I really admire this young man. He is energetic, not scared to tackle almost anything and really level headed. He has such a great attitude along with his diligence to detail is downright refreshing in a world where people park things by the side of the road here comes Mustie to save the poor thing from the dump. Lot more good here than just saving lawn mowers, tillers and VW's . It's a matter of a good person with a great work ethic. Lord knows we need a lot more of this! God bless you Mustie1 keep it up!

For me (due to old age), gone are the days of pulling a 396 from a 69 Chevelle by using a branch of a large shade tree, gone are the days of sitting on the fender with my legs inside the engine well to work on it, gone are the days of changing my own oil, gone are the days of the need for speed. Although I do thank you for your videos for many hours of your wrenching. It reminds me of my youth but I cussed alot when smacking my knuckles against unforgiving solid metal. Oh what fun it was. Thanks again.

Very educational as always but it never feels like you’re being taught, just like you’re spending time with a friend in their garage. The best channel on KZfaq.

John Deere means nothing to us Brits, we don’t understand the heritage. The first time I ever heard the name was when on the American Pickers show they were fighting over an old enamel advertising sign. It’s good to see you saving these old machines that are repairable in the days of built in obsolescence on many new products. Love your videos Mustie.👍

Take your time Mustie and be safe. We aren’t going anywhere!

You are great.I love watching your vids. I am 69 and a do-it-yourselfer. My dad told me many years ago to learn to do things yourself. It costs a lot of money to hire people to things for you. The best way to learn is doing.

Another great video! Thanks for entertaining us for a little bit. Especially in these troubling times. Just gets your mind off things for a while. I really enjoy these lengthy videos. Today I learned that patience is a virtue. Watching you disassemble that braking system. Please stay safe and keep these awesome videos coming.

I for one really appreciate how you show the long way of troubleshooting things. Your ways of doing things what seems like the hard way has taught me a very valuable skill set of being able to think through a problem instead of just searching for an answer online. Keep being you Mustie!

Mustie my friend .....one constant in this world of madness.

Mustie, that was so cool seeing how the brake system works on the mower. I was always curious how the system worked. Reading or talking about it is one thing, but seeing you tear down the brakes was great. It all came together in this vacuum in my head. Thanks again for all the work you do on KZfaq, I enjoy your videos and always fun when a new video arrives. Be safe and be well.

i have been watching your videos for awhile now, years. i absolutely love the fix it on the cheap mentality. its not that you can't buy new parts its that honestly it can be fun trying to save or fix old parts and pieces to make them work again. its always satisfying to see a mustie1 video, but its really satisfying to make stuff work again at home. your channel has helped me to understand the history into carbs that i previously was not knowledgeable in. keep up the amazing videos you are an entertaining, knowledgeable individual.

Great video. I can’t say enough of how I appreciate your tenacity to the tedious job of diagnosing you go though to get things to work again. It’s great to see such a thorough video of a complete renewing of a lawnmower from front to back even to getting the beads on a tire to lock. A major thumbs up. 👍👍👍

I have to say I really appreciate the trouble shooting and the process on how to figure things out, Im new to all this and seeing you figure it out on screen is a big help, even on things like taking the key switch apart, it takes the unknown out of it and makes me feel I have a chance on figuring it out eventually as well. Keep it up its greatly appreciated.

thank you Mustie, im glad im one of the first 150 to see this video this morning. Your videos are always informative and motivating, along with your humor and general gabbing. This, is exactly what i needed today, take my mind off the state of the world. Stay safe my friend, and hope all is well.

You've inspired me over the last couple years to start saving some of the small engine equipment around my non-rustbelt area too. Just saved a free Deere last week and it's now my neighbor's mower and going strong. And those brakes indeed are a PITA! LoL

I just want you to know how much I appreciate these videos especially during these turbulent times. I love watching you work and the methods you use to solve mechanical problems. I used to have a VW Rabbit that I did tuneup work on, plugs, points, timing... But never got into anything more ... I did diagnose a fuel pump issue correctly broken down on the side of the road, but nothing I could do about it. Keep the videos coming it is keeping me sane!!!!!

