[tt8377]

Hi All, I started my Craftsman Lawn Tractor with a mouse nest inside engine because I was in a rush due to storm coming. It started up fine and I drove her around property for 4-5 mins then stopped by garage. I then pulled up hood and saw nest. I pulled out all debris and started up again and the engine began to knock. I think some of the nest got past the air filter and into intake. Not sure what to do here. I appreciate any and all thoughts. Thanks

TT

 

[JackOfAllTradesRuss]

Had this same thing happen to me years ago,with a sears rototiller. Sorry to have to tell you this,but my engine was toast after only running it for 5 or 10 minutes. Mouse nest had blocked all the cooling fins and engine got too hot and throw a connecting rod out the side of the block. Hope you may have stopped your engine in time with only a loose rod bearing that can be repaired. Russ

 

[davidg]

did you pull the housing and clean it out there too?

unless your filter was not on properly or chewed up, it should not get past it.

 

[tt8377]

Yes the sponge filter was chewed a bit in corner and I think it left enough of a gap to let in debris. I guess i have to open up the engine and see what is going on.

 

[tt8377]

Russ, Did your rototiller continue to run, or did it just stop? Thanks tt

 

[tt8377]

David, if debris from nest does get past, is there a repair I can do?

 

[mowerbeast]

I hate mice.
I removed a nest, then it was back again a week later :banghead3
I put mice poison out, which seemed to have worked. I continued to run the mower with out removing the nest, about 3 months, until parking it for winter. I haven't had any problems with my engine (11hp briggs) since having the nest in, so I guess I'm lucky.

 

[JackOfAllTradesRuss]

Yes,my rototiller Stopped and Locked-Up after the rod came out the side of engine block. Russ

 

[Weaverama]

Yes,my rototiller Stopped and Locked-Up after the rod came out the side of engine block. Russ

Well now Russ, that will generally do it.

tt8377, you may need to pull the head off to see if there was any damage done to cause the engine to knock. But, it would be a bit unlucky for a piece of a mouse nest to cause severe damage assuming the nest did not have pieces of metal in it. Hindsight says you should have cleaned the air intake box out completely since it sounds as if it was running fine before you removed the nest and knocked upon start up after you cleaned it out. Maybe a chunk of the nest material has gunked up the carb and it is making the engine run poorly. I would inspect that first before tearing onto the head. Start with the simple things first.