Group 7 - Lawn Mower Engine
Contents |
Tecumseh 3 H.P, 4-Stroke Lawn Mower Engine: Model Number TNT100
[[Image: |125px|]] Tecumseh TNT100 title screen | |
Request for Proposal
Initial Product Assessment
1. This motor is intended to power a lawn mower, which is meant to cut grass as a part of basic lawn maintenance. The engine is specifically designed to spin the mower's blade with sufficient speed and power to cut grass at a desired height.
- This product can be used either at home or professionally, because lawns need to be maintained wherever a clean appearance is desired.
- This size engine is typically used in a smaller push-mower, which is intended for trimming around obstacles such as buildings and trees where larger mowers cannot reach, as well as in small areas such as lawns in residential neighborhoods.
2. A lawnmower engine works similarly to any basic motor of similar size. The throttle and choke control the ratio of gas to air in the mixture that is applied to the engine and lit by the spark plug to generate energy from combustion. It uses pull start rather than an electric start, and therefore requires mechanical energy input by the user. Essentially, the combustion in the engine turns the blades that allow the lawn mower to work.
- Chemical potential energy is converted to thermal (heat) energy by combustion. This energy is harnessed as mechanical energy for output, converting potential energy to kinetic energy to do work on the grass. Electrical energy is also involved in the generation of an electric arc via a spark plug.
- A mixture of gas and air is ignited with electric arc from the spark plug to provide extremely exothermic reaction (releasing chemical potential energy as thermal energy), which is harnessed by the mechanism of the motor into mechanical energy that initiates the motion of the blades.
3. This product is not currently functioning because it does not have all of its parts. Gas and oil would also be necessary in order to test to see if it would run. Without them we cannot properly test its functionality.
- Upon initial inspection, it appears that the fly wheel may be missing a piece that allows the gears for the pull start to catch. The gear shaft is difficult to spin, even when torque is applied directly instead of with the string. It may be that there is something like corrosion or worn parts preventing the shaft from rotating and that this is why the engine is not able to run.
- This engine is fairly well used; many of its parts show a good deal of wear. The pull-start does not turn the motor over properly, and without fuel and lubrication it is difficult to analyze the engine for other issues because it cannot be started. A question that arose was whether it was put together correctly by a previous group, because some of these parts do not function as it seems they should. Loose parts, like a spring and strips of metal, were also found lodged inside the engine.
4. One approach to the complexity of an engine is to consider how many parts it has. This small two-stroke engine is not as complex as larger engines, such as those designed for cars, because it contains fewer parts. For instance, the lawn mower engine has one piston to convert the chemical energy to mechanical work, while a typical car engine has anywhere from four to eight separate cylinders. This means that a car engine would have many more components to make the pistons move together smoothly, including timing the spark plugs to allow for the proper sequence of firing.
- This size engine has approximately 8 to 10 main components, which are brought together by many minor components that are designed to work together in unison. Though they are not named specifically, these minor components are just as important to the overall function of the engine. Primary components of the lawn mower engine include:
- flywheel
- crankshaft
- carburetor (assembly)
- piston/cylinder
- camshaft
- pull start (assembly)
- fan blade
- gas tank
- fan cover
- spark plug
- Of the above listed components, the carburetor assembly is the most complex in terms of the number of parts involved. The carburetor is where the gas and air are mixed for combustion, and incorporates such pieces as the spark plug, a combustion chamber, intake and exhaust valves, and the piston. Some of these main components are only made up of one piece, such as the piston, crankshaft or camshaft. However, the piston must be carefully machined to the exact size to fit without any breaks in the seal. The shafts are simple but important, as they transfer the mechanical energy from one place to another. The fan blade is also simple, but its fins need to be designed with the proper angle to provide an optimal amount of engine cooling. The purpose of the gas tank is straight forward; the challenge is how to shape the tank so that it fits around the rest of the engine properly. Assemblies such as the pull start and the flywheel contain many interdependent parts, making them more complex than single-part components, but not as involved as the carburetor. We will gain a greater understanding of how these assemblies work and how complex they really are once we begin the disassembly process.
5. Materials used in this product include steel, cast iron, a variety of plastics, rubber, and string.
- Visible materials include the string for the pull-start, plastic for the casing and gas tank, rubber for the tubing and primer bulb, a spark plug (ceramic and steel), and iron for the screws, bolts, and primary engine housing.
- Most of the possible materials are visible, but there are likely copper wires that you cannot see. There is a plastic fan for cooling the engine that is not visible from the outside. Some of the bolts have metal spacers that are not visible. Also, the oil cap has a dip stick that cannot be seen until the cap is removed. It would also take gasoline and oil to run this engine, both of which are not included with the engine originally.