The fact that he solves the mystery rather than just looking it up, makes this the best channel on KZfaq. Thanks for reminding me what day it is with a Sunday morning video.

I just wanted to say, besides great channel that the use of chain oil is a great hint. I use it all the time now to keep my hitch & chrome lug nuts from rusting over the winter. Tough winters here in Ontario, Canada. Stay safe & well!

Wow Mustie1, that really runs nice. Thanks for all the education on the switch and the steel in aluminum tips. Thanks for having us along and all the best to you and your family.

I like that you show the troubleshooting steps on electrical and other systems. I always learn something new when you take the time to do that, and sincerely appreciate it.

Every old lawn mower's dream is to end up on Mustie's lift.

I always enjoy these videos and look forward to them on Sunday mornings. I have had to cut my share of holes in plastic and came up with a trick years ago. I took and eXacto knife blade and attached it to my soldering iron. When you heat up the iron it heats up the knife blade and you can then easily cut through plastic. It will usually leave a nice clean cut that will look like it was molded into it.

Mustie1 is one of the best KZfaq video wrench-twirlers in action. Teaching without preaching. Understanding, explaining as needed and sometimes throwing inside comments, jokes just for the fun of it! It's great to start with a supposed narrative, only to be proven incorrect by some/all facts discovered later huh? Ever seen one of those trainwrecks coming down the pike, but not knowing when derailment will happen, but we know it will in the end? Not too many on this Channel of late. Excellent product here Mustie1!

Another excellent video. Thanks for showing us all the how to do's . One remembers more usually by seeing it happen. When they actually do it they remember even better. Great job of helping many people. Thanks for sharing.

Most of the PTO switches do at least 3 things. They turn the PTO on/off, most prevent the starter from operating if the PTO is on and they also go through the seat switch so that if you get off the machine the PTO shuts off. Some also have a switch so the PTO shuts off when you go in reverse.

Measuring the oil filter with a calibrated finger.

Another awesome save Dude ! Couple suggestions, AERO-KROIL is one of the BEST looseners I've evr found. A tad pricey ($20 a can) but to me .. worth EVERY penny. Works within MINUTES. We used to use it on aircraft engines, those puppies are BAKED together. Also, next time you're at Harbor Freight pick up an Oscillating tool. (about $20) there are a NUMBER of cutting and polishing adapters you can put on it. They work TERRIFIC on plastic, drywall, wood, metal ... and they work FAST !! Thanks for another great video !!

Great content as always @Mustie1!!! Watching you fix stuff is super relaxing and a great way to de-stress. I have a horizontal shaft Briggs from a pressure washer that runs great, but the pump is toast... Trying to come up with something useful and creative to use it for... Your content is helping my creative process.

Keep showing how you diagnose the problem Mate. Unfortunately, in the era of Google, thinking for yourself is a dying trait

'Feel like I'm in a Doors song' That means you need more ventilation when you're painting.

I remember a couple of years back roughly, being stuck at home with Pneumonia, feeling really lousy and struggling to find something to keep my attention..I stumbled on a guy on KZfaq who had a small generator he was going to try and get going. Mustie1 saved my sanity during this illness as I had a large number of great videos to watch which were interesting and a huge help to me both mentally and mechanically. So thanks a heap Mustie1, I subscribed on the first video I saw of yours, and haven't missed one since. Thank You for sharing your time, knowledge and humor with us all, my favourite KZfaq channel by far!

Awesome videos!Ive always enjoyed small engine mechanic work having worked on mowers,snowblowers ,lawntractors,Its great fun working on this stuff.

Thank you for keeping me sane. Stay safe.

52:15 "I'm gonna do a bunch of this in private" means, at least for me, that I'm gonna swear at it a hole lot, dammit to hell numerous times, then bargain with it, then lose all hope and bugger off for a cup of coffee, then reach new levels of anger where I shear the bolt off and mock it... Or as I like to call it the 5 stages of removing a stuck nut/bolt... Anger, bargaining, depression, anger and finally mockery

As a guy who’s willing to disassemble and “try” to fix almost anything, I never really futzed around with electrical systems or carburetors because they both always seemed too complex and finicky for me to enjoy. I wasted a lot of time on both early on, and found more bang for my buck concentrating on other things. Mustie1’s videos have taught me methodical troubleshooting approaches to both and for that I’m grateful. COVID-19 has set the world’s “normal” on its head but it’s also provided my many hours to watch and learn from Darren. Thanks Mustie!

