Lawnboy 8243ae Muffler Replace and Repair

[hamilton1809]

Hey Jon,

I also have a 8243ae. Can't get it to work due to a dead battery. I want to know what I need to convert it to a pull start like yours has been converted. What start assembly would replace the electric starter?

[Jon3800]

@hamilton1809

I'm not exactly sure what you need to convert this. I got this model as is from Ebay, and the owner stiffed me on the electric starter kit. My guess is you have to replace the electric starter motor with the recoil pull starter pulley system on F-engines.

But why save the trouble and buy another battery? They still sell them at your electronic store. I just got a brand new one for my 12v battery trimmer and runs perfect after 7 years sitting

[hamilton1809]

@Jon3800

Thanks for the quick answer.

Do you know if the Model 8072 is an F-engine? (I'm sort of new to this.) The pull start on it goes in the same stop as the electric starter on the 8243ae

I was thinking of converting because I wouldn't have to worry about charging or replacing an $85 battery every several years. Plus I'm not sure the electric starter works(priced at $260 new)... so if bought an $85 battery, but the starter didn't work, I'm stuck with a battery...

[Jon3800]

@hamilton1809

You can always check the parts finder's section on Lawnboy's website to see what kind of motor it has. All you need to do is type the model number and click a year and should tell you the details. After seeing the housing/engine parts on google, the 8072 looks like it has an F-engine

[Jon3800]

@hamilton1809

I don't think your battery would be that much.  $85 seems very high for a very small one, keep in mind it's not a car battery. I just got a brand new 12V one (similar to the battery that powers my electric start 10642C) for my battery Weed Eater trimmer for $20 at my local shop.

[camoskill]

Hey Jon,

I just got a new lawn boy and i dint know the year bot its a 4hp 2 stroke close to this one my muffler is shot too where can i get a new one i also would like a bag and mucch kit where can i get them? thanks

[Jon3800]

@camoskill

the serial number should tell you the year of the model. Sounds like it's a F-engine (same motor as this one) You're best bet is to go on ebay for these parts. That's where I got that muffler.

[dudeenator]

I have 2 lawn boys im working on right now. Otherwise I do 4 cycle engines. but lawnboys are impressive. You could use some JB Weld (coldweld) and patch that muffler. JB Weld is good stuff you can use it right in the cylinder if you must.

[68lincoln]

Lawnboy mower fan here. This is a great instructional video. Thanks for posting it.

[Jon3800]

my pleasure, glad u enjoyed it

[rkoduke3d]

nice video dude im getting a 84 lawn-boy looks just like yours almost and you guessed it, it also needs a muffler replacement lol.

[Jon3800]

sweet dude

[rkoduke3d]

jon just wondering if lawn-boys will run ok muffler is not replaced? it has a hole the size of a nickle, and sounds ok as is, do u think i should change it or use as is for awhile yet?

[Jon3800]

I wouldn't risk it because grass clippings can get into the hole in the muffler

[rkoduke3d]

is there anyway to repair with like sheet metal or weld the hole shut?

[Jon3800]

theres a way to patch the hole, davidsfarm has a video about that

[rkoduke3d]

ok do you know the name of the video?

[Jon3800]

"cold start grown in subaru and oil pan repair"

He uses an epoxy to patch the oil pan, it should work for the muffler

[rkoduke3d]

oh ya i saw that one he uses a fiberglass resin to patch the hole, now will it harm the engine/muffler if i get any of that in the muffler itself?

[Jon3800]

that i dont know, usually when something breaks, i replace it new

[ipodsrdabest]

for everything

[ipodsrdabest]

just a little advice, sockets and ratchets make life easier

[OCCNYAC22]

I love fixing lawn equipment! Had to fix my Ryobi 33cc straight shaft gas line trimmer this morning. A problem with pull cord retraction. Which I think would be related to the clutch.

[briggsfan101]

@OCCNYAC22 that would probably be a problem with the spring in the starter, not the clutch

[ikeman2006]

safetyfirst3800!

[Jon3800]

yup :)

[thesoulsekr]

Nice lookin' mower for the age. Did you use Locktite one them bolts? Also, what is the fuel/oil ratio on that particular mower? My grandfather has a lawnboy and its ratio was 16:1.

[Jon3800]

Thanks man, no I just tightened them really tight.

It uses a 32:1

[thesoulsekr]

Cool. I'll sell you a Bad Boy 0-Turn (27hp Kohler + 60" deck) for $4500 US. It has about 12 hours on it.

[Jon3800]

don't need one. I got 13 mowers at my disposal :)

[thesoulsekr]

That's a lot of lawn mowers! I only have 2. The 0-turn, and a toro self-propelled push mower.

[Jon3800]

yup, I have a small lawncare business

[thesoulsekr]

I could start one. All I need is a trailer, and customers. Too late in the season this year to get one started. Do you have any riders? Or are they all walk-behinds.

[Jon3800]

all walk-behinds

[bigblockluv]

so ur a lawn care expert 2 i use 2 mow lawns 4 a landscaping company 6 days a week 12 hours a day i used a 36" deck mower kewl wish my back wasent messed up i loved that job!

[Jon3800]

ITS sweet :)

[jmurray01]

so it used to be an elictric starter but u changed it to pull

[Jon3800]

it was both electric starter and recoil. I bidded this mower on ebay, but the seller took the main components (starter switch, starter, battery) out because he was missing the battery and failed to give it to me

[highdeserthater]

cold and winy here too. UGH i hate cold!

[Jon3800]

so do I

[highdeserthater]

its crazy too, about 70 miles north of me there is SNOW falling!? nutty.

[Jon3800]

wow

[highdeserthater]

supposed to get like 5+ inches too.

[Jon3800]

thats nuts

[highdeserthater]

yep.

[krankiev]

nice repair. What kind of oil do you use in your lawnboy mowers?

[Jon3800]

regular 2 stroke oil

[krankiev]

... i meant what brand...

[Jon3800]

motormaster, lawnboy oil is just way too expensive

[krankiev]

then i guess you wouldn't be willing to switch to amsoil lol... amsoil is awesome stuff. you could run it 50:1 in those LB's with no problems.

[Jon3800]

if I can find some sure,

[krankiev]

it is expensive but very high quality synthetic oil. the best stuff around IMO

[Jon3800]

id be buying that so often, I go down 2-3 1L oil bottles a month

[krankiev]

well it does come in gallons. And you can get amsoil saber, which is around 30 bucks a gallon, but you can mix it 80:1 instead of 32:1 because it has so much better lubrication.

[mechanicwarrior20]

yay

[Jon3800]

yay :)

[CMLovejoy]

Nice to see you doing your own repairs.

[Jon3800]

yup, I got more to fix

[lawnboy8461]

That mower sounds good. It sounds alot like our 8461.

[Jon3800]

thanks man

[ArshaAsterakibigfan]

where can i buy one

[Jon3800]

used repair shop dealer or ebay