How I fixed this Free BROKEN Cub Cadet RZT 50” and sold it for $1,500 | Engine SWAP

How I fixed this Free BROKEN Cub Cadet RZT 50” and sold it for $1,500 | Engine SWAP | Garage Story

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2 жыл бұрын

This week I have an exciting mower flip project: I got a Cub Cadet 50" zero turn mower for free, and I'm going to replace the engine in it and see if I can sell it for a big profit! Mowers like this don't come my way that often, so I'm going to make the most of it! Can I make almost $1,500 on a free mower?
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I'm in the business of hunting up old lawn mowers and other small engine machines, and either parting them out, or fixing them up and selling them for profit. Come along for the ride with my weekly vlogs, and how-to videos!
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Cub Cadet Carburetor Replacement | How to Pull a Lawn Mower Engine
Edited by Levi Montgomery

Пікірлер: 116

@mboyer68 2 жыл бұрын

It's so good to see that some intelligent young people think that working on things is better than flipping water bottles, playing video games and throwing frisbees into basketball goals. For the life of me I'll never understand why people freak out when they flip a water bottle over and it lands on it's bottom. Unbelievable. Fixing that lawnmower is reason to jump up and down and yell, not landing a water bottle on it's bottom. Cheers young man, you're restoring my faith in humanity.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@philliphall5198 11 ай бұрын

I agree with you, it makes me happy seeing the young man working and getting better everyday Video games are such a waste of life

@vokieman2979 Жыл бұрын

You should be proud of yourself that was a good job. Started on the first try.

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@fightdhr8866 13 күн бұрын

Fine job young fellow ❤

@garagestory 12 күн бұрын

Thank you!

@midcoasttractorservice9182 3 ай бұрын

There's a yellow triangle button by the key you ppush to stop the deck from shutting off in reverse

@midcoasttractorservice9182 3 ай бұрын

Update! You must move the key one click towards the off position the press the button and you will get a red light then you are good to mow.

@ralphvasso7209 Жыл бұрын

Wow what a find for 400!! You stole that thing

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Referring to the Banshee?

@gregorygiddens5092 3 ай бұрын

nice but need to swap stator also if the engine that came out of the craftsman is original then it has the reg low voltage stator because it has manual pto just to keep lights on and battery charged it will work but overtime it will probably short out over load because of electric pto just keep in mind

@garagestory 2 ай бұрын

Good point, that’s something I don’t normally think about. Hopefully it worked out ok for the next owner!

@user-jd9bc4vm8h Ай бұрын

great video good job

@garagestory Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@Specimen_J 9 ай бұрын

2:50 you are one with nature. Nice butterfly on the cap 😅

@garagestory 9 ай бұрын

Lol! I didn’t remember that!

@matthewderickson1121 8 ай бұрын

I would have checked ignition coil replaced plug or check valve lash

@garagestory 8 ай бұрын

That wouldn’t have hurt to at least check. But it did turn out to be a broken connecting rod.

@matthewderickson1121 8 ай бұрын

@@garagestory That would have been fist thing I take a old push rod for sticking in the plug hole always first thing I do, if broken connecting rod I open assess damage to see if its rebuildable. Did you open engine up to see the damage?

@garagestory 8 ай бұрын

Yes, I did a separate video on it. It could have been rebuilt, but wasn’t worth my time to do it.

@matthewderickson1121 8 ай бұрын

@@garagestory I'll have to check out that video

@302vettelife2 7 ай бұрын

Cut the purple wire to disable the reverse cut off.

@richardfeury5540 2 жыл бұрын

Wouldn’t you like to be able to do a deal like that every week. Nice video. You were lucky to get the clutch/pulleys off as easily as you did. Those can be a pain sometimes.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

It would be nice if we could do a deal like this every week! Maybe we will get to that point. Yes, sometimes the clutch/pulleys can be difficult to get off. A lot of the time I find that there are openings in the engine deck that I can get a bar through to push on them from the top side. Sometimes that isn’t the case though, and I have to pry them off from the under side.