6. Assuming this engine part of a lawnmower and not just the engine by itself, this would be a satisfactory mower for moderately small sized lawns. It is clearly not intended for big lawns due to its small size and relatively lower power output. It would work well for getting into small areas where larger mowers cannot go.
- The lawnmower is comfortable for the user because they stand and walk behind the engine, although physical labor is required to push the mower during use.
- The lawnmower is simple to run. Once it is running, there is little that must be done to use it properly. However, the engine alone would be difficult to start without the necessary missing parts.
- Performing regular maintenance, like changing the oil or filling the gas tank, would be easy for a consumer that is familiar with small gas engines. Otherwise this engine could be sent in for regular maintenance, ideally about every six months. The mechanic could change the oil as well as clean the deck and sharpen the blades. Without training, it may be difficult to service and should be left to a professional.
7. There are various alternatives to this product for different intended uses. Competing push-mowers are available that are designed for tasks such as trimming around obstacles or mowing hard-to-reach areas. For a small step up in price, there are self-propelled mowers, which use a part of the engine's power to drive the mower forward. Another option is the riding lawnmower. These machines are much more expensive and are designed to cover much more ground than push mowers can, with longer blades and larger engines.
- Lawn mowers have a wide range of costs, and this mower would cost approximately $100 new. Approximate prices are shown below [1]:
- Push mowers of comparable size: $150 - $300 (21” mower deck)
- Self-propelled mowers: $330 - $530 (21” mower deck)
- Riding mowers: $1,000 - $5,000 (42” to 60” mower decks)
- Advantages to this size mower are that it is able to mow hard to reach places, and that the 10 cubic inch motor is lighter than larger mowers, making it more maneuverable.
- Disadvantages to such a small mower include that it takes a long time to mow larger areas. Larger mowers also have more power, which allows thicker or longer grass to be mowed more effectively.
[1] Based on prices found at www.lowes.com
Management Proposal
Group 7 of the Fall 2009 M.A.E. 277 class consists of the following five members who have been assigned these titles and will each be the leader of their component of the project. Members will take part in all aspects of the project if requested to by the member in charge of each area. However, each member will only have decision making authority over his or her own section. The group plans to meet regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 until 5:00 P.M. to conduct work on the project until it is complete. The Project Adviser will decide where the group will meet based on what needs to be accomplished during that meeting. Should the need arise to meet more often, the group has set aside time to meet on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.
- Christopher Germain- Lead C.A.D. Designer and Modeling Representative. Chris will be responsible for coordinating 3-D modeling processes throughout the project duration and will be in charge making final decisions and approvals of all modeling material to be posted.
- Colton Steiner- Communications Diplomat and Project Adviser. Colton will be in charge of communicating with group members to coordinate meetings and time management. Colton will also act as the connection between the group and the class instructors, Erich and Phil. Colton will monitor each group member's performance and advise them as to how he thinks time should be spent if they are not in time with the Gannt chart.
- Dharan Shah- Director of Documentation and Media. Dharan will lead the group in documentation of work. He will be the lead photgrapher and videographer of all engine components and dissection processes. Dharan will be in charge of uploading approved media elements to the page and will have authority to discard or make changes to any media elements.
- Resigned Course November 13, 2009.
- Gregory Muench- Technical Expert and Dissection Executive. Greg will be in charge of technical work and lead the dissection process. Having the most experience in the group with mechanical engine work, Greg will be the authority head of all disassembly and re-assembly work. Greg will also manage tools and component storage during the dissection.
- Julia Perot- Editor in Chief. Julia will be in charge of all editing processes. She will proof read all work before it is published and will be in charge of confirming the information posted to the Wiki site. Julia will make sure that all appropriate work is posted neatly and on time and will make changes in format as she sees fit. She may change spelling, grammar, and follow other standard editing procedures but will only remove content with approval from the other group members.
The following Gantt Chart is a representation of the estimates we have made determining how long each required task of the four gates of the project will take us.
Work Proposal
Evaluation
The process to reverse engineer the engine will be very challenging and has already required extensive research into the engine specifications and diagrams. Upon receiving the engine, there were several areas of concern. Fins on the flywheel and piston cover were chipped. It seems as though the entire engine has not been assembled properly; the engine does not turn over and the starter assembly does not engage the engine correctly. There were several other damaged areas. There is a spacer split in the engine shaft. The flywheel head has a crack that looks as though it may have been put there by a hammer. Finally, the throttle linkage was found dismantled inside the flywheel cover.
The group feels very confident in its ability to dismantle the engine because each member experience with reverse engineering products as well as modeling and documenting components. Technical Expert and Dissection Exectutive, Gregory Muench, has also had extensive experience working on small gasoline engines, especially with various lawn mowers.
