All About Skid Steer Closed Front Brush Cutters. Dr brush mower problems

09.06.2023 Beanrad brush, closed, cutters, front, skid, steer

All About Skid Steer Closed Front Brush Cutters

Untouched land can quickly become an eyesore. The weeds start to take over, the grass grows tall, and saplings quickly sprout. In a short amount of time, growth can become too thick for a lawnmower to be effective. The simplest way to clear the unwanted mess from unmanaged land is with a closed front skid steer brush cutter attachment.

But what do you need to know before going out and making that sort of investment? Between the different models, attachments, and safety guidelines, skid steers can be a pretty intimidating investment without the right info. Below, we walk you through the most important things to keep in mind when purchasing your closed front skid steer brush cutter.

CLOSED FRONT BRUSH CUTTER APPLICATIONS

Brush cutter attachments with closed fronts are perfect for clearing grass, weeds, undergrowth, and thick brush. Most skid steer mowers are able to cut trees up to 3” thick in diameter.

A closed front brush cutter doesn’t allow debris to escape the deck easily, which provides extremely efficient mulching. Leaves, limbs, and saplings break down into small chips and pieces, resulting in a consistent, finished look.

If your primary goal is cut brush and trees as quickly as possible, then an open front brush cutter may be the better choice.

IMPORTANT FEATURES TO CONSIDER

The skid steer brush cutter you purchase needs to have the required structural strength and quality components to withstand the stress that comes with this type of work. When purchasing a new or used skid steer mower there are several important things to consider:

QUALITY USA MADE SPINDLE

The spindle is the most expensive and important performance component of a skid steer brush cutter attachment. Choosing a cutter with a thick, high-quality spindle is an absolute must when making a brush cutter purchase. The spindle is important because it is responsible for smoothly transferring power from the hydraulic motor to the flywheel and absorbing dangerous impacts that could damage the system.

Note that if you don’t maintain your spindle shaft with proper lubrication it’ll fail quickly.

Be careful and ask plenty of questions if you’re considering buying a used brush cutter. If you’re buying one from a previous owner, ask them if they maintained the gear oil to keep the spindle lubricated. (It’s probably a bad sign if they have no idea what you’re talking about.)

REINFORCED MOWER DECK

Take a close look at the steel reinforcements on top of the mower deck. Your mower deck must include reinforcements since it’s the support structure for the entire mower. The deck should consist of thick, high-grade steel with cross members running across the entire length of the mower deck.

When looking at the deck’s bracing support, steel grade rating and steel thickness are all equally important. There should also be bracing around the motor to help withstand the tremendous force that comes from the spinning flywheel and the blades underneath.

HEAVY-DUTY FLYWHEEL

skid, steer, closed, front, brush, cutters

For larger debris, you’ll need a heavy-duty flywheel. If it’s too light, the brush cutter will bog down and hurt performance. A heavier flywheel creates more inertia and provides a cleaner, more precise cut. A circular flywheel will also bounce off of stumps rather than catching and damaging the expensive motor components.

Between Virnig’s high-performance updraft flywheel blades, and our average blade speed of 15,000 FPM, nothing will stand in your way.

REINFORCED PUSH BAR

If your cutter needs to clear a fair amount of small trees and thick debris then a push bar is a must. Without it, the steel on the front deck can quickly deform and affect the brush mower’s performance. With Virnig’s high-strength steel push bars, you’ll keep damaging materials away from your front deck, and mow over thick brush and trees without a problem.

HYDRAULIC PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES

Pressure relief valves protect the motor and the loader’s hydraulic system from pressure spikes. When the blades hit a large stump or rock, the relief valves open and relieve the pressure. This prevents seals or other internal components from damage due to excessive pressure.

Virnig has multiple hydraulic motor configurations to maximize performance and guard against dangerous pressure spikes, thus increasing the overall longevity of your attachment.

REPLACEABLE SKID SHOES

Skid shoes increase the mower deck’s wear life and add protection. Skid shoes help the skid steer mower glide over soft, uneven terrain instead of gouging into the ground.

SAFETY FEATURES

A skid steer brush cutter motor that features dynamic braking will safely stop the flywheel in about ten seconds. Without a braking system, the blades could keep spinning for minutes. Dynamic braking combined with pressure relief valves makes for a very reliable and low-maintenance drive system, which is why these are standard features on Virnig products.

