Well, this is new for me. This is a Flywheel Shaft Key that is split in half lengthwise. I've never seen a failure like this before. It was mechanically curious anyway. The metal is not magnetic, seems relatively light weight, but doesn't scratch easily, so maybe an aluminum alloy? I thought shaft keys were made of hardened steel. I dunno... This was an unusual failure...
So, anyway the mower would crank good. It seemed to be getting compression, and spark at first, and it tried to run a little. So, I started looking at all the areas where I have seen failures before. I cleaned the fuel system first, and flushed out the old gas. After the fuel system clean up I tried cranking it some more. Now it seems like it is not getting spark. So I inspected, and tested the ignition system. The ignition system seems to be working, so I had to dig a little deeper. When I removed the Starter Bell on the end of the Crankshaft I found the split key. Then it all became clear. It's firing, but at the wrong time, like 40 degrees late. So, anyway, I fabricated a new, steel key, put it back together, and it runs good...
Here is a shot of the Flywheel, and the Split Key before I disassembled it. Funny how a tiny bit of metal can cause a whole lot of work..
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