwise to loosen it and remove it. Pull the starter solenoid wire off the starter. It is a small wire that connects to the starter top. Rotate the tube away from the starter. Replace the opposite end of the red battery cable onto the battery and fasten the wing nut clockwise. Push the spark plug boot, or boots, firmly onto the spark plugs.
- Place the correct size wrench on top of the bolts holding the base of the engine to the riding lawn mower frame.
- Unscrew the nuts off the bolts located on the underside of the riding lawn mower frame.
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Writer Bio
Mark O'Brien started his professional writing career in 2000 at the "Newman Grove Reporter" newspaper. He was an English tutor while in school and earned an Associate of Arts in English from Northeast Community College. O'Brien indulges his mechanical side by fixing mowers part-time.