The brush cutter attachment should have a safety feature that prevents the cutter’s deck from going above the cab door. This keeps the cutter close to the ground and limits flying debris, which helps protect the operator.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

With a solid, reinforced deck, a quality spindle, and a heavy-duty flywheel blade combination you are off to a good start when purchasing a durable skid steer mower.

From here you must decide if any additional features fit into the budget. Some common features are front casters and rear rollers to help keep the skid steer mower stable. Another option is an auto-floating deck that automatically adjusts the cutter height as it moves across the terrain.

CLOSED FRONT CUTTER TYPES AND OPTIONS

Asking “What is the best closed front cutter?” is a tough question to answer. Ultimately, the response depends on the conditions you’ll need it for. Here are the basic types of closed front brush cutters you’ll likely be choosing from.

STANDARD, FIXED DECK BRUSH CUTTERS

When it comes to relatively flat or even surfaces, you’ll want a standard deck brush cutter attachment since they will be less expensive than a floating deck brush cutter.

FLOATING DECK BRUSH CUTTERS

For a more consistent cut on uneven terrain, a floating deck skid steer brush cutter is your go-to. A floating design allows the deck to form itself around the ground you’re working on. It greatly reduces the chances of scalping or gouging the ground, making for a cleaner cut.

In situations where the floating deck isn’t necessary, you’ll want a way to lock it into a fixed position. For example, if the ground is very soft and the deck needs to hover above or barely touch the ground, a locking mechanism becomes extremely helpful.

REAR ROLLER

A roller has a large, tubular weldment with bearings on the outside of the deck. A Rear Roller model will compact leftover material and give you a better cut by keeping the back of the deck from gouging into the ground.

Rear roller attachments are an option for Virnig’s Floating Deck Brush Cutter and lend stability to the system’s overall performance.

SWIVEL CASTERS / WHEELS

Caster options provide support with pivoting solid steel wheels placed on both front corners of the brush mower. They help prevent the cutter from scalping and gouging, which results in a clean, consistent cut. These 360-degree rotating swivel casters are better than fixed wheels because they allow the brush cutter to maneuver from side to side more easily.

Pairing swivel casters and a rear roller will help produce a better cut, a smoother ride, and prevent gouging and scalping. These options also provide extra value by minimizing wear on the underside of the brush cutter frame and skid shoes. Add these options to a floating deck brush cutter for maximum effectiveness.

MATCHING A CUTTER TO YOUR SKID STEER

Effective mowing always requires a suitable machine. With so many options to choose from, it’s important to match the brush cutter to the overall skid steer width, as well as the flow rate capabilities of your skid steer’s hydraulic system.

CUT WIDTH

A common question is “What width should I purchase?”

The answer? You should purchase a brush mower with a cut width that’s wider than the tires or tracks of your skid steer. If the cut width doesn’t cover the tracks, then you increase the risk of running over uncut debris—debris that could damage your skid steer tires.

But bigger is not always better. Selecting a brush cutter attachment that’s too wide will:

Increase weight
Increase overall cutting surface area
Require more power to run effectively

These factors can negatively impact performance.

SKID STEER FLOW RATE

You must know the flow rate of your skid steer and the minimum and maximum flow rate of the brush cutter motor. Manufacturers measure flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM).

To get the most out of your cutter, your flow rate should fall within the min/max range of the brush cutter motor. Ultimately, the motor can’t handle going over its maximum flow rate rating. If it’s forced to exceed the flow rate rating, you’ll likely void your warranty and damage your system.

If you use a Standard Flow brush mower motor in High Flow, the motor will be under too much stress. It may not fail immediately, but you’ll quickly cause irreparable damage, and soon the motor will fail completely.
If you use a High Flow brush mower on a Standard Flow skid steer, you won’t be able to max out your performance.

SKID STEER OPERATING CAPACITY

Another factor to consider is the operating lift capacity of your skid steer loader. Brush cutters generally weigh about 1500 pounds, and when you include an optional rear roller and casters the cutter will weigh 200-300 pounds more. Always check the attachment’s loader capacity to make sure your skid steer has the tools to effectively handle the skid steer brush mower.

SAFELY OPERATING SKID STEER BRUSH CUTTERS

For maximum safety, take the time to read and understand the brush cutter’s manual before operating. The main rule is to keep bystanders at least 200 feet away from the cutter while it’s running. But here are some other general tips to safely operate skid steer brush cutter attachments.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

When operating a skid steer brush cutter, it’s important to remember these safety guidelines.