One possible shortcoming the group will face is that each member has a very tight schedule. Should the process take more time than anticipated, coordinating meetings will be difficult. Scheduling conflicts have already begun to arise during the approved regular meeting times. Although those other obligations are not consistently interrupting any member's attendance, it still puts a strain on others. Another possible shortcoming is the differences in residence of group members. Three members live in the Ellicott housing complex, but the remaining two reside off campus as far as 45 minutes away. The third shortcoming remains that two members hold part time jobs and a third member holds a full time job at his family's business, which makes time management more difficult because they have unpredictable work schedules. The group is confident, however, that it will work through these challenges and manage time efficiently when given the opportunity to meet.
One of the potential challenges the group will face during dissection is determining the correct assembly of the engine components, as it was not assembled properly by a previous group. This will be important when trying reassemble it correctly in the future. A second challenge lies with the removal of the flywheel. Based upon experience with lawn mower engines, removal of the flywheel is likely to be the most difficult procedure, requiring precision and strength. The process is likely to become even more challenging because it will require special care not to damage the flywheel head any further.
Dissection Tools
Screwdriver
Allen Wrench Set
Ball-Peen Hammer
Wrench and Socket Set
Spark Plug Socket
Tecumseh Flywheel Puller
Needle Nose Pliers
Preliminary Design Review
Product Disassembly
The dissection procedure has been planned to be a multifaceted procedure that requires many steps and sub-steps. Due to the complexity of certain components, the group has decided to dismantle the engine by components first and then to dissect each individual component. Provided that the engine has been drained of all fluids and removed from the mower itself, the steps of dissection are as follows (Note that the Dissection Plan Sub-Sections of major assemblies, such as the piston, starter, and carburetor, are to be completed after the engine is fully dismantled).
The following procedure is rated on a difficulty level of 1-5. 1 being very simple, usually completed by hand. Levels become progressively more difficult through 5. A degree of difficulty of 5 would be constituted by rigorous effort, take a long time, and require many tools and attempts to complete. Note: this scale reflects the degree of difficulty for this particular dissection. Although many steps are normally more difficult, the poor initial condition of the engine restricted and altered the resulting scale.
- Remove the Gas Tank. This requires removal of two 8mm Hex Head Screws. This also requires that the oil dipstick be removed (by hand) to allow clearance of the tank over the fill spout. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, remove the clamp holding the fuel line to the gas tank. The handle of the starter assembly will also need to be removed using a pair of needle-nose pliers to untie the knot in the Pull Cord to fully separate the gas tank from the engine block.(Degree of difficulty:3)
- Remove Engine Shroud. This step requires removal of 2, 8mm Hex Head Screws, with lock washers, and 2, #2 Phillips head screws.(Degree of difficulty:2)
- To remove the oil fill spout from the shroud, remove two 8mm Hex Head screws.(Degree of difficulty:2)
- Remove the Carburetor Assembly and connected Manifold. Removing the manifold and carburetor requires removal of two approximately 7mm Hex Head screws that fit a #1 Phillips head screwdriver.(Degree of difficulty:2)
- Notes
Carburetor Assembly
- Because it is difficult to reach the screws with a socket or wrench, use a screwdriver to remove.
- When manifold is separated from the engine block, a composite gasket seals the two surfaces together. Due to age and wear, the gasket is broken and would most likely need to be replaced for proper function of the engine in the future.
- To separate the manifold from the carburetor assembly, remove two additional screws of the same size.
- When assembly was removed, a wire, likely for throttle shut off from a release mechanism on the handle of the mower, was seen to be improperly attached to to the engine block under the flywheel. It went unnoticed that it was not in the proper place.
- Notes
- Remove Float Bowl. Requires the removal of approximately 1/4" nut.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Upon removal, this wil expose the float assembly.
- Remove Float Pin, and Spring Clip Do so with needle-nose pliers.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- This will complete the float dissaembly which includes, the pin, spring, float, seat and clip, inlet, and needle.
- Remove Shutter Do so with a #0 Phillips Head Screwdriver.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove Primer Bulb. Do so using a small regular head screwdriver to pry bulb from edges.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove Throttle Assembly Do so by hand now that shutter is removed.(This will remove the entire throttle assembly, which also completes throttle disassembly)Degree of difficulty:1)
Starter Assembly - Remove Fuel Fitting Do so by hand.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- This completes the Carburetor disassembly
- Remove Throttle mount Normally this would be the place to remove the throttle levers but they were not properly assembled. To remove mount, remove an 8mm bolt from engine block.(Degree of difficulty:2)
- Notes
Starter Assembly- The tension spring was left in the housing case to avoid injury. It was removed at the conclusion of dissection to avoid injury.