@joshsundiwa 11 ай бұрын

thanks for sharing

@joelsimmons7556 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant video

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@levimontgomery2728 2 жыл бұрын

Kid knows his stuff, very good video

@prairieprincessok9932 2 жыл бұрын

I love the stalker creeper shots from the bushes of the buyers.

@ljmproductions1 2 жыл бұрын

lol. You're welcome! ;-)

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

😄😄😄

@absoluteaces3084 2 жыл бұрын

This is an awesome video. Favorite so far!

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Great!! I’m glad you liked it. It’s a lot longer than the videos so far, so we weren’t sure what the audience feedback would be.

@absoluteaces3084 2 жыл бұрын

I like the detailed ones. Looking forward to showing it to my boys!

@danielpadgett2831 10 ай бұрын

Awsome job 👍👍

@garagestory 10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@tommy-time5240 2 жыл бұрын

That was an awesome flip!!

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! How is your Cub Cadet RZT doing? Did adding fluid to the transmission fix it?

@tommy-time5240 2 жыл бұрын

@@garagestory no, i just bought a new drive belt and will see if that will cure the problem.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

I hope that fixes it! I have a Husqvarna zero turn that had the belt routed wrong around the transmissions so it didn’t apply enough force on one of them. I re-routed the belt and it worked good! I can’t remember the Cub Cadet belt routing off hand, but it’s possible that’s all that’s wrong. I have a video about the Husqvarna.

@ken3700 2 жыл бұрын

Get an ATV exhaust spring tool.. it’s a long hood with a T-handle on it with a hook on the end.. cheap.. and way easier .. you’ll use it a 1000 times. Or you can weld up one pretty easy for free … and use it 1000 times.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Cool! I just looked them up. Yes, that would have been easier.

@ronniehall1520 8 ай бұрын

GOOD JOB Just a tip always check the valve lash

@garagestory 8 ай бұрын

Good advice!

@altonrowell613 Жыл бұрын

Nice job man 🙂.

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Appalachiannative 2 жыл бұрын

Do you recall what you had to fix how it was running lean? New gas? Fuel filter? Just run it more, I didn’t catch that part if it was in the video.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

I’m trying to remember. I think it was my crank case breather vent that I had forgotten to hook back up to the intake manifold. That and just running it more.

@terrytodd2647 Жыл бұрын

Check out the value

@BC5391 2 жыл бұрын

good deal A++

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@altonrowell613 Жыл бұрын

If you don't do a compression test how do you know it has a bad cylinder. My onan 20hp was running on one cylinder and it had a vacuum leak.

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Good question! It was noisy like something was broken inside, so I guessed it was. I put another video where I took it apart to see what happened.

@ken3700 2 жыл бұрын

Take the tint c clip off the starter that holds the gear on.. pull it apart.. sandpaper the starter shaft clean the gear assembly really good put lithium grease on so of it and put it back together.. it will work perfectly … I’ve done that to one starter already. And put some of the lithium on the flywheel gears also.. if you have any patience wire brush the flywheel gears or sand paper the teeth to break free the surface rust befor you put the grease on the fly wheel.. you will be super surprised how well it works and how much it quiets the starter.. free fix.. be super super careful not to loose the tiny c clip.. put a plastic sandwich bath over the shaft when you pop it off so you don’t loose it.. use a small socket to put the c clip back on.. you will be able to save almost any starter as long as the motor on the starter still runs ..

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

It’s funny you should mention this! A few days ago I tried to take apart a starter and lost the clip when re-installing it. A socket does help!

@denzellrocha5313 Жыл бұрын

Awesome stuff. Want to do this here soon. Have the tools just gotta have the know how

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Great! The best way to get know how is to jump in and learn by doing.

