All of the sudden, it just died!

[Jeff]

I had started the mill and let it warm up a little bit after I put the saw head all the way up because I was geting ready to cut the legs off a 3 legged table to level it.  I got the table set and then engaged the clutch and BLAH. Died. Would not fire for nothing. I figured it was fuel, flooded some how. Well. I left it set and went back out and just jumped up on it to do a visual and found this. 

3 guesses? 

[GF]

Possibly a 12V alternator connector, or starter solenoid connector.

[Jeff]

close, you get one more guess... ;)

[Dan_Shade]

battery terminal?

[Rockn H]

Looks oftly clean.  Are you sure it came off the mill?  I'm sure it couldn't have come off of mine. :D :D

[ely]

head bolt

[Rockn H]

Since you said you got up on the mill.  Could it be off of the coil?

[Jeff]

Since you said you got up on the mill.  Could it be off of the coil?

Bingo.

Positive coil terminal. I just put that coil on this spring. Not surehow that could have broken like that. It still had one connector hanging on to it is why I found the end. I am hoping the coil on th engine that Kevin gave me at the pig roast is good.

[Jeff]

I should have said the photo was NOT actual size.  :D

[twoodward15]

time to look in the mirror boss.  You're a pretty big dude ya know!!  Just snug, just snug.

[Jeff]

Well, that coil has been on there a while, the mill has sawn several thousand feet since the coil was installed. If I had had it break in my hand I suppose I would consider blaming myself for overtightening, but, do to the circumstances I hardly think that torque had anything to do with it. I am more inclined to think that when I put the head all the way up, a wire was drawn tight somehow. Dont know what else to think.

[Fla._Deadheader]

Make a piggy tail curly thingy in the wire to allow for dem tings, EH ??

[Jeff]

I will now.

[Rockn H]

I don't know Boss, I would think it was just a stress crack( break).  Those motors vibrate a good bit.  If it was from a wire being pulled to tight, I'd think the wire should have been pulled out of it's terminal before it broke the bolt.  Just me thinking out loud. ;)

[Bro. Noble]

You might be able to look at the break and tell if it was a fatigue break or a break from overtightening.

Lots of times a broken part will show an old break most of the way through and the final break will be shiny and could have been caused by a small stress or overload.

[Kevin_H.]

Hey Boss, that coil from the old motor should be good, it was running when we took it off, On one cylinder, but it was running. :D

[rebocardo]

From working on heavy duty trucks, you learn not to overtighten some of the smaller non-grade 8 bolts as such that you find on batteries, coils, etc. because if you overtighten them, then after it is subject to vibration (tractor trailer on the road) the part will fail because it is already beyond its yield strength.

Once beyond its yield strength it is only a matter of time before vibration bends it back and forth like a coat hanger and snaps it.

A good rule of thumb I use is to use a 1/4 ratchet, hold my fingers at the head (not handle) and tighten it until it does not move. That give about 3-5 foot pounds max for a 1/4" bolt. Most docs on small electrical connectors require 15 INCH pounds of force.

Yea, I thought it was the alternator stud too.

[iain]

Hey jeff if you gonna be a furniture maker
got a 6tpi blade made to cut them legs 
makes a real smooth cut ;) ;)


iain
   

[SawDust_Studios]

Heck, I wanna see a pic of the 3 legged table clamped to the mill  :D

You do a kitchen table for me, it's got a bit of a wobble.

[Jeff]

I can do that when it gets light and if it quits raining. I got the legs cut but its still on the mill.

[chet]

I had started the mill and let it warm up a little bit after I put the saw head all the way up because I was geting ready to cut the legs off a 3 legged table to level it.  I got the table set and then engaged the clutch and BLAH. Died. Would not fire for nothing. I figured it was fuel, flooded some how. Well. I left it set and went back out and just jumped up on it to do a visual and found this. 

3 guesses? 

When ya look closely, dat stud don't have saw marks does it?   ???   ;D

[Jeff]

Dats really really funny der yooper boy. >:(  ;)  :D

[Gary_C]

Jeff

Thats a good idea on the table legs. However it reminded me of the guy I used to work with in the Twin Cities. He bought a very nice antique table and drove his Mercedes Benz all the way to Pennsylvannia to pick it up. He threw a furniture pad on the roof and tied that fine table on the car with the legs sticking up. When he arrived back home after driving 2400 miles over many days, he pulled into his driveway, reached up and hit the button on his garage door opener, drove into his garage, and made firewood out of that table.  ;D ;D

It was at least 6 months before he confessed to what he had done.

[Jeff]

AND THAT reminds me of what my dad did one time.  We lived on the salt river, which runs in a deep river valley. We lived on the crest of the hill. Well, dad used to mow part of the hill by tying a rope to the mower and lowering it down and pulling it up. Well, he burnt up a couple 4 cycle mowers because of the angle they were on. No lube. SO... He decided that he was going to splurge and buy a lawn boy 2 cycle.  He went down to the ace hardware in midland and picked one up. Hauled it hom,e in the trunk of the 76 ford LTD. When he got home, he pulled into the carport and popped the trunk, then got out and unloaded the mower behind the car.  Mom hollered out to him so he goes inside to see what she wants. Not sure what it was noow, or where it was that he needed to go right away, but he jumped in the car and took off backwards. Yep, right up on the New Lawn Boy. He didnt go far as the mower caught, tipped up on edge, and the deck held both rear wheels off the ground.  I didnt here it happen , but I heard it after he got out of the car. This was one of thosre things that "could even make a preacher cuss"  :D    I HEARD THAT! :D

He had to use a jack to get the mower out. THe poor thing was like a table with one leg to short. push it down on one corner and another cornere would lift 2 inches off the ground. :D

[Furby]

Gotten a couple mowers like that before.............. now I know how they got that way! :D :D :D