- The hub screw is a left handed screw.
- Once the hub screw was removed, the housing cover was replaced to prevent any accidental release of the tension spring.
- The plastic flip lever of the mount is riveted in place and is not intended to be removed.
- To remove the tension spring, place palm of hand fully over spring and grip mount firmly. Use needle nose pliers to lift spring from mount and into palm of hand. Lift hand away from mount and slowly release pressure to uncoil spring in a cotrolled manner.(Degree of difficulty:4.5)
- Once the tension spring was finally removed, it was noted that the spring was mount installed properly during a past reassembly and prevented the starter assembly from engaging upon pulling of cord.
- (This completes the removal of the starter assembly which includes the cover, tension spring, hub screw, pulley, starter rope, gear, mounting brackets, washer, snap screw, clip, and spring hub. *note the handle has already been removed in Step 1.)
- To avoid any possibility of damaging or warping the cylinder head, Tecumseh recommends the bolts be removed in a precise order, shown in the following diagram-----. Due to the fact that the engine has been dissected at least once, removing the bolts in order is not an issue as they were night replaced to the proper torque as suggested by Tecumseh.
- Notes
- The Crank Case Cover is designed to slide off of the Cam Shaft with a slight pull by hand. However, it seemed aparent that the shaft was damaged and had a gouge in it which resulted in the cover catching in the gouge. It took rigorous but careful hammering and prying with a screwdriver to remover the cover.
- Upon removal of the cover, the governor assembly and crank shaft are removed with it. Both can be removed from the cover by hand.
- Remove the upper retaining ring. Do so using a precision regular head screwdriver or a small pair of needle-nose pliers.(Degree of difficulty:3)
- Note that you must do so slowly and carefully so as not to fully remove the ring as it will shoot off. Remove ring part way with whichever tool chosen and fully remove by hand.
- Remove spool by hand.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove lower retaining ring. Do so using the same procedure used to remove upper ring.(Degree of difficulty:3)
- Remove gear assembly. This is done by hand.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Note that the gear assembly is manufactured permenantly assembled. The spacers, gear and pins can not be seperated without breaking the assembly.
- Camshaft Dissassembly
- The camshaft is designed to be diassembled by hand. The shaft itself can be lifted out of the crank case cover by hand and the two remaining components, the balance shaft and the balance sleeve, on the shaft, are removed by hand as well.
- Camshaft Dissassembly
- Remove Top Flywheel and Gear. Start by removing 11/16" Nut. (You must Prevent flywheel from spinning to achieve this.) Continue by inserting any larger sized Flat head screwdriver between engine and bottom of flywheel and prying upwards while using a hammer to knock shaft out of the flywheel. This step can also be preformed by using a flywheel puller * This is the most difficult step in the procedure.(Degree of difficulty:5)
- Notes
- Due to poor reassembly by a previous group, the combination a loose parts and an improperly assembled crank shaft, the flywheel spun 1/4 turn before locking up and no other tools were necessary to hold the flywheel from spinning during removal. The error in assembly of the crank shaft was the fact that a key holding components in place on the shaft was not inserted corectleyand was catching on the engine block.
- Upon hammering off the flywheel, a wayward hit damaged the threads of the crank shaft and will need to be re-died during reassembly.
- Once the flywheel was removed a nut and washer mounting an electrical wire on the now exposed electroagnet were found to be jammed in the flywheel as well as a spring and two connecting rods about 1 1/2 inches in length were seen to be jammed as well. These pieces are part of the throttle mount and can be shown in the diagram here.
Carburetor Mounted on Engine
- Notes
- Upon removal of the electromagnet, a washer is revealed as well as the hole in the engine block which have sustained damage from the improperly placed key.
- Remove Key and spacer. Do so normally using a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove key and sliding spacer off by hand. In this particular case, the key has een twisted by torque of the shaft trying to rotate and is removed by prying it out with a small regular head screwdrviver and a hammer. (Degree of difficulty:4.5)
- Once removed,slide shaft out of bottom of engine block.
- Also, pull piston assembly out cylinder through the bottom of the engine block-This step is normally very simple but due to again more issues regarding improper reassembly in the past was very difficult. The piston rings were stretched to a larger diameter than allowabe for proper function of the motor and did not slide easily through he cylinder. Also, the piston head itself was dented in two places distorting its shape and creating a significant amount of drag on the cylinder walls.(Degree of difficulty:4.5)
- Once the pison assembly is removed, remove the 3 piston rings. Do so using a ring puller or a screwdriver and pliers.
- In this particular instance, the rings have been stretched so much that the first 2 can be removed by hand.