@TheTiktok4321 2 ай бұрын

Well, having a spare engine laying around is kinda cheating... ONLY because a replacement engine can be in the high several hundreds of dollars. :D But a spare engine installed is better than laying around. Well done.

@garagestory 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! It’s been a few years now, so I don’t remember for sure, but I think the engine came from another free or very inexpensive mower. But there is value in the engine and value in the zero turn even with the bad engine. It’s just working with items other people no longer want and creating more value!

@thetubeschannel 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video ! I was looking forward to seeing what happened to that engine. Broken piston arm and the noise coming from the piston arm ? Did you ever find out ?

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! No, I did not pull the old engine apart. I do still have it, so maybe I will do that. 🤔

@cliftonhead9665 8 ай бұрын

I look through your videos and couldn't find anything like the problem I am having. I have a Cub Cadet 46" RZT L with 190 hrs. The mower will start at times and works great. Other times it want start as if dead battery, battery is good btw, can't hear anything when trying to start the engine. Example: Cutting grass and stop the mower to take a break return starts right back up no problems. Then another time after stopping when I return no start. Go back in and after mower sets awhile or sometimes overnight it starts. I do my own maintenance being a retired Navy electrician / mechanic. Any suggestion. Tks

@garagestory 8 ай бұрын

Hmmm, that’s tough to say. It could be an ignition switch going bad, or a safety switch going bad somewhere. Also, could be a weak ground somewhere.

@ElLeno2827 Жыл бұрын

I am wondering if it was a bad engine or if the vales or push rods went out on that one side I have had that happen on a Briggs v twin

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

It turned out to be a broken connecting rod. I actually have a video on the channel where I take it apart to see what was wrong with it.

@mowerreviewsrepairsandtric5127 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I would like to say great videos. I have a problem with my toro zero turn. It’s a toro timecutter ss5000. When I get of it the engine bogs. And the break module goes crazy and engages and disengages the parking break burning up the break module over time. If you have any ideas i will take them. I’m 14 years old and I’ve already put a new break module in it. Thank you.

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Wow, that sounds a little odd! I’m not sure what exactly is going on. It could be a intermittent short in the electrical system?

@banzaiman1 Жыл бұрын

Would it not have been worth swapping the spark plugs over just incase it was a dodgy spark plug or lead?

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

No, it would not have hurt to do that. I have a spark tester that I would use nowadays. That engine is still lying around, so I may pull it out and see if I can find out what was wrong with it.

@flyslinger2 2 жыл бұрын

I want to put LED's on mine. Where would you mount them?

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Good question. Maybe mint them in the front of the plastic fenders? That would probably be easiest to wire and most out of the way. Or you could put lights up at the very front, over the front axle. That would be more in the way though.

@kevincris2589 Жыл бұрын

Just picked on up for $350 with a seized right side hydro. But mine has a 22 kawasaki

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

Cool!! Are you going to rebuild the hydro or replace it?

@kevincris2589 Жыл бұрын

@@garagestory will try to see if it i can rebuild it. I have no idea how to do it tho lol. But mower only has 250 hours so i think its worth fixing or replacing

@ljmproductions1 Жыл бұрын

@@kevincris2589 Sounds like a great find!!

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

That’s interesting! I wonder why it seized up… check the simple stuff first: make sure the parking break is releasing on the transmission, check the drive vs transport mode and play around with it, check the fluid level.

@bigsonslawncare 2 жыл бұрын

Just picked up one of these Cubs with 480 hours Briggs V Twin runs and cuts great. Would it make a difference with engine coming from manual pto to electric as far as charging? Nice swap, New sub!

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations on the purchase! Good question about the charging system on a manual PTO vs electric PTO mower. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is the charging system is the same if it’s the same engine family.

@Penguinboy1995 2 жыл бұрын

@@garagestory some engines with manual ptos will have a smaller charging system than ones with electric ptos. I've had to switch charging systems going from one set up to the next.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Good to know!

@erichansen667 9 ай бұрын

How many hours did you have in this flip?

