Got the 149 home yesterday
 

I got the 149 home yesterday. Left it on the trailer last night, it was darn cold in SW Missouri. About 6 this morning, but this afternoon was in the 40's.

So being of unsound mind I took off the carb and went to the lawn mower shop and got what i needed to rebuild it. Soaked it in acetone, and did the rebuild, put it back together, put a fuel filter inline and poured in some gas. Hooked up a jumper battery, turned the key and it tried to crank, but cranked over hard. Took several bumps to get past TDC on the piston.

I took the head off to see what was happening with the ACR, but I could see no action to move the valve up a bit to releave the compression. Do you guys think I might adjust the valves a little and be lucky and that fix it? or does it mean take the engine out to fix that problem.

Someone had been into the head recently, it was almost clean, with no carbon build up. I'm wondering if thats where forward progress stopped on getting it going with the PO. The young man I got it from traded for it.

Oh, I might add, the valves seem to work as they should when the engine would be running.

Tomorrow is a new day, not to be so cold as the last few have been.
I'll be awaiting an answer, (and I hope it is what I want to hear)

Dave in SW Missouri

Good luck with it.You will get it running. The might need ajusted.

Congrats on getting the 149. That is the one left I want to get hopefully this year sometime. Keep us posted on how things go.

Try adjusting the valves by the manual, you can adjust the valves to eliminate the acr valve lift by accident ask me how I know.

Acr
 

Depending on todays temps I'll try adjusting the valves. Hopefully that will do the necessary, but we'll see. My workshop is just outside the storage shed door, so the temp has to get up a little before any works commences.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, and I'll keep you posted.
Dave in SWMissouri

Acr
 

I adjusted the valves today, didn't fix anything. The ACR obviously isn't working, so I guess that means the engine comes out. I tried the jumper cables on my Jimmy and switching the key to start draws a high current from the jumper battery and alternator on the Jimmy. I may have the S/G checked before I take the engine completely out, but I could not see nor feel the exhaust valve move on the compression release stroke. With the head off the engine the S/G spun it like I thought it was suppose to. So, I guess it comes out.

Wasn't what I wanted to do, but I guess that's what I will do.

Dave R

Is it possible to pull the cam cover and have a look at the ACR prior to pulling the engine? I thought I read a past thread that it was possible.

I'm having a similar issue in my 125. It was starting ok. I replacing the old wiring harness. The posts on the SG were in bad shape so I rebuilt the SG. While doing this I noticed the SG pulley keyway was damaged and the key was missing. I got a new pulley and found out it was the wrong diameter. It was 2.5" instead of 3.0". The old pulley was 3.0". Local dealer is getting me the correct size pulley. With the 2.5" the engine did the same thing. It would just roll over and stop at TDC. New pulley should be in first of the week so I will know more then.

I have a new battery fully charged. I might have an ACR issue as well. I set my valves and did notice the exhaust valve lifting slightly on the compression stroke so I assumed ACR was working ok. My valves were on the tight side but are adjusted now.

Acr
 

Cef2lion,
I would think your ACR is working ok if you can see the exhaust valve opening every so slightly. All is does it barely crack open to relieve some pressure. Mine does not move. I even tightened all the slack out of the tappet to valve stem, and it still did not move. I set it back to where the clearance was suppose to be, put it back together and decided I had to look inside sooner or later. Maybe tomorrow.

I, like you, am not sure how to see the weights and springs inside the engine. The service manual says its nearly fool proof and either a spring has broken or slipped off. I'm going to the lawn mower shop here in town and get the spring replacements before I go into it. If that is the problem I'll fix it on the spot. If not, well, we'll go from there.

LOL had to reword this post. There is a cam cover to the lower right of the carb about 3 or 4 inches tall and an inch or so thick. You should be able to remove that cover and the weights and spring will be right there where you can see them. You may have to rotate the engine to make sure the spring is attached correctly.

You can see the rectangular opening in this picture:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...R/Image000.jpg

Weights and spring
 

I'm going to take off the camshaft cover tomorrow and see if I can see the spring on the ACR. I do not have any compression release.
Dave

Let me go get a picture of the camshaft with spring and weights so you know what your looking for. BRB

Here are a couple of pictures. If the spring is not attached as it is here you should be able to reach in and slide it over the weight to reattach it. If the ACR tab is broken you will need either a new weight and tab or a good used Cam.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...r/Image000.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...r/Image001.jpg

Acr
 

Hey thanks so much for the pictures. That helps a lot. How close to the side of the motor case will the spring/weight side be? Is there room enough to get the spring back on with some needle nose pliers, or replace it if need be without taking the camshaft, etc. out of the block?

The manual says the mechanism is relatively fool proof and the spring is about all that goes wrong with it. I guess we'll see.
Thanks again
Dave in SW Missouri

Acr
 

I got a visual on it now in my mind how it looks inside the engine. I see the two lifting lobes on the camshaft, so now I know where the weights and springs are relative to the whole part. I'll slip that cover off tomorrow and see what I can see in there. I hope it has just slipped off the weight.
Dave

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I am actually amazed that spring even works, once you see it you will understand.. It is very flimsy. But then again all it has to do is keep the weights pulled in while the motor is starting. Once started, centrifugal force causes the weights to sling out thus lowering the acr tab and not keeping the valve open all the time. Pretty cool design. I am completely replacing my cam. It is good but I want one that is a bit more beefy, if you need a cam let me know.

Thanks DX3
 

Thanks DX3 and all the friends that have answered regarding the ACR.

I appreciate all the help. Going to try tomorrow to see whats going on in there. Hope the spring can be slipped back on, we'll see.
Dave

Update today ACR
 

Heres where we are:
Took off the inspection plate at the cam gear with the dipstick sticking out. Turned the engine slowly to look at the gear/weights/spring assembly. The spring was in place, however, the tab was bent down. I have no idea how it got bent down, but I place a flat blade screwdriver under it and eased it back up straight. Put it back together and had compression release like it should.

A few tries with the starter and it fired up. I had overhauled the carb, but I did not have the parts to rebuild the vertical throttle shaft. It has lots of wear and is loose, even jiggles around while its running. So needless to say it did not run well and trying to adjust the jets was a waste of time with this slop in the shaft.

I did, however, idle it down slow and drove it around the yard and engaged the mower deck. Inspite of running VERY rough, it seemed to have plenty of power and ran the mower ok. It was pleased the hydrostat worked as did the lift.

So, a little more work on the carb and I think we are on the home stretch. Its been a fun and learning day for this ole man.

I'm thankful for everyones help too!
Dave

Outstanding. Glad to hear things are looking up. The throttle shaft repair is quite easy. I did one years ago and was my first one and it came out good. Keep us up to date.

:beerchug:

Dave check this out for the throttle shaft problem your having.

http://cubfaq.com/throttle.html

Now its running but knocks
 

I got the 149 running today, done some carb work, had a bad time getting it to run, right, miss, die, run, miss die, etc. I finally put the old spark plug back in it and it ran of sorts. It will idle fairly well, but doesn't want to throttle up without just dying out.

Now the real problem is, if I throttle it up slow and keep messing with it to keep it from dying, it knocks bad. I suspect thats rod knock, but its loud. So I didn't run it long, figuring sooner or later something might come out the side.

I guess its time to put it aside for a while, save up some $$$ and overhaul it. Never done that, but there is no need to let that stop me.

Keep you posted.
Dave in SW Missouri

Thanks for the update, Dave! :beerchug: