Notes to Self

[Bar Nuthin 1,783]

I figured we needed a thread to capture some of the boneheaded moves we make when doing what should be routine stuff.

I'll start.

 

Note to Self: When you've got your transaxle put back together and you're ready to fill it with fluid - double check your parts tray to see if the drain plug might still be laying there. 

Edited Thursday at 02:51 AM by Bar Nuthin

[ri702bill 10,538]

Nah, that's just called "Priming the threads on the Drain." Gotta make sure it works when you need it again! 

[Treepep 935]

 

 

I (WE) square folks all have a lot of plates spinning or whatever the best metaphor is?  I have done that more times than I care to admit.  Fixing supper, cycling laundry, mowing, doing an

 

oil change, watering my garden, taxes etc. etc. etc.  Uh oops drain plug is not in.  Oil not usually.  Antifreeze I do that often. 

 

Life may be easier with a significant??? or more complicated.  I.D.K.I am super single.  I intend to stay

 

that way.  All the things land on me.  either way no harm no foul really right?  Slight frustration and you catch it before you pour all the fluid soon good

[ebinmaine 75,619]

8 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

check your parts tray to see if the drain plug might still be laying there

 

 

I've definitely done similar. I'm also quite proud of the fact that I have multiple times, attempted to start an engine powered by gasoline without actually having gasoline in it or, perhaps, leave the gasoline flow valve shut. Neither of these things works very well at all.

[JoeM 9,272]

slightly different but the same.

Leaving the PTO on, and trying to start a WH? 

I know a guy that went to town and bought a new battery then called when it would not start. Is the PTO on? crickets......I'll call you back!

[JoeM 9,272]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Priming the threads on the Drain

Or flushing out the bottom residue. That is my story. 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,783]

Drain plug in - check

Oil in - check

Gassed up - check

PTO disengaged - check

Battery charged - check

Fire it up and... it's somehow raining oil???!!!

Oops - Dip stick reinserted in fill tube? - Not Check

 

I have heard that can happen...

 

[953 nut 62,949]

44 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

it's somehow raining oil???!!!

Splash lubrication should be kept inside the engine.         

[WHX?? 53,247]

Oh do I have a bunch of these ... Gas cock off/tank empty ... multiple times. Trying to diagnose no start with the spark wire not on the coil... 

[8ntruck 8,326]

I went to start tiny two stroke Toro snowthrower yesterday.

 

Gas full.  Check.

Primer pumped. Check.

Choke on. Check.

 

5 or 6 starter rope pulls later with no indication of it wanting to start.

 

Step back, scratch head.  

 

Ignition on? Not check.

 

[JoeM 9,272]

I got to thinking about this and my last snafu 

I was working on Frankie and needed to run it and check some things. 

Robbed a battery out of another and hooked it up in Frankie.

Hit start (I have one of those solenoids with the button to activate, tractor is not wired yet) and the starter just spun, the bend-ex did not engage. Worked fine the last time. HMMMM

Messed around poking and prodding. Well got to take starter off. 

Went to unhook battery and seen the + and - crossed. Starter was spinning backward. That bend-ex was never coming out. 

Hmmm dumb a$$. I believe I done this on an xi with using the key switch one time. 

[ebinmaine 75,619]

8 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Splash lubrication should be kept inside the engine.         

 

You n your technicalities.....

[Bar Nuthin 1,783]

12 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Nah, that's just called "Priming the threads on the Drain." Gotta make sure it works when you need it again! 

 

Note to self: Remember that line for future reference. 

[JoeM 9,272]

Ok, question, who has tried to start their generator with the ignition switch off? 

I have

 

[ebinmaine 75,619]

40 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Ok, question, who has tried to start their generator with the ignition switch off? 

I have

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep

[Handy Don 15,097]

52 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Ok, question, who has tried to start their generator with the ignition switch off? 

I have

You talkin’ to me? 

 

Of course, it was night and the power was out and I’m sweating bullets that it won’t start.

Switch to run, one pull, and off it goes. Whew!

But it never happened--your word against mine. 

[WHX?? 53,247]

Now where did I leave that handy light? Haven't seen it for years. Had a magnet that would stick anywhere. Sure was handy wonder where it went? 

For those of you that don't know it you can't change the oil on a 520 with a deuce on without taking the hood off...

Edited 15 hours ago by WHX??

[SylvanLakeWH 29,783]

Ya know @WHX??... that Brinly plow you sold me had a money clip and a bunch of 10 mm sockets stuck all over it... I vaguely recall @Achto and @Pullstart mumbling about some plow field with a money tree???

 

I wasn't sure what to do with them, so I just spent the money on tractors, promptly lost all the 10 mm sockets, and now I need a light to find my wallet... can i borrow yours? 

Edited 18 hours ago by SylvanLakeWH

[Achto 30,161]

On 12/11/2025 at 9:15 AM, JoeM said:

Went to unhook battery and seen the + and - crossed.

 

Jim & I went on a short trip to purchase a 520 for $1.00. Guy said that it would crank over but would not start. Pushed it on the trailer, paid the man & away we went. Got it home & discovered that he had hooked the battery up backwards. Placed the cables on correctly & it fired right up.

[Achto 30,161]

Rebuilt a B&S model 19 engine. Reinstalled it, hooked up the gas line, wired the starter/gen up, double checked every thing, & fired it up. Ran for about 30seconds then notice smoke coming out of the breather. SHUT IT DOWN !!!. 

 

Note to self: Pull the dip stick & make sure you put oil in it before starting.

Edited 17 hours ago by Achto

[WHX?? 53,247]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

make sure you put oil in it before starting.

Never done that on a rebuild but ... ahhh ... yeah maybe shoulda checked the oil on that new to ... 

 

Like the time someone lost their gas cap and accused everybody at the show of takin it  ... to find it laying on top the head after how much running around at show?!?!?! 

Edited 15 hours ago by WHX??

[JoeM 9,272]

10 hours ago, Achto said:

make sure you put oil in it

And that is why I have a orange tag that ties to the key saying "no oil". Cause I know I'm going to do just that when I leave and I coming back later.

[Pullstart 68,507]

Glad I’ve never done anything silly to be in this thread….

 

[ebinmaine 75,619]

53 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Glad I’ve never done anything silly to be in this thread….

 

 

Hahahahahahahahaha

[953 nut 62,949]

On 12/10/2025 at 9:50 PM, Bar Nuthin said:

double check your parts tray to see if the drain plug might still be laying there.

Glad you made this post. Changed the oil in the 418-C yesterday. Drained the old oil, drain cap sitting on the foot rest, put the funnel in the fill tube, measured the new oil to be put in, got a phone call, went over to neighbor's house to assist him, came back, picked up the oil can - - - - stopped, asked myself "What would @Bar Nuthin do next?" Put the oil can down, looked at the foot rest, installed the drain plug and saved myself from wasting a quart and a half of oil.