Never lift the blades above the cab door.
Never operate a brush cutter without a shatterproof cab door on your skid steer.
Before cutting, look for rocks, fence wire or other damaging items.
Wait on the skid steer until the cutter’s blades stop spinning. Any time the blades are off the ground and in motion, they’re a danger to anyone who gets too close.
Tracks are a must on soft ground. Tires can dig deep into the ground and lead to slow, poor performance.

MAINTAINING BRUSH CUTTERS

Whether you buy a new or used skid steer mower, it’s always important to keep up with regular maintenance and replace worn or defective parts as soon as you spot them.

The most important maintenance tip we can give you is to make sure that the spindle has the right amount of gear oil at all times. We hear cases of part failure all the time from operators who could have avoided problems simply by properly lubricating their systems.

Also keep a close eye on wear parts like the blades and skid shoes. The brush mower will have areas that need greasing and you’ll need to check the gear oil regularly. (Just make sure to fill it with the right oil.)

Take great care of your skid steer brush cutter attachment. Use the cutter’s manual for maintenance information and stick to a schedule. You can count on years of reliable performance if you are diligent about proper maintenance.

RECLAIMING OVERGROWN PROPERTY

Our skid steer brush cutters are an excellent choice for clearing and mulching heavy undergrowth and small trees. Don’t let weeds and tall grass take control of your land this year. Contact Virnig today and get a quote on the perfect skid steer brush mower to clear pesky overgrown brush and reclaim your terrain.

DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower Review

With the Pulse, DR has updated its popular trimmer mower to a 62V cordless platform. This model offers a lightweight and convenient option for homeowners who enjoy the benefits of a mower-like cutting swath and something that comes close to the maneuverability of a string trimmer.

Pros

Incredibly maneuverable
Much lighter than a mower—45 lbs with the battery installed
Great for handling grassy overgrowth
Removes the back strain of a string trimmer

Cons

599 is out of reach for some users
Doesn’t leave as clean a result as a standard mower
Tougher to trim against hard edges since the line tip is inside the wheelbase

Recommendation

We love the 62V Pulse DR Trimmer Mower’s light footprint, fantastic maneuverability, and cordless convenience. It’s a good choice for homeowners that want an all-in-one lawn care tool, particularly to help reduce the strain of pushing a mower and hauling a string trimmer.

The best kind of lawn for it is a smaller one where working around intricate landscaping features makes using a standard mower difficult. It’s also great for holding back edges of overgrowth that encroach on your lawn.

However, it does have its limitations. When it comes to mowing that encroaching field, one of DR’s more powerful and thicker lined gas trimmer mowers is a better option. And if you really want a clean look to your lawn, nothing beats mulching or bagging with a standard lawn mower.

Pulse Cordlessness

Let’s start with the battery and general cordlessness of this Trimmer Mower. DR has been making the Trimmer Mower for a while now, but the Pulse is the first version they’ve released that runs on 62V of battery power. Obviously, this brings a whole new level of convenience to the job. No muss, no fuss, no gas, fumes or maintenance.

It also results in a lot less weight you need to push around. Even with the 850W brushless motor and 62V, 5.0Ah battery, the whole things weighs in at just 45 lbs. 14″ wheels make it even easier to roll up hills and around corners. In fact, the combination of its light weight and larger wheels make the DR Pulse really easy to roll, turn, and tilt. We had no problems using it to trim around the edges of one of our many retention ponds.

Mower? Trimmer? Both?

Width and Height

So, does it replace a mower? It depends on what type of application you’re working on. The DR Trimmer Mower features an 18″ cutting swath, which is comparable to the blade size of smaller residential mower models. It excels in the type of taller, overgrown grass that your standard mower will bog down on. That’s because it is able to cut in from the side instead of needing the grass to drop under a deck first.

You can adjust the height of your cut between 2″ – 4″. There are no front wheels to set the height on—you’re really adjusting the height of the head. To change it, you need a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the head and swap the order of the spacers that come on the assembly. It’s a fairly cumbersome process, but most people only need to set it one time and they stick with that height.

Mowing

The downside is that you won’t get as clean of a cut with trimmer line as you do a mower blade. With a standard mower, you also get mulching or bagging options, both of which leave your yard looking cleaner. This tool pretty much just cuts the grass at around its base and sprays the full stalks around the yard. It’s almost like exactly like string trimming your entire lawn, just without the strain on your back.