@garagestory 9 ай бұрын

Excellent question! It’s been a couple years now, so I’m not really sure. I’d say 10-20 maybe?

@woodsey52 2 жыл бұрын

Oil?

@jaystangs23 6 ай бұрын

hey. i bet it had a broken rocker arm. on the cylinder. had that same. fix. many times. on ohv engine

@garagestory 6 ай бұрын

Good guess! This one turned out to be a broken connecting arm. I have a video where I took it apart, but it was a year or so later.

@ken3700 2 жыл бұрын

How heavy is that engine? Too heavy to lift by hand?

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

I think the twin cylinder engines like that way 80 or so pounds. I just try to be careful when I can. Sometimes I move them by hand, but I try to minimize that to save my back.

@kennycotto-escobar3457 2 жыл бұрын

Any Parts for sale?

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

I do sell parts. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?

@chasingwaves11 2 жыл бұрын

sweet man nice job!.. Those Starter Bendex are a cheap design .. there are much better designs for that style but it is what it is .. nicely done! gave u a SUB too ! boost you up to 81 subs now lol

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching and subscribing! Yeah, using less plastic in the Bendex probably wouldn’t hurt...

@RailfanninginVirginia 10 ай бұрын

wasn't the coils?

@garagestory 10 ай бұрын

Nope! Had a broken rod. I actually have a video where I take it apart to see.

@RailfanninginVirginia 10 ай бұрын

@@garagestory ooooh I gotcha. Recently saw an issue with my kind of mower engine where it didn’t start with one of the spark plugs in, and ran rough with the other one in. Changing the coils fixed it. Thanks for letting me know!

@kenbaker6177 2 жыл бұрын

How do you know the engine was bad you didn't even check spark maybe it was just a coil

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you are correct. A bad coil could cause it to not run on one cylinder. However, I also heard noise like something was broken inside. I have a compression tester now that I would use as well to help diagnose.

@watercarepro9610 2 жыл бұрын

I've never in my life had anyone just give me anything like this for free, I mean who does that??? As a matter of fact there's one on Craigslist right now that needs a transaction a battery and a couple tires and he still asking $1,000 for it.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

This is probably one of the best mowers I’ve gotten for free! Do people know that you are interested in free mowers? If know one knows then they can’t call you up.

@philliphall5198 11 ай бұрын

I never get free stuff but I can see why they would give it to a young man to learn how to fix them

@philliphall5198 11 ай бұрын

Really I’m a old mechanic and you should not lift engine by hand Your back will hurt like hell later in life Please take care of it young man

@garagestory 11 ай бұрын

Yes, I try to avoid lifting the engines by hand when I can. Back issues aren’t worth it!

@scottcochran384 9 ай бұрын

why would you not have just changed the bad coil on the original engine I can assure you thats all thats wrong with it..

@garagestory 9 ай бұрын

I have a video where I took it apart. It turned out to be a broken connecting rod.

@GaryTodd-si4um Күн бұрын

Was wondering same thing

@dustink8180 2 жыл бұрын

It needs a value job

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

The new engine or the original?

@philliphall5198 Жыл бұрын

Great but you just told IRS to much

@garagestory Жыл бұрын

😂 IKR? No worries though, I report everything to the best of my abilities!

@nigerbear2642 2 жыл бұрын

Did you verify the one dead cylinder didnt have a bad spark plug or a failed ignition system on that side? You wasted a lot of time and effort if it was one of those.

@garagestory 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent question! Unfortunately, I did not verify. I went off the fact that it was making a rattling noise in there. In the future I would run a compression test as well. Since I have the engine still, and you aren’t the first one to mention it, I may investigate further.

@nigerbear2642 2 жыл бұрын

@@garagestory yes I would do that just to verify 100%. Wouldnt want to junk a good engine. Could be some part broken in the valve train. We had a honda engine on a log splitter that had a broken rocker arm.