- The third ring was clearly stretched too far in previous dissection and upon removal in this dissection it broke.
- Upon removal of the third ring, an inner ring is seen under on the piston which is removed by prying up with a small regular screwdriver.(Total degree of difficulty:3)
- Remove retaining pins. Using needle-nose pliers, remove the two retaining pins in the piston head.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove Connecting(Grudgen or Wrist) pin. Do so by using a small regular screwdriver and a hammer to lightly tap out the pin.(Degree of difficulty:3)
- Once the pin is removed, the head seperates from the connecting rod concluding piston assembly dissection.
- Remove air filter assembly
- Remove hose. Do so by unclipping from engine block by hand.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove filter mount. Do so by removing two 8mm bolts from engine block.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Note the hose and filter mount are manufactured permanently together.
- Seperate remaining components. Do so by lifting off the filter mount and removing the filter from the filter bowl by hand. Remove the filter bowl by turning 1/4 turn and lifting out.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove Valve lifters. Do so by hand.(Degree of difficulty:1)
- Remove Valve assembly.
- Remove Valve assembly cover Do so my removing two 8mm bolts from cover and lifting off cover and exposed gasket.(Degree of difficulty:2)
- Remove Valves and valve springs. Using a small regular screwdriver, compress each spring so lift valves and remove tension from retaining plates. Using a second screwdrive, use it to strategically turn retaining plate until it falls off. Slowly release tension from springs and remove upper and lower retaining plates, spring, and valve by hand.(Degree of difficulty:4)
This completes Dissection.
DIAGRAMS COPYRIGHT OF TECUMSEH INC. 1998.
Causes for Corrective Action
Up to this point, this project has been quite successful in terms of the work and management plans. The group has been meeting regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 until about five, which has worked well for the most part. A few members have missed meetings here and there due to conflicting obligations, but this has not impeded the progress of the dissection. Commuters have made it to meetings without needing to make any special scheduling requirements. The group has established a means of communicating with each other, making the team well coordinated, and progress has been steady. The meeting times have been more than adequate because the only extra time the group has needed to meet outside of the designated time was the first Monday when we picked up the lawnmower engine. This does not include individual time preparing documents and posting them to the Wiki.
Finding a copy of the owner’s manual greatly helped the group predict the steps to the dissection procedure and allowed the team to be able to anticipate their difficulty. Therefore, the dissection process was planned accordingly. Also, Gregg’s experience with taking apart lawn mower engines at home has helped him quite a bit to lead the group in making decisions on how to approach the dissection.
The issues that have been found so far have been relatively minor and readily circumvented as the project progressed. It would have been nice to have received an engine that actually worked. There were several pieces that were soon found to be broken, which inhibited the functionality of the motor (see Request for Proposal). It was certainly a challenge to determine where all of the loose pieces left in the flywheel went. Also, as our meetings are typically in a dorm lounge, it is sometimes difficult to make progress due to a slow internet connection and time taken to keep the area cleaner than your average garage.
There are currently no unresolved team-related challenges in terms of management and work schedule. Looking ahead, however, it seems that putting the engine back together properly will be a daunting task, especially considering its broken pieces. It has been established that this engine will not be able to run no matter how much work is put into it. Even our own disection has taken a toll on the product. For instance, the piston rings were slightly bent when removed, and are unlikely to seal properly now. Another challenge for the future will be to determine which CAD modeling system we will be using. It may be whatever the program is available in Bell Hall, or else a program that is most familiar to the group. Chris, the lead CAD manager, would enjoy using CA TIA V5R18 if it was feasible, although he personally is more familiar with Solid Edge version 18. A likely possibility is AutoCAD.
Product Analysis
Causes For Corrective Action
During this phase of the group project, we have encountered some of the most serious and challenging issues to date. Firstly, due to an increase in club meetings, work, exams, and outside the classroom projects in other classes, several group meetings have been cancelled and others shortened. This problem was overlooked as an increase in e-mail, texting, and other methods of communication were implemented to help alleviate some of the missed meeting time. The second major issue that arose was the loss of group member Dharan Shah. Due to a family emergency, Dharan, who had already been struggling to meet during group time due to his strenuous family job, resigned the course on November 13, 2009, leaving his portion of this gate to even be started. A quick meeting the following Monday determined that each group member would attempt to complete one of the four major sections of the gate, meaning some work would be difficult to divide evenly due to the fact that the engine parts could not be with multiple group members at once over the break. Modeling lead, Christopher Germain was to take over the 3-D modeling process but due to continually increasing difficulties with the Inventor program on his computer, and finally a total loss of work over Thanksgiving break during the Windows 7 upgrade, the group has struggled to find a solution to the problem.
