Last fall, just after changing the oil in my Honda powered lawn mower I experienced a serious timing belt issue that I documented on an existing thread here:
bitog
I probably should have started a new thread then so I will attempt to make amends by starting one now that finishes the story.
The timing belt on the mower engine came off of the cam sprocket but did not break. When my property manager took it to our local small engine shop this past winter, they told him (us) that the cases would need to be split and that the cost would be $300+.
This mower only cost $280 so that was out of the question. I did some research and ordered a new and improved valve cover with a built in cam belt retainer. It seems as though I am not the only one who has experienced this problem.
Here is a pic of both valve covers.....
And here pic is one of the old valve cover.....
And another of the new valve cover featuring the new belt retainer.
This also involved making sure that the cam & crank were in time. This turned out to be a lot easier than the internet would lead you to believe. Basically, all you need to do is move the flywheel to where the magnets meet the magneto. You can see the magnet in the flywheel just to the right of the spark plug lead where it goes to the magneto here.
Then all you need to do is line up the marks on the cam sprocket to the head. It's hard to see the marks here but it really isn't difficult.
So far it runs better than ever and I think and hope that this is a permanent solution but only time will tell.
bitog
I probably should have started a new thread then so I will attempt to make amends by starting one now that finishes the story.
The timing belt on the mower engine came off of the cam sprocket but did not break. When my property manager took it to our local small engine shop this past winter, they told him (us) that the cases would need to be split and that the cost would be $300+.
This mower only cost $280 so that was out of the question. I did some research and ordered a new and improved valve cover with a built in cam belt retainer. It seems as though I am not the only one who has experienced this problem.
Here is a pic of both valve covers.....
And here pic is one of the old valve cover.....
And another of the new valve cover featuring the new belt retainer.
This also involved making sure that the cam & crank were in time. This turned out to be a lot easier than the internet would lead you to believe. Basically, all you need to do is move the flywheel to where the magnets meet the magneto. You can see the magnet in the flywheel just to the right of the spark plug lead where it goes to the magneto here.
Then all you need to do is line up the marks on the cam sprocket to the head. It's hard to see the marks here but it really isn't difficult.
So far it runs better than ever and I think and hope that this is a permanent solution but only time will tell.
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