You love all machines, both large and small. Watching you work is just so peaceful. Because of you, I was able to diagnose and fix the variator pulley on my Troy Bilt mower. I have a 15 year old mower that works flawlessly.

Thanks, Mustie, for showing how to go through the brakes on these. I've got a riding mower where the brake disc is rusted to the splined shaft, and now I know how I might remove it. Now I just need to get that bit for my air hammer...

It's amazing how many people have never heard the second set of vocals on "Riders on the storm". Once you hear it you cant unhear it.

Thank you for providing these "long-version" videos. Even when I am not interested in "what" you are working on, I am very interested in "how" you approach the hidden problems on a new mechanical item. Many "older people" will have learned that you cannot "look up" the answer to every problem in life.

Watching you troubleshoot and understand how things work is exactly why I watch every single one of your videos.

Just recently subbed after watching the SL125 videos , I had one of those , must say these videos are great to watch , greetings from the U.K

Trouble shooting is a lost art in the age of google

Thanks for your goal of explaining your methods so that we laymen can follow along. Keep up the good work! Stay safe and healthy.

We Like How you take your time to evaluate each situation, How can you learn if you look it up? Keep doing each project,one piece at a time.We would like to learn,how you enjoy taking apart and fixing your project.Thank You Mustie sir.Too many arm chair know so much.CHEERS. Keep up the good work.

Sir Mustie1, I like that you don’t go straight to the wiring diagrams. I’m a service manager of a major equipment rental company and one of my interview questions is “let’s say your out in the middle of no where and you have no wiring diagrams or internet service and you have to install a generic ignition switch to get the unit running, what would you do to make it work?” Almost none of the applicants can answer the question?

"A million is very close to infinity" Never change man, you always make me laugh 🙂

I like that , you trying to solve the switch issues. Figuring out what does what just by investigating. Thank you for making a great video. That’s the way we always did troubleshooting prior to computers . Keep your videos coming !

I love your videos. I love figuring out what makes things tick, Have been since my childhood. Ask my Dad. Took a lawnmower apart because I wanted to know how it worked. I was brought up on the world before computers and the internet. Common sense and brains is what we used. Your vids are so great to watch and while enjoying them I learn so much. You have the workshop I can only dream about, so through you I get to work on thing and make them work.

20:40 what’s to say that what you Google is the correct answer?! The internet is a tool, a source for information. It doesn’t make it doctrine. I would prefer to learn from someone with practical knowledge who has done a procedure a hundred times! Keep doing your thing Mustie! YOUR thing is the whole reason most of us watch and follow! Thanks for what you do. 🤙🏽

Mustie the wife wants to know "what does he do with all this free stuff" I told her you most likely sell it to keep your shop funded for more fun projects.

I learned so much from watching you and your videos Darren. Today i fixed my neighbours gasoline high pressure washer he got for free from someone that never used it because it didnt ran. I did a little wrenching (as you say) and found that the coil wasn't close enough to the flywheel. Learned that from you, fixed it like you did and she's alive!!!. Keep up the good work, make lotsa videos and hope you and your loved ones stay healthy and strong.

Just wanted to say that, thanks to your videos, I got my $100 1985 Yamaha quad running today. I actually got it started a while ago, but couldn't get it to idle to save my life. I had it narrowed down to it being starved for fuel, and today I found a filter inside the gas tank that needed cleaning. It's still a little rough, so I'll be digging deeper, but it starts and idles, and I got to take it for a first ride around the yard, which was pretty awesome after thinking it was beyond my experience to get it running. Thanks, Mustie!

i am glad you don't have to look everything up. you have the knowledge

I had to fix the brakes on my Craftsman mower last year. I wish I'd had this before I took it all apart! (Actually wasn't too bad, but I couldn't believe the cost of new pads!)

Please keep on doing the electrical troubleshooting the way you have been doing it. I've learned quite a bit from you over the past few years watching your videos and it has helped me immensely with troubleshooting electrical issues on old motorcycles I've worked on. Always look forward to your videos!