Component Summary
Different Materials were used in the production of different components for several reasons. For the majority of the components, the materials used were chosen based on physical properties. In areas that are subject to high heat, rapid movement, or extensive use, the materials used are usually Iron and steel, sometimes hardened. The connecting rod experiences high heat, but is composed of cast aluminum which may not be as resilient to heat as steel or iron, but cast aluminum is still the best choice because of the incredibly rapid motion and light weight. Other reasons for choosing certain materials are strength, ease of manufacturing, cost, and availability of materials.
In the case of the gas tank, plastic is the most appropriate material. If steel had been used, the gas tank would have a high probability of rusting, and also the large amount of steel needed would prolong the manufacturing process and increase cost while decreasing output on the assembly line. The gas tank is not a complex component, but as far as the injection molding goes, the shapes are too complex to use steel for. Injection molding steel to fit these shapes would also decrease assembly line output and increase cost.
The bolts on the gas tank experience shear. This is due to the movement of the liquid inside the tank when the engine is actually in use.
The general material choices of components have some effect on manufacturing processes. For example, injection molding, which is used for the gas take, is possible with steel, but would be exceptionally difficult if done with any other material than plastic. The melting point of steel is quite high so the mold itself would have to have an even higher melting point to withstand the heat applied to the mold. This would also drive up costs and inhibit manufacturing.
All components are functional, not cosmetic, as engine does not usually show when installed in lawnmower.
| Part # | Component Name | Quantity | Material(s) | Manufacturing Process | Function | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gas Tank | 1 | Plastic | Several pieces are Injection Molded and fused together with heat. | Acts as a reservoir for the fuel that the motor will consume during operation. |  |
| 2 | Gas Cap | 1 | Aluminum | Rolled, Stamped | Covers the fill hole on the gas tank to keep any fuel from spilling. | |
| 3 | Engine Shroud | 1 | Steel | Sheet metal Forming | Protects users from rotating fan blades and other hazardous parts, also for cosmetic looks. |  |
| 4 | Dip Stick | 1 | Aluminum, Plastic | Injection Molded and Rolled Sheet Metal. | Used to measure the amount of oil in the system and keep oil from leaking. |  |
| 5 | Fill Spout | 1 | Plastic | Injection Molding | Provides a channel for the oil to be poured into the system. | |
| 6 | Carburetor Assembly | 13 Pieces, each found only once per engine. | Various | Various | Controls the flow of fuel and air into the combustion chamber for ideal engine performance. |  |
| 6a | Carburetor Housing | 1 | Iron | Die Cast Iron | Individual components of the carburetor are mounted on this, which is in turn mounted to the engine block | See above image |
| 6b | Float Bowl | 1 | Steel | Stamped Steel | Where the fuel is held before being mixed | See above Image |
| 6c | Drain Screw | 1 | Steel | Turned on a Lathe then Died | Holds the float bowl on the carburetor assembly and also drains the float bowl if needed. | See above image |
| 6d | Float | 1 | Plastic | Injection Molded, fused with heat | Monitors how much fuel is in the float bowl | See above image |
| 6e | O-Ring | 1 | Rubber | Extruded Rubber | Seals the joint between the float bowl and carburetor housing | See above image |
| 6f | Float Pin, Needle and Spring Clip | 1 each | Steel | Steel is rolled into stands and cut for all 3, the spring is then heated and bent, while the needle is stamped. | Holds Float in place and spring forces the float to hold in the right position in the fuel. | See above image |
| 6g | Primer Bulb | 1 | Rubber | Extruded Rubber | Using suction of air, forces additional fuel and air into the carburetor to aid in starting the engine | See above image |
| 6h | Throttle Lever, Washer, Shutter, Shutter screw | 1 each | Steel | The lever is a combination of a cut steel rod welded to a punched head, the shutter is a stamped plate, the washer is also a stamped, and the screw is turned on a lathe and died. | Opens and closes to control air and fuel flow into the carburetor | See above image |
| 7 | Manifold and Throttle Mount Assembly | Various | Various | Various | Provides a channel for the exhaust of the engine to be directed out and provides a place for the throttle controls to be held in place on the engine block |  |
| 7a | Manifold | 1 | Iron | Die Casting | Provides a channel for the exhaust of the engine to be directed out | See above image |
| 7b | Manifold Gasket | 1 | Composite | Composite is rolled into sheets and the gasket is stamped out. | Seals the manifold to the engine block | See above image |
| 7c | Throttle Mount Brackets | 1 each, 2 total | Steel | Rolled steel is stamped and formed | Holds the throttle controls onto the engine block | See above image |
