Posted by Chris Jones on May 15, 2014 at 08:10:54 from (71.71.58.79):
I've been doing small engine work for a few years now. I had a customer drop off a tiller this AM and he said he ran it down a row yesterday and then he left it idling while he did something else. It cut off and neither the battery starter or the pull starter will turn it over now. He said the battery had been weak and I hoped the pull starter was just jammed. I remove the pull starter and it's completely fine. I checked the transmission clutch and found it was engaged so I put it in neutral hoping it was just stupidity. No go. I finally got a 12" breaker bar and socket on the nut under the pull starter and with that was able to turn the engine with some effort. So I checked the oil dipstick. Nothing! In an effort to see just how low it was, I drained the oil and got maybe 2 oz out of it. It looks like it probably is supposed to hold 20oz. At this point I think it's fairly obvious it was running with insufficient oil and has seized/partially seized as I can turn it now with considerable effort using the pull starter--it will not spin and I doubt I can pull it fast enough to start it.
Is there any point in doing any more? Should I tell the customer the engine is shot or give them any hope that with new oil and a lot of turning perhaps it'll loosen up enough to start and with running free up any more? At this point I probably will not charge anything but if I have to spend more time I'll have to charge. Frankly I'm not sure if it would free up any or not. Rebuilding the engine may or may not be feasible as I don't know what a mess has been done inside and if it's limited to the main bearings, the connecting rod bearings or the piston and cylinder. I can replace parts but I'm not set up to resurface cranks or hone cylinders etc. I'm sure this customer will accept running--even if it's smoking heavily if possible.
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