Lucky man

[R Bedell]

Last week, I had the 784 out dozing snow. When all of a sudden, the engine (KT-17) started gaining RPM's. I had the engine at 1/2 throttle to start out. I couldn't and didn't understand why I was gaining RPM's and I started to shut the throttle down with no success. The engine started to get to the point where it concerned me. So.....what do I do..??

I thought I better shut it off before it explodes. As I turned the key off the motor started to die down. Then I switched Ignition Switch on and it would gradually build RPM's again. So.....with this On/Off method with the Ignition Switch, I made it back to the garage. I parked it. I my initial thoughts were that something with the Governor went kaput. I had this sinking feeling. So it was late and it was cold, I left it for another day.

Today, I went out to tackle into this. I started dismantling the air cleaner. When I pulled that I noticed that the air cleaner base which normally has 4 mounting screws only had three [item #7 in image]. Where was the fourth screw. I pulled the governor linkage to the carb and found that I had free travel. I tried to move the throttle butterfly and it only moved 1/2 of it's normal travel.
Hmmmm this is not suppose to do that & I am missing a screw. So.....up the carb comes and as I was getting ready to disconnect the gas line.....lo and behold the fourth screw comes out into my hand.

Boy did I breathe a sigh of relief.

So, I got all four screws around, located 4 #10 lock washers and dug out the "lock tite".

Reinstalled the carb. Installed the air cleaner base plate. Installed the four screws with lock washers and lock tite. Started the engine and all was normal.

I was lucky, that when the engine ran last, I was at 1/2 throttle and the missing screw got wedged in the throttle butterfly as opposed to going farther.

For $0.15 I fixed the problem. Here I was envisioning a tear down and Governor repair.

I am a happy man today.........

[Shotgun Wedding]

Lady Luck is with you today. Take the first opportunity to download the horse race program of your choice, lay it on the table, close your eyes and pick a horse in race #4 ( for the screw number) with the finger that first touched the screw in question.

Put $100 down to Win regardless of odds. let us know how you did.

Don't, I repeat Do Not play the lottery as the lottery is for schmucks and the lady hates schmucks. Serious.

But great news on the recovery Roland, sounds like you shut down just In time.

[cubcadet]

Glad you had an easy and lucky fix, Roland.

[ol'George]

Sometimes Karma and paying it fwd, does come back to reward you!
Glad your stars lined up!

[Sam Mac]

You got big time lucky my friend.

[bocephus1991]

You were lucky Roland! Back this summer I had a temporary engine in my 1200 a k321 I was mowing and it started doing like yours. I only paid $50 for it and figured the engine or at least the governor was crap. I ideled back to the garage, took the side panels off and the nut on the governor shaft was loose! I adjusted everything, and tighten it back up and all was fine! Had me worried at first!

[garnold]

Wahoo! Good for you man. That could have turned into a pretty nasty repair.

[Diz Jr.]

Congratulations R Bedell
Glad you got it figured out.

[64fleetside]

Roland, I had the same issue last summer on a single cyl OHV B&S in a 15y/o greene mower with well over 1000hrs on it. Like you, I was mowing fine when all of a sudden, mega-RPM's. I didn't know a B&S could go that fast w/o grenading. Found the throttle blade hung up in the intake valve area, screws were eaten and passed out the muffler.
Still mowing after robbing some more screws out of another carb.