| 7d | Nuts, Bolts, Screw | 2 Nuts, 2 Bolts, 1 Screw | Hardened Steel | The bolts and screw are Extruded and then died while the bolts are extruded and tapped | Hold the manifold and throttle mounts at various points | See above image |
| 8 | Starter Assembly | Various | Various | Various | The pull cord gives the engine the initial spin and power required to start it while the rest of the assembly holds and contains the pull cord |  |
| 8a | Starter Mounts | 1 each, 2 total | Steel | Stamped Steel and machined holes. | Holds the Starter Assembly onto the engine block | See above image |
| 8b | Starter Handle | 1 | Plastic | Injection Molding then drilled | Provides a comfortable grip on the pull cord to start the engine | See above image |
| 8c | Starter Pulley | 1 | Plastic | Injection Molded | Keeps the pull cord in a neat and unknotted manner | See above image |
| 8d | Gear and gear clip | 1 each | Plastic, Steel | The gear is injection molded and the clip is formed from cut, rolled steel. | Engages the starter to the Crank Shaft | See above image |
| 8e | Pull Cord | 1 | Nylon | Machine wound strands | Operator pulls the cord to spin the starter and engage the gear to start the engine | See above image |
| 8f | Washers | 2 | Aluminum | Stamped | Space the components of the assembly to reduce rub and wear | See above image |
| 8g | Housing Cover | 1 | Steel | Cast, then machined | Covers the tension spring in the Starter Assembly | See above image |
| 8h | Screws | 2 | Steel | Extruded then Died | Holds the cover in place | See above image |
| 8i | Tension Spring | 1 | Steel | A cut steel sheet is heated and wound into the coil. | Sends the starter assembly back to its initial position to allow for repeated use. |  |
| 9 | Cylinder Head | 1 | Iron | Die Cast then machined, drilled | Covers the piston assembly in the engine block |  |
| 9a | Bolts | 8 | Hardened Steel | Extruded Steel is died | Mounts Cylinder Head onto Engine Block | See above image |
| 9b | Gasket | 1 | Aluminum | Stamped, drilled | Seals the Cylinder head to the engine block |  |
| 10 | Blade Mount, Pulley, Key | 1 each | Steel | Cast steel, machined, the key is cut from solid stock | Drives the mower blade and holds the mount and on the base of the crank shaft |  |
| 11 | Crank Case Cover | 1 | Iron | Die Cast, machined | Conceals internal components of the engine block |  |
| 12 | Governor Assembly | Various | Various | Various | Monitors the speed of the engine. |  |
| 12a | Gear | 1 | Plastic, aluminum | Injection Molding, machine assembled with rivets holding counter weights in place | Monitors the speed of the engine. | See above image |
| 12b | Mount, washers, clips | 1 mount, 2 washers, 2 clips | Steel | Machined, Turned on Lathe, stamped | Holds the governor gear | See above image |
| 13 | Camshaft | 1 | Iron and Steel | Die cast Shaft is then Assembled with a steel wound spring and a steel stamped mount | Opens and closes the valves at the proper time in conjunction with the speed of the motor |  |
| 13a | Balance Shaft and Sleeve | 1 each | Steel and Plastic | Injection Molded sleeve, The Shaft is turned from solid stock | Balances Camshaft while governor and camshaft are engaged | See above image |
| 14 | Flywheel | 1 | Iron | Die-Cast and machined to specifications | Generates current in electromagnet to spark the spark plug, air also hits fins to keep engine cool |  |
| 15 | Electromagnet and wire | 1 each | Various, Steel Aluminum, Plastic, Iron, Rubber, Copper | The magnet is factory assembled and cannot be dismantled without breaking the component, the wire is copper strands woven together with a rubber jacket over them. | Generates current in to spark the spark plug |  |
| 16 | Piston Assembly | Various | Various | Various | Powered by combustion, it forces the crankshaft to rotate and spin the blade |  |
| 16a | Piston Head | 1 | Aluminum Alloy | Cast and machined | Powered by combustion, it forces the crankshaft to rotate and spin the blade | See above image |
| 16b | Compression Rings | 2 | Steel | Punched | Seal the combustion chamber and supports heat transfer from the piston to the cylinder wall | See above image |
| 16c | Oil Rings | 2 | Steel | Punched and machined, cut steel from a sheet | Seal the combustion chamber and supports heat transfer from the piston to the cylinder wall | See above image |
| 16d | Wrist Pin and clips | 1 pin, 2 clips | Steel | Pin is machined from solid stock, Clip is shaped and heated to hold form. | Holds Piston head to Connecting Rod | See above image |
| 16e | Connecting Rod | 1 | Aluminum | Cast Aluminum | Connects Piston to Crank Shaft | See above image |
| 16f | Connecting Rod cap, bolts | 1 cap, 2 bolts | Aluminum cap, hardened steel bolts. | Cast Aluminum, Extruded steel is turned and died. | Connects Piston to Crank Shaft | See above image |
| 17 | Crank Shaft | 1 | Iron | Die-Cast Iron is machined, turned, and brought to specifications | Drives the engine |  |
| 18 | Air Filter Assembly | 1 each | Various | Various | Keeps dirt and contaminate out of engine and combustion system |  |