Trimming

Speaking of string trimming, that’s the other side of the DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower. It uses pre-cut 0.095″ trimmer line sections to do the business, and loading these lines into the trimmer head is as simple as inserting an oversized thread into an oversized needle. The unique head design locks the trimmer line into place; there’s no lining anything up and winding for forever.

The DR Pulse achieves a 3,890 RPM no-load speed and a 208 mph line tip speed. For those really familiar with string trimmers, you’ll notice that most string trimmers offer higher RPM with shorter line.

The tip speed is higher than most walk-behind mowers and quite a bit lower than a typical string trimmer. One of our EGO string trimmers has a 5800 RPM with a 15″ cutting swath, giving us just under 260 MPH line tip speed. Even though DR’s speed is lower, we were able to cut through some pretty thick overgrowth. We just needed to make sure we moved slow enough to let the line speed stay high.

Managing Expectations

All this said, the DR Pulse is a fine tool as long as you know what to expect. If you’re looking for a mower-quality cut, you ought to get a mower. Like we said earlier, a trimmer mower will leave lawn clippings scattered about.

Likewise, if you want something to quickly trim up next to your walls and trees and whatnot, you might be better off with a standard string trimmer. We like the Pulse for zipping by the wall, but to really get up on it, you’ll have to kind of shimmy the wheel and trimmer head back and forth to get the line right up on the surface. If the cutting swath was only a bit wider than the wheelbase, this wouldn’t be an issue.

For woody stalks, a brush cutter will work better. The 0.095″ line is really designed for grasses and you’ll tear through the line quickly against anything else. It’s a lesson you’re likely to learn pretty quickly, though, since you have to stop and put new line lengths on instead of bumping out more.

As a trimmer/mower combination, the DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower fits serviceably in both categories. It’s beautifully designed to maneuver far easier than a mower and reduce back strain to just about nil compared to a string trimmer.

But if you’re looking for professional results in any one area, know that you’ll get better results with an individual mower or a string trimmer.

Pricing

Right now, the DR Pulse Trimmer Mower is on sale directly from the manufacturer at Drpower.com. For a limited time, you can pick up the Pulse, a 62V 5.0Ah battery, and charger for 599. It comes with a 2-Year residential or 90-day commercial warranty.

Interestingly, the battery includes 2 onboard USB ports, allowing you to use it to charge phones, computers, or other electronic devices.

The Bottom Line

DR Pulse Manufacturer Specs

For more information about the DR Trimmer Mower, check out the company at DRpower.com.

DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower Review

Pros

Incredibly maneuverable
Much lighter than a mower—45 lbs with the battery installed
Great for handling grassy overgrowth
Removes the back strain of a string trimmer

Cons

599 is out of reach for some users
Doesn’t leave as clean a result as a standard mower
Tougher to trim against hard edges since the line tip is inside the wheelbase

Recommendation

However, it does have its limitations. When it comes to mowing that encroaching field, one of DR’s more powerful and thicker lined gas trimmer mowers is a better option. And if you really want a clean look to your lawn, nothing beats mulching or bagging with a standard lawn mower.

Pulse Cordlessness

Mower? Trimmer? Both?

Width and Height

Mowing

Trimming

Managing Expectations

But if you’re looking for professional results in any one area, know that you’ll get better results with an individual mower or a string trimmer.

Pricing

Interestingly, the battery includes 2 onboard USB ports, allowing you to use it to charge phones, computers, or other electronic devices.

The Bottom Line

DR Pulse Manufacturer Specs

For more information about the DR Trimmer Mower, check out the company at DRpower.com.

DRPower Equipment Reviews

I bought a fence line trimmer. I called in and placed my order last week. I was told I will receive the tracking number for my products shortly via email. And I have not received the tracking number yet. It’s very important that I receive my equipment on time. This company made very hard to track your products and also even harder to leave your reviews for the future customers. I have yet to receive my product and I already feel bad vibes from this company.

Date of experience : June 02, 2023

Update on my review of the DR stump…

Update on my review of the DR stump grinder on April 3rd, 2022. Don from DR contacted me and Allen Power Equipment. They sent me a new set of grinder teeth at no charge because of the problems. They sent the correct part to Allen Power Equipment but it performs worse than the defective one. Contacted DR 05/29/2023. Appreciate what DR did but still seven months without an electric starter.