For a top notch mechanic with back problems, you're superior. Collecting thrown aways by people nvr serviced them, its amazing, what can be achieved. Congrats, its alw a great joy to indulge yr vids. Cheers fm Singapore+

up since 4 watching increasingy boring vids, then Mustie came on and brightened my morning

I’ve got two old John Deere tractors out back, one identical to this one that’s only been sitting for five years. Deck is ruined but the engine and trans *should* still be good (it was when parked lol) and I think I’m going to work on it some

Superb. I watched Part 1 yesterday and Part 2 today, and only wish Part 3 was already uploaded and ready to enjoy. Thank you Mustie 1 - for your relaxed presentation, for saving the John Deere one step at a time, and for introducing us to your pony and pup. I am too advanced in years to have been part of Mr. Rogers' audience, but I have a feeling there is a synchronicity here.

mustie ive been hooked since the first video i watched, you do something I've had to do my whole life and that is fix my own junk. you took it to the next level (at least a couple higher than me) you have my full attention on every video and you make me chuckle once in a while. you cover every question on a rebuild someone might have and i like that about you, you got a great attitude, keep up the good work .

20:22 - Being able to troubleshoot/figure stuff out will help you understand the problem even if some tinkerer was there before you. Wiring Diagrams will only tell you how it was supposed to be from the factory. Old stuff gets adapted over the years and a good mechanic needs to be able to understand that and work around it.

Maybe it's time to dive into your parts hoard and build another one of your artistic motor bikes. Using only what you have would be a fun challenge.

I am glad I came across your videos thank you for all your in depth info an taking time to teach. Have a great day!

Your diagnostic procedure is top notch Mustie and it makes you independent of material on the internet especially with older machines that have limited diagnostic material available. Take no notice of those who say look it up online, most of them wouldn't be able to diagnose a broken fuse without consulting the internet. Your best friend is that multimeter.

20:51 yeah if you look everything up you never truly learn how things work and then you're screwed when there's no manual to use, Mustie's way of learning is way better

83 minutes of Mustie? Should I watch now or ration it out during the week?!?!? Decisions...

Thank you so much Musti ! Learning and entertainment and good humor in one package thank you for making our days better !

Just started watching your videos last night and now I'm hooked ! Thank you for all the information and I appreciate your humor. I would love to learn more electrical if you could make more videos with that I would watch them all !

Whoa there Mustie, now that's a knife! Have you been binge watching Crocodile Dundee movies or what?

The other reason it’s important to know how to troubleshoot without the diagram is because they are often wrong. Small changes in production runs, modifications by owners and discolored wires can really throw you for a loop.

Mustie1, i wish i was just like you. i love working on engines like this. the only real experience i have is working on Goped engine (46cc) and a 31cc but that one had a bore and stroke kit that i put on it. i just love working on engines but i wish i worked on them a LOT more than i currently do. and watching your channel kind of reignites the flame of passion that i have for these engines. i actually do learn a lot from watching you. all i have to say is thank you. your videos really do help people. if this comment made it into a video somehow i would be overjoyed.

Enjoyed watching and listening! You are very thorough on all your projects!

First, keep up the awesome content, I hope you are doing well

Mustie, don’t take this the wrong way, but anytime I need to take a nap, I watch one of your vids. You have a soothing voice. Btw, I’ll always watch your vids again end to end when I’m more awake. So, with me, you always get at least two views.

Luv your vids bro /i was a small engine mech for 25 + years till athritus and fibromyalgia made it difficult for me to work /i do luv watching you repair things reminds me of when i had my shop /keep up the great work !

An enormous THANK YOU to all KZfaq content creators for providing all of us with additional content during this very trying time! I can only speak for myself when I say you are helping me retain what little sanity I have left having been sheltered in place for the last 2 1/2 weeks!!

I confess I pressed the like button while the ad was playing. Was this OK.

