Just after buying a new Troy Built 6.5hp push behind mower w/bagger there was a tennis ball in the grass I did not see. After running over it the mower does nothing more than start & die. I pulled the fly wheel off, checked the key & it was not broken. I still need to check out where crank key is located. I read that you can disconnect the spark plug & with a glove move the blade back & forth to check if it is loose. I changed the spark plug & it still starts & dies. The only other thing I can think of is the timing of the electronic ignition from the magneto may not be sparking at the right moment of the piston position. Can anybody give me advise on how to check the key on the crank or how to check the
timing? Can anybody tell me what kind of damage they have had from pushing there mower over a tennis ball?

Patric, June 2004

Believe it or not I tried another spark plug in that Troy Built 6.5hp Briggs push mower and it runs like new again. I had so many spark plugs laying around in the garage there was no way to seperate the old ones from the new ones. Even though Champion puts out a defective spark plug once in a while. The shear pin on the flywheel was definitly the other problem. I also own a Snapper 4hp push bagger that my Grandpa gave me 10 years ago & I never had any problems running over tennis balls before. The new mowers are definitly more efficient & safe but not as durable or old reliable.

Patric, June 2004