Date of experience : May 29, 2023

Quality American Made Equipment

Needed a walk brush hog and couldn’t find any quality options near me. It was easy to order directly from DR and they had the equipment delivered right to my shop, on time and it was well packaged.

Date of experience : June 01, 2023

I have no idea if my order was shipped

I have no idea if my order was shipped, by whom, and estimated arrival time. I should not have to call an 888 number.

Date of experience : June 08, 2023

Machines won’t start, or EXTREEMLY HARD TO START.

What went wrong this time? How about NOTHING ever goes right with DRPower Equipment. Pull 3 times and it starts right up?? NO, I’ve owned 2 DRPower machines. One was a walk behind brush mower someone gave us, it was EXTREEMLY difficult to start. We recently purchased a walk behind weed eater, used it one year, wintered it properly, and guess what, IT WON’T START!! NEVER AGAIN WILL WE WASTE ON ANY DRPower Equipment.

Date of experience : May 21, 2023

I bought a DR pro 2450 brush cutter…

I bought a DR pro 2450 brush cutter last year. I put 5 hours on it and now the blade no longer works. The problems involved are already on a YouTube site, so many people have had trouble with the clutch and mounting. Don’t buy it

Date of experience : May 30, 2023

Easy to navigate the website

Easy to navigate the website. Great, detailed pictures to help with which parts.

Date of experience : May 29, 2023

Greart

Fast and professionally handled, my only suggestion is the parts should be provided as single items and not complete unit as the flange assembly should be available as bearing and seal to replace in the flange assembly. The price for complete assembly is out rages.

Date of experience : May 08, 2023

Customer service

When I needed to buy a part for my tow behind field and brush mower, I was connected to a very pleasant and helpful woman name Lynn.Lynn was helpful for verifying the part number that i needed and completing the order over the phone. I appreciate Lynn’s dedication to providing customer service at a time when customer service seems like a lost concept

Date of experience : May 10, 2023

I had the best experience today with customer support!

I had the best experience today with Janelle from customer support, she went above and beyond helping me to find the shipping service delivering the heavy field and brush mower I ordered.Not only did she locate the shipping co but also looked up their phone for me.Janelle put my mind at ease regarding the mistake I made on my address, she said the driver will call to confirm correct address.I want to give a big thank you to Janelle, you’re the best.

Date of experience : May 04, 2023

I bought a DR Power Equipment SP26…

I bought a DR Power Equipment SP26 mower in October 2022. I never used it until 5/8/2023. It cut great and mowed well at first. After only 1 hour of use the drive control cable broke off at the drive connection. I called customer support on Tuesday 5/9 and they said it would take a long time to get repaired at a service center even though the mower is under warranty. They suggested I repair it and they will send the cable at no cost. I reluctantly agreed (looks like it will be very difficult to replace) and Jerry said the part was on it’s way. I called Friday 5/12 to get an update and the part has not even shipped yet. I paid almost 1000 for this mower (my mistake!) and I’m replacing the cable under warranty which is saving them money and they couldn’t even ship it out right away?? Not the company they used to be before Generac took over.

Date of experience : May 12, 2023

Deb in parts is fantastic!

Deb in parts is a fantastic representative for DR Power equipment. She was extremely helpful, courteous, and helped resolve issues with an upgrade in engines for the Pro XLSP trimmer. She sent me out the upgraded parts I needed for the maintenance kit I had purchased. I really appreciated her service. Thank you very much!

Date of experience : March 27, 2023

Safety Concerns

I cannot recommend this machine. I have a 1993 model of this mower I much prefer.

The model without the brakes just threw me to the ground as the aggressive tread caught the edge of a metal T post and started to climb it. It swung the blade deck suddenly to the right, flinging me to the left and onto the ground. The first time it did this I was watching the blade deck and a tire to the side caught the edge of a T post, climbed it, throwing the handles to the ground, the blade deck up in the air. The tread can catch on stumps, branches hidden in tall grass and flings the handles to the side.2. This is a Very Heavy Machine and the pull-start model doesn’t have brakes. Not good, because gears don’t always go into gear (see below), and going down steep hills is risky.3. Wide tires stick out beyond the blade deck and the handles stick out beyond the tires, so you can’t get very close to anything. We should never have to take our eyes off the blade deck to watch the tires and handles. Doesn’t work well in orchard or vineyard since it can’t get close.4. When changing gears, it easily goes in between gears, seems to be in Neutral and it can roll. If on an incline, trying to hold the machine from rolling back on you, you have to let go with one hand to nudge it into gear, it can roll backwards, it’s a heavy machine.5. It goes faster in reverse than it goes forward in first gear.6. Pull cord so long if it stops or runs out of gas next to something, has to be physically moved to start, very difficult.7. Not all mechanics work on DRs, a lot of travel time and down time trying to get it fixed.