You need the professional voice actor "PREVIOUSLY ON MUSTIE1 " (cue theme song)

Exceptional video. Love your trouble shooting. Showing what makes things work and why. To take something that was trashed. Bring it to life. That is great. In this disposable world. You are inspirational. Fun to watch. Entertaining and educational. Keep up the solid grade A work you do. I watch a lot of your videos. I had to comment on this one. You inspire me. Thank you.

That how you learn is my understanding of how it works. So you are doing all of us a favor by walking us through it. I have used a lot of your techniques when working out in the garage.

Why the big knife mustie? Unfriendly neighborhood? Alot of those old tractors or the cheap ones have sealed bearings on blade quills. The grease fittings don't actually grease them.

I literally just got one of these... for free... will it start.... lol damnit man you beat me to it. 🤟 started up nice

The troubleshooting steps you take are much appreciated.

I love to see your trouble shooting methods and hearing you talk out what you are doing and/or thinking. Thanks for the videos!

Good morning Mustie1!

THE VW ENGINES CAUGHT ME AND NOW THE LESTS SAVE IT HAS REELED ME IN...ENJOY LIFE ALL..BE WELL....

I always appreciate ALL explanaitons or information about what you are doing! Thank you for doing these videos!

Hey great video. Always very educational, you take your time explaining everything to the viewers.

Don't we all hate the fact that there's no standardization of oil and air filters?

Methylated spirits is really good at absorbing moisture out of a fuel tank.

I learn so much from watching your videos. Your demeanor is so relaxing and your courage to jump into unknown territory draws me in like a magnet. You are so much like me but with the curiosity and no fear of failure that I wish I had. Keep up your fantastic videos.

These are wonderful machines. My parents have one they bought new in 1986 to replace a 1974 IH Cub Cadet 128 that the Kohler engine blew up in. Theirs has the optional oil filter that yours also has. That thing mowed their lawn, my grandparent's lawn, my uncle's lawn and church yard at our church for decades. God only knows how many hours are on that little mower but it is still going strong and the only thing I know of that has ever had to be replaced on it is the blade clutch. Years ago my Dad bought a GX 335 that was intended to replace it but mom refused to part with her little 160 so they now have his and hers John Deeres.

16:00 "probably some other safety switch" Ya probably. I have mixed feelings about John Deeres. They're awesome mowers, do a good job, but they're kind of a pita to mow with. So many safety switches. I mow one yard thats fairly hilly. If you go to lean over on the seat to get more traction on one side to make it up a hill you get too far off the seat and it wants to shut off. Since the frame is so stiff and doesn't flex it doesn't take very much of an angle to get off center either. Take to long and it'll disengane the mower deck also. Try and back up around a tree or flower bed.. got to push some button or pull the pto switch Up so it doesn't disengage the mower. Really makes me appreciate my old Craftsman LT1000. Push a lever up to engage the mower, I can get off the tractor with it running, and it doesn't care if i'm going forward or reverse. Ya i just find all the safety switches annoying.

I get why snap rings are called snap rings because they like to snap in half part of it hits you in the face and the other half goes flying into the abyss never to be found again

Just want to thank you for your very informative show. I have learned so much from you that I purchased a (troy bilt pony) riding mower for $45, that I repaired and overhauled. Now it works perfect, thank you.

I'm completely sold on Mustie's proven mechanical skills and now I'm equally impressed by his electrical expertise - impressive!

Not sure you noticed, but when you fired the PTO, you sputtered fluid on the lift. You can see it @ 42:46 time mark.

Rambo called he wants his knife back. ;)

Thanks for the great videos Mustie. Helps kill the time during these difficult weeks!

My God, he is actualy going to bring this thing back from the grave, WOW!!! Just an amazing restoration all around. I love how he says, we dont want to mess with that, its a bit tricky and notorious for cuasing problems, click, next frame, you want to take a look, lets go in and fiddle tweek around a bit, BOOM, and thats why things get fixed, with a little love and care, them brakes are like new, and that paint job was a great surprise, just amazing!!!! Note: It helps to have all the tools and spare parts hanging around and LOTS of experience and know how to go along with the elbow greese. Thanks for sharing with us and being an encouragment that just about anything can be fixed with some patience, love and a little elbow greese. Teaches you that nothing should be thrown away cuz if it is Ole Mustie gonna bring it back to life for the next generation!!!