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SW48 trials and tribulations

B

blystons

Member
I admit it. The SW48 I bought a year ago went untouched since the final snowstorm in April. I meant to tackle all kinds of projects, but you know how it is. Here was my punishment when I started to prepare for the snow season.

1. Turn key. Nothing.
2. Charge battery.
3. Turn key. Nothing.
4. Try jumping solenoid, direct to starter. Nothing.
5. Uh oh- engine lock?
6. See 4th lug on solenoid. Hmmm. Jumper cable slipped - wee!!! that did it. OK, starter is fine. solenoid bad.
7. After two new flexible sockets, finally sawzall solenoid off.
8. New solenoid. Wires corroded.
9. New Pos battery cable, clean the rest.
10. yahoo - starter engages.
11. fresh gas, pump pedal.
12. Engine starts and dies, starts and dies. over and over. Runs maybe 5 seconds at a time. - thinking fuel starve, oh goody - how hard will the fuel pump be to change?
13. Remove fuel line at carb - can hold in one hand while other hand stretchs for key - turn key - hose down barn with gas. Nice pressure!
14. Must be fuel restriction at carb. Funny brass fitting where fuel enters carb - remove. What is it? Could be small filter?
15. Take fitting to NAPA - seems to be backflow valve and is stuck.
16. Clean backflow valve, hook fuel lines back to carb.
17. Turn key - starts and runs!!!!
18. Victory dance.
19. Turn around - engine on fire.
20. shut down. Alternator still burning. Grab rag.
21. Alternator siezed, belt shredded and burned.
22. New alternator - hey only $42!
23. Smartly use string to measure for belt - 48". Take old belt for size to NAPA and get new belt.
24. Stare at all the pulleys, realize belt must go around 3 of them, not two. Realize that fan mount and hydraulic pump must come out to change this belt.
25. Purchase outrageously expensive size 3 PowerTwist make-a-link belt.
26. Install belt.
27. Humming along waiting on snow.

Not expensive, not difficult, but what a pain in the butt. I gotta find time for maintenance in the offseasons. Another winter plowing with minimal brakes. I am screwed if something serious breaks on this thing.
 
Sorry, but a got a good laugh out of your trouble (or at least how you described it).:biggrin:

Left to sit, no matter how long, when you go to use anything it always seems to crap out as soon as you REALLY need it. However, I have a friend who never does preventative maintenance, only disaster management. He can park something in a field for 10 years, then jump in it, have it fire right up, then drive it away! Never works for me!
 
I can start everything I own, no matter how long it has been sitting - as long as I don't NEED to use it. If I need it, it will fail. Why I am hooked on old iron is beyond explanation.
 
Spend the money and buy a good fire extinguisher before you work on things again. I have them at every personnel door in my building. When I am using a torch or doing anything with a fuel system I place one within arms reach. Cheaper than rebuilding after a fire.
 
Thanks for the good laugh, I needed it! I'm sure you weren't laughing at the time but to put it down in words like that must have given you a chuckle.
I'm glad you got it going, finally.
 
:applause: its a grate story it made me laugh sorry. i use mine to make trails and move drit. i've found the more i run mine the beter it runs. i have a sw48 manuals you need. send your email and ill send you the books. it sounds like your going to need them:w00t2:
 
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