It does mow well. It’s important to engage the blade in Slow RPMs. Good experience with customer service. It starts in 3 pulls, but it can yank your shoulder out if you don’t do a half pull first. I get a couple hours on a tank of gas.

Date of experience : May 24, 2023

Reply from DRPower Equipment

Thank you for your review. Please contact us directly at 1-800-687-6575 or info@drpower.com to address these concerns.

White Smoke From Lawn Mower – Easy Fix!

White Smoke from your mower looks pretty serious, but usually, it’s a simple fix.

A mower commonly blows white smoke for two reasons:

Mower tipped over incorrectly
Engine overfilled it with oil

Other possible causes include:

Mower tipped over is the most common reason for white smoke. Usually, the customer turns over the mower to clean the deck or unclog the chute. This allows oil to enter the cylinder, and when the mower is restarted, the oil burns and turns your yard into a 70s disco. Sometimes oil will also leak from the muffler.

The fix is simple, check the mower for oil and let the engine idle until the smoke clears. If your lawnmower is a tractor mower, white smoke usually means too much oil, a carburetor fault, or a blown head gasket. (more on this below)

The diagnosis and fix are covered here in this post but if you need video help check out “Mower blowing white smoke video”. It walks you through the process step by step – diagnosing, oil removal, carb check repair, and compression testing for a blown head gasket, it’s all covered.

Tipping the mower on its side for maintenance or cleaning causes oil to move into the cylinder.

When you fire up the mower, the oil in the cylinder burns to cause white smoke. It will clear after a short while.

I hook the handlebars under a bench. Turing your mower to the side is fine as long as you turn it with the air filter side up.

Turn the air filter side up for greater access and avoid the white smoke.

A Case Of Too Much Oil

Lawnmower engines usually take a little over half a quart (.6lt), so it’s easy to overfill them. Lots of my customers add oil without ever checking the level. They do this thinking it won’t do the engine any harm.

Wrong! Too much oil can damage the engine, as most operate a splash lubrication system. When the oil level is above the splash paddles, they don’t work efficiently.

Don’t damage your engine needlessly. I wrote the complete guide – which shows you how to dip your oil, oil types, quantity, and how to drain oil, you can check it out here “How to check oil level “.

The white smoke is the engine burning off all the excess oil. The fix – drain the excessive oil, and idle the engine until the smoke clears. This may take 5 minutes or so.

Depending on your mower type, draining the oil can be a pain in the ass. I got this Briggs and Stratton oil extractor, on Amazon, makes life soooo easy. You can check it out here on the “Small engine repair tools page”

Too much oil will cause other problems, smoke, poor running, no running, leaks, engine damage. Check out “How to check oil level”.

Drain excess oil and check and top up if needed.

Gas In The Oil

If your oil level is overfull and smells of gas, it’s likely you have a failed carburetor seal. Don’t run the engine as the oil is too thin and offers no protection. Change the oil after making repairs to the carburetor.

If you think this sounds like your problem, go ahead and replace the carburetor, it’s faulty. I wrote this complete guide to help you check your “Carburetor troubleshooting”.

You may prefer a step-by-step video guide on carburetor cleaning; it includes removing, stripping, cleaning, rebuilding, and refitting your carburetor.

Carb cleaning is included in the video library of common lawn mower problems; all guides are easy to follow.

Carb cleaning is covered in this guide titled “Mower engine surging.” It’s so-called because surging and stalling are common symptoms of a dirty, faulty, or contaminated carburetor.

You may also need a tune-up; I wrote an easy-to-follow “Lawn mower tune-up” guide, including pictures and a maintenance chart.

The oil level will be overfull and stink of gas.

The fix is to replace the float needle and seal or replace the whole carburetor. Consider fitting a fuel tap, and don’t forget to change the oil.

