Skip to main content
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Servicing atco balmoral

Enter a word or two to search the forum section and click the Search Forum button.

Hello again.

My balmoral 17s hunts at idle and only runs well at mid throttle and above. From reading this forum I think my mower may have a Tecumseh engine with a black rectangular plastic air filter cover . I think the mower is from 1999. Should I begin by cleaning the carb with carb cleaner? I found a comprehensive Tecumseh engine manual elsewhere on the forum.

I also think the mower requires sae30w oil but I am hoping a multi grade synthetic 5w30 will be OK as I have a fair bit kicking about, rather than buying other oil just for the mower.

Thanks.

Forums

wristpin Mon, 27/03/2017

Yes, the carburettor needs a thorough clean. Carb cleaner is a start but you may end up having to go the ultra-sonic cleaner route.

The snag with using 5/20 oil is that its formulated for  multi cylinder water cooled engines, not a hard working single pot air cooled one. That said, if you are going to use it, check the oil level religiously as it may consume oil quicker than you expect. 

Alexh Thu, 30/03/2017

The oil was thick with metal sludge. Also the drain is very inconveniently placed so it runs all over the machine, quite tempted by an extension tube for the future.

Carb is next.

wristpin Fri, 31/03/2017

If it really is " metal sludge" , I'd be more concerned about that than a bit of spilt oil - the future may be limited.

Alexh Sat, 01/04/2017

Running like it's new with fresh oil! I'm amazed, doesn't seem to be hunting much now either.

wristpin Sat, 01/04/2017

May be worth getting it good and hot then draining and refilling to get rid of any lurking sludge.