1973 Mountfield M3, Briggs and Stratton engine
Hi.
I am Delighted to join the club. I got this from my father, it is a little over 50 years young… it ran perfect for all those years only for one or two little fixes. It started idling high a few days ago and my father tried a few things and eventually ended up replacing the carburettor but no better. He just happened to come across another lawnmower free from my brother so he gave me the M3. I still believe lol.
I have some perplexing issues (to me) around this lawnmower. I’ve done my upmost to check and get some clarification on things before posting here, as I dont like messing about. But I seem to just meet a dead end.
I’m hoping someone would be kind enough to tell me: WAS the original engine for the Mountfield M3, a briggs and Stratton engine? and if so is there any way to know if it’s the original engine that was on the body when it came out of factory?
How hard is it to get parts for this, for example, grass box?
I’d lov to restore it for my fathers sake and it has sentimental value to me as my first introduction to an engine!
I’ll include some pictures with information
THE FULL LONG NUMBER ON ENGINE Is 92908 1344-01 73082808 AND BODY SERIAL NUMBER Is (M3 22650)
thanks so much
kind regards
Ronan
Forums
Hi, thanks for your reply I…
Hi, thanks for your reply, here are some pictures. I havent got the old carb yet and I'd be apprehensive about swapping them over so hopefully these pictures will help.
No sign of the images. Maybe…
No sign of the images. Maybe either the magic “insert” or “ save” buttons not pressed !
Thanks wristpin - ronanpw…
Thanks wristpin - ronanpw has added the images correctly but there seems to be a new glitch on the site which means they are not appearing. I will check and put right if possible.
olcadmin, thank you
olcadmin, thank you
Appears to be sorted now.
Appears to be sorted now.
Thanks so much, olcadmin,…
Thanks so much, olcadmin, wristpin.
Hope you can view the pictures now
The governor spring has been…
The governor spring has been stretched to the extent that it will never work properly and I notice that the throttle stop screw is fully screwed in. That aside it’s difficult to work at a distance !
If its any help, I attach a couple of images of a similar set up on my 1972 Hayterette , a non running rescue that does the rough stuff a couple of times a year.
Hi, wristpin, thanks very…
Hi, wristpin, thanks very much for that. I appreciate it. I’ve adjusted the throttle stop. Would it be difficult to get another governor spring? This one’s for the bin but I will keep it for reference
Probably. Different springs…
Probably. Different springs for different applications. Post the BS Model, Type and Code numbers that are stamped in cowling and I’ll find you the specific part number for your machine.
Apologies… you’ve stated…
Apologies… you’ve stated engine parts shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Is there a particularly unusual way of attaching these types of governor springs.
From what I can see from another mower, it’s just a ring on each end of the spring. How to get this attached baffles me. Any advice much appreciated
Thanks, very much!! Model…
Thanks, very much!!
Model 92908 Type 1344-01
73082808
so on the case it looks like.
92908 134401 73082808
thanks again
Thanks so much 92908 1344…
Thanks so much
92908 1344-01 73082808
I’ll sort out the part…
I’ll sort out the part number this evening . There is a procedure for fitting it that’s actually shown in the BS manual. I’ll copy and post it later.
Thanks wristpin for all your…
Thanks wristpin for your help thanks for looking into it
Spring 260875 and this is…
Spring 260875
and this is how to fit it !
Much appreciated, wristpin…
Much appreciated, wristpin. I won’t forget it
Hi again I’m picking up the…
Hi again I’m picking up the replacement governor spring today.
Fingers crossed… Where would I get my hands on a BS manual relevant to my lawnmower?
The BS manuals are specific…
The BS manuals are specific to the engine model and production date not the mower to which they are fitted. That page was from the 1975Repair Instructions 1V which has, to a great extent, been replaced by the CE8069 Repairman’s Hand Book (1919- 1981) . Possibly the post 1981 Single Cylinder L Head ( aka side valve) manual will be of more use.
Manuals may be ordered from a Briggs and Stratton agent or, possibly , from Amazon.
Hi again. So I fitted the…
Hi again. So I fitted the governor spring correctly… But it’s not moving the arm it’s attached to closest to the engine. When I turn throttle on, the governor spring seems to do what it’s meant to do but it is not moving the arm controlling (air? Think that’s right?)
any advice most welcome
Ronan
Thanks so much wristpin. I…
Thanks so much wristpin.
I’ll be back later with some better details and some photos of the carburettor
This part will not move back…
This part will not move back and forth at all when turn throttle is on or off, Im no expert but it seems to be catching on something
New governor spring. Throttle OFF, doesnt look quite right (to me) incorrect carb??
its the correct spring
Side
front view
Looks like you havnt got the…
Looks like you havnt got the governor spring quite right at the link end. Seems to be hooked to the far side of the link loop. Also in one of your images the spring is being pulled round the inlet - will end up with a distorted spring.
in passing, you also seem to have the tin shield comes from under the cylinder outside the blower housing - should be tucked inside.
If I get a moment tomorrow I will take the top off my old Hayterette and try to pose the linkage as it should be. Not a lot more I can do.
Thanks again
Thanks again
Two issues. One that you’ve…
Two issues. One that you’ve got part of the air duct X from under the cylinder that should be tucked inside the top cowling jamming up the throttle spindle. Second , looks like despite the instructions you have possibly got the governor spring incorrectly fitted . Should not be under any tension when relaxed , neither twisted or stretched. Carefully remove it and reassemble it strictly as per the instruction sheet.
Hi wristpin. Thanks for your…
Hi wristpin. Thanks for your help and sorry for delay in reply, as I couldn’t quite grasp the details of the action.
as it turned out the linkage was bent/broken, diaphragm was torn and perished and the air filter was too restrictive [not a genuine and or suitable] briggs and Stratton part.
It is now running smoothly.
Thanks again for your help, I have acquired two of the most relevant manuals as suggested. The single cylinder L head and the CE8069 repair man’s handbook
Apologies diaphragm gasket…
Apologies diaphragm gasket perished
regards
I'm so glad you got it going…
I'm so glad you got it going again :-)
Essentially you replaced service parts.
Try and run it on E5 Unleaded.
What colour was the oil ? lol
James
Engine parts should be…
Engine parts should be fairly readily available but chassis parts will be hard to come by - particularly a grass box. An image or two of the top of the engine with the blower housing (cowling) removed showing the carburettor, throttle and governor linkage will be useful, particularly with the original and new carburettors installed.