White Smoke Dies

This is a sure sign that oil has made its way into the carburetor and is blocking the gas feed jet. Most times, repeated starting and running of the engine will clear the oil. However, if you cannot run the engine long enough, you may need to clean the carburetor.

First, try removing the plug and turning over the engine a few times to expel oil from the cylinder. Clean or replace the plug and try starting again. If this fails, you can check out “Carburetor Cleaning,” where I show you how to remove and clean your carburetor.

Remove the plug and clear the cylinder by turning over the engine with the pull cord. Clean the plug before refitting.

Oil In The Gas Tank

In addition to overfilling with oil and tipping the mower on its side, putting oil into the gas tank accidentally is very common. Using the trimmer 2-cycle mix in the mower gas tank is a common mistake, too; it won’t produce the dramatic white smoke like engine oil though.

The fix – drain the gas tank and refill it with fresh gas, run the engine to clear the system. If the engine fails to start, no problem, check out my guide – “Carburetor cleaning.”

Head Gasket Failure

A failed head gasket is much less likely but will produce lots of smoke. Unlike previous solutions, it’s a little more work. A head gasket is a metal and graphite material.

It’s fitted between the cylinder block and the cylinder head of an engine. Its job is to seal the combustion chamber.

High crankcase pressures and oil leaks are a sign of head gasket failure; you may also hear a slight puffing noise as compression escapes from the cylinder. The fix – replace the head gasket.

A blocked crankcase breather will cause the oil in the cylinder and white smoke; clearing the breather pipe is a simple fix.

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Powered by a Honda Engine. Three Year Limited Warranty. []

Failed or worn piston rings are the end; sadly, a rebuild is needed. A new engine is most likely a cheaper option and comes with a guarantee, but a new mower might make more sense at this stage.

Head gasket failure can cause white smoke. This will only be an issue with OHV (overhead valve) type engines and will also depend on where the gasket fails.

OHV engines are usually well marked with OHV on the front engine cover. When it fails, and depending on where it fails, it will suck oil into the cylinder and blow gases into the crankcase.

Last on the list is engine wear or ring damage. A compression test will confirm if you have internal damage. This condition is rare. Check out the “Compression test video” here.

All About Skid Steer Closed Front Brush Cutters

CLOSED FRONT BRUSH CUTTER APPLICATIONS

IMPORTANT FEATURES TO CONSIDER

QUALITY USA MADE SPINDLE

REINFORCED MOWER DECK

HEAVY-DUTY FLYWHEEL

REINFORCED PUSH BAR

HYDRAULIC PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES

REPLACEABLE SKID SHOES

SAFETY FEATURES

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

CLOSED FRONT CUTTER TYPES AND OPTIONS

STANDARD, FIXED DECK BRUSH CUTTERS

FLOATING DECK BRUSH CUTTERS

REAR ROLLER

SWIVEL CASTERS / WHEELS

MATCHING A CUTTER TO YOUR SKID STEER

CUT WIDTH

SKID STEER FLOW RATE

SKID STEER OPERATING CAPACITY

SAFELY OPERATING SKID STEER BRUSH CUTTERS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

MAINTAINING BRUSH CUTTERS

RECLAIMING OVERGROWN PROPERTY

DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower Review

Pros

Cons

Recommendation

Pulse Cordlessness

Mower? Trimmer? Both?

Width and Height

Mowing

Trimming

Managing Expectations

Pricing

The Bottom Line

DR Pulse Manufacturer Specs

DR 62V Battery-Powered Trimmer Mower Review

Pros

Cons

Recommendation

Pulse Cordlessness

Mower? Trimmer? Both?

Width and Height

Mowing

Trimming

Managing Expectations

Pricing

The Bottom Line

DR Pulse Manufacturer Specs

DRPower Equipment Reviews

Update on my review of the DR stump…

Quality American Made Equipment

I have no idea if my order was shipped

Machines won’t start, or EXTREEMLY HARD TO START.

I bought a DR pro 2450 brush cutter…

Easy to navigate the website

Greart

Customer service

I had the best experience today with customer support!

I bought a DR Power Equipment SP26…

Deb in parts is fantastic!

Safety Concerns

White Smoke From Lawn Mower – Easy Fix!

A Case Of Too Much Oil

Gas In The Oil

White Smoke Dies

Oil In The Gas Tank

Head Gasket Failure

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