The "New" Pony Runs!

I decided to tackle the "new" Pony I had picked up yesterday.  I really didn't know what to expect, but if I've learned anything from working on engines over the years, it's that you take what previous owners say very lightly.

"The engine is seized."

Well, it was time to verify that myself.  I took off the engine with three bolts and was actually quite disappointed to find out that the recoil assembly is missing completely.  Yesterday, I foolishly assumed that just the starter rope handle was missing.  I was way wrong.  Underneath the shroud was nothing at all!  No rope!  No recoil starter!  I really HAD purchased a piece of junk!

I took my hand and slowly tried to spin the flywheel.  Was a rod broken?  Was the piston rusted to the sidewall?  I pushed down on the flywheel.  It moved.  WHAT?!  It moved freely.  I felt the piston move up and then down again.  I regrabbed the flywheel and did it again.  I could hear the piston move air through the cylinder.  It had compression.  WHAT?!

The engine spun freely!  The engine wasn't seized after all!

I was ecstatic!  Maybe this wasn't such a bad purchase after all!  Having no pull rope, I tried to do it the old-fashioned way with a rope hand-spun around the flywheel bolt.  It was too small, though, and I couldn't get the rope to turn the flywheel.  So I decided to try the next best thing:  the electric starter!

I wheeled the tiller out to my truck and tried to jumpstart the engine.  Much to my surprise, the electric starter spun freely!  The engine turned over!  I sprayed some started fluid in the carb, and I couldn't believe it again, but the engine tried to fire!

Jumpstarting the tiller with my truck!

WHAT?!

I decided I was all-in now.  So I took apart the carburetor and gave it a good cleaning.  I took off the gas tank and threw out the VERY old gas.  I mean, this gas smelled from five feet away.  It was so tarnished.  I went to the gas station, picked up some new gas, put some new gas in, put the gas tank back on, put the carb back together, and decided to give it a shot.

I hooked the tiller back up to my truck, and even more to my surprise, the engine started!!!  Not only did it start, but the engine started and purred like a kitten!  This hunk o' junk purred like a kitten!!!

Not knowing the condition of the oil (I did check it), I didn't let it run for too long.

But the engine ran...and actually ran great!!!  I was so thrilled.  I put it through the high and low RPM's, and it just purred beautifully.  I take so much satisfaction in taking items which are worthless to someone else and giving them new life.

What started out as a desire to restore a Horse is quickly becoming a fun hobby.  I now have THREE Troy-Bilts...all acquired in just about a month!  I am loving this...all three were in non-running or poor-running condition, and now all three run great!

The collection!  The 1982 Pony, the 1977 Horse, and the 1979 Pony.  All run great!