Crafstman Lawn Mower Running Choppy / Idles Low Then Dies

So, as if I weren't already having enough problems, my Craftsman lawn mower decided not to work.

Craftsman Rotary Lawn Mower - 675 Briggs & Stratton

The Problem
When I pull start the mower, it idles low like it's trying to get gas and it idles up and down. It almost sounds like it's choking. If I put the handle to the ground and tilt the lawn mower up it seems to run better.

The Solution
I figured this problem out. The lever that controls the carburetor had just enough gunk around the mechanism so that it wasn't moving freely when the engine needed it to.

So I cleaned the outside area of the carburetor with carburetor cleaner. Then I took off the plastic covers and sprayed the carburetor lever and its related parts with a spray lubricant (like WD-40) and moved it back and forth to get the lubricant to settle in. I used the Midwest Engine 5106b "Briggs and Stratton" Tune up Kit to change the air filter, spark plug, oil, and add gas additive.

I put it all back together and it started right up and now it runs fine!

For reference, the exact lawn mower I own is a Craftsman Rotary Lawn Mower - 675 Briggs & Stratton Engine (Model Number 917.388132). If you have this same lawn mower, you can download the Craftsman owner's manual for it here for free.

Painting Motorcycle Wheels at Home

Ok, so. I took on the project of painting the rims on my motorcycle (1986 Yamaha BW80). I read up on the Internet on what I needed to do to make sure it didn't turn out to be a crappy paintjob (peel or scratch/chip).

I sanded and wirebrushed the entire wheel really well. I sprayed it off with water, made sure all the dust was gone, and cleaned it with mineral spirits to remove any residue. I made sure everything was dry. Then I sprayed auto primer (two coats) and within about an hour of spraying the primer I sprayed two coats of paint. I was really happy with the result (to the right).

However, after it dried I tried lightly chipping at a hidden section of the paint and it came off way to easy. The auto primer did hold up pretty well, but the paint came off much to easily.

So here are my thoughts: I am wondering if I should have scuffed up the primer with some high grit sandpaper before I painted. I've read something about using a hairdryer to the paint at some point during the drying process, but not so sure about that. If you've ever successfully painted metal wheels, or any metal for that matter, I'd love some advice.

2008 Dodge Durango SLT Turns Over But the Engine Wont Start

I'm hoping that my experience with our Durango can help someone who may be having a similar problem.

We've been having some problems with our 2008 Dodge Durango SLT over the last few months. Every time I go to start it up it turns over just fine but the engine will not start. Normally the second time I try it, it starts up just fine. In addition, when the gas tank is below 1/4 tank, on rare occasions, I'll be at a stop, press on the gas, and the SUV doesn't go anywhere, almost like it's not getting fuel. After a few seconds, it gets fuel and we are off again. It's happens unexpectedly and seldom, but it's enough that I know there's a problem.

I tried to start it up the other day, but it wouldn't start after multiple attempts, although it was turning over, trying to start.

The problem was happening most often when the Dodge Durango was low on gas (below a quarter tank). I talked to a couple people at AutoZone who told me not to run it below a quarter tank, and to run some gas additive called "Tune Up In a Bottle" through the Durango's fuel system. I did that, filled it up with gasoline, and it worked! Unfortunately, the next day it would start at all. It had nearly a full tank still. So, I was back at square one.

I took our Dodge Durango to a local mechanic who came highly recommended by my brother in law and five or six 5 star reviews on Google Places. He ran the diagnostic codes and discovered that the battery was going bad, which I already knew. He said putting the battery in might solve the problem. The mechanic at VienTiane couldn't get my Durgano to repeat the problem. Everytime he tried to start it with the old battery, and the new battery, it started up just fine.

So, I'm back home with a new battery in my Durango and it started just fine every time I tried it today. So we'll see what happens over the next few days. I'll post an update on whether or not the new battery fixed the problem.

1 Day Later
So, its the next day and the truck has started fine every time so far..half tank of gas. I'll continue to update.

3 Days Later
The Durango has been starting awesome. It's getting lower on gas, which is when it tends to not want to start the most, so we'll see. I have a hard time believing that the battery could have solved all of the problems we were having. I could have sworn it had something to do with the fuel system. Especially when I would push the gas pedal and the SUV would go for a few seconds. I'll keep updating. 6 Days Later The Durango was low on gas over this last weekend...almost empty (which is when it would act up). It's been starting great every time. Hoping the problem is solved! I'll update again in a couple of weeks, unless there's a problem.

Fulmer AF-C1 Youth XL Helmet - Red Rockstar

We recently bought this dirt bike helmet for my kids from The Quad & Cycle Shop on 3419 South South State Street in Salt Lake City. 

It's a Fulmer AF-C1 Youth XL (Red Rockstar Color). It looks good and my kids seem to like it. It was on clearance for only $40.00.

If you can't visit the Quad and Cycle Shop in Salt Lake City, Utah, check out Amazon for good deals on dirtbike helmets.

Bacchus Highway ATV Trails in Utah

Recently, for the second time, we went to the ATV Trails just off of Bacchus Highway. We had my brother-in-law's Polaris RZR (side by side ATV) out there for the first time today. I didn't think it would be as fun as it was, because it's relatively flat and bumpy, with only a few hills to climb etc. It ended up being a blast though!

Here's a Google map of the trails we went on (tracked with the Android application "My Tracks"):

View Bacchus ATV Trail in a larger map


For anyone who hasn't been out to Bacchus Highway ATV Trails, but wants to go, here's where it's at.


Here's a video doing a pretty long stretch of the trails off Bacchus Highway.

About our Dirtbikes (2005 ATM 125cc & 1986 Yamaha BW80)

We recently bought two motorcycles for a few hundred dollars each. We found a Yamaha Big Wheel 80cc (BW80) that was in OK condition, ran fine, but needs some paint and a couple of easy parts.

I weigh around 220 pounds and can easily ride it. My wife and 10 year old daughter have ridden it too. My daughter did fine but tipped it once learning how to turn around with limited space.

The other bike we bought is a 2005 ChonQing ATM ATI125GYI. It's in awesome condition for a bike that's six years old, although I layed it down in some sandy dirt yesterday and broke the clutch lever, which I need to replace. I found a place that offers parts for this bike...it's at http://www.skyteamcanada.com.

We are just getting into ATV'ing as of this summer. So far, other than our two dirtbikes, our family members have bought a 2005 Polaris Sportsman and a 2009 Polaris RZR S. Bothe are way fun. The RZR seems to be able to handle terrain that the sportsman can't. However, it's got its limits.

Unfortunately, the season is winding down, but we still have some warm days left. We've gone to Skyline Drive up in Farmington and Bountiful, Utah. We've also done some trails on Baccus Highway ATV trails which is more like a playground than ATV trails, but it's pretty cool. Also, we've been up to the Bountiful B on the mountain a bunch and that's pretty fun, but there's limited places to go.

I'm looking forward to finding some good Utah ATV Trails and exploring some more next season!