| 18a | Air Filter Cover | 1 | Plastic and Rubber | Injection Molded Plastic is brought together with extruded rubber | Keeps dirt and contaminate out of engine and combustion system | See above image |
| 18b | Air hose | 1 | Plastic and aluminum | Injection Molded Plastic is brought together with stamped aluminum cover | Keeps dirt and contaminate out of engine and combustion system | See above image |
| 18c | Air Filter | 1 | Composite | Composite is shredded and cut to shape | Keeps dirt and contaminate out of engine and combustion system | See above image |
| 19 | Valve Cover | 1 | Steel | Punched steel | Allows access to the valve springs |  |
| 20 | Valve Assembly | 2 each | Steel | Various | Controls compression and combustion of the engine |  |
| 20a | Valve and Lifter | 2 each | Steel | Extruded steel is machined, turned and welded | Controls compression and combustion of the engine | See above image for valve, lower image for lifters |
| 20b | Valve Spring | 2 | Steel | Rolled Steel is cut and heat wound into desired form | Forces Valves to move up and down | See above image |
| 20c | Valve Spring clips | 2 top, 2 bottom | Steel | Stamped Steel | Holds springs in place | See above image |
| 21 | Various Other Parts | 7 bolts, 2 keys, 4 screws | Steel | Extruded steel is then turned and died, the key is cut from solid stock | Hold various components in place |  |
Design Revisions
1. In general, a lawn mower of this size is used as a push mower, and as such it is preferred if the weight of the engine is minimized while maintaining the structural stability needed to provide enough power to cut the grass at a substantial speed. Cost must also be considered, because generally the lighter the metal the more expensive it is to manufacture; in part due to its demand, as well as complexity of the material. However, upon analyzing some of the components it can be noted that some design changes should be able to be made without too much of an increase in product cost:
- Engine Shroud – currently steel, could be made lighter by using aluminum because it is primarily a protective covering and strength is not much of a consideration
- Pulleys – (those for the belt from the engine to the blades) could also be made of aluminum instead of steel, as the primary component of force is from the tension in the belt which acts towards the axis of the pulley. This compression on the pulley should not act much differently on aluminum than steel
- Gear Shaft – perhaps this could also be made of aluminum instead of steel, but it is suggested that much testing be implemented before this change is put into effect.
2. The Fly Wheel Head showed significant wear in that a major crack formed about where the shaft is bolted on. This implies that this component should actually be made of a heavier or more durable material than what it currently is. Another possible improvement would be to thicken the metal in the area where the cracking occurred to decrease the likelihood of this happening during prolonged use.
3. The Cylinder Head also showed some broken fins on its exterior. This could be due to the fact that it was dropped or not well maintained, but it could mean that the fins should be thickened slightly to increase their durability. On the other hand, this section seems to be designed to dissipate heat quickly, and it could be that the metal used was poorly chosen, and becomes brittle at high temperatures. If this is the case research should be done to find a durable metal that behaves more favorably to heating.
4. Another option would be to increase the size of the Piston Head, as this would allow for potentially more power to be generated by the engine. This is not necessarily recommended because this smaller-sized engine does not really need that much power, and the efficiency of the engine would likely decrease with having to move a heavier piston.
5. Using only one type of bolt or screw would decrease the production costs and make working on the engine that much easier and more efficient. Some components were even attached using different types of screws, and that just doesn’t make sense. Not only would there be fewer screws to make but also the holes bored for them would also all be the same dimensions. The only possible constraint would be if there was a significant amount of force present in one area or the other.
Another direction that the design revisions could make is moving towards modern materials. Carbon fiber is generally very strong and durable, but it is also much more expensive to manufacture. Another question is how well the carbon fiber stands up to high temperatures for extended periods of time. One safe use of carbon fiber could again be the engine shroud, or maybe even the gas tank, if price was not an issue. New composites being developed every day are also potential alternatives, such as this aluminum composite that is potentially stronger and cheaper than carbon fiber, and is apparently immune to metal fatigue!
"Revolutionary Aluminum composite:" http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-features/34052-revolutionary-aluminum-composite-stronger-and-lighter-than-carbon-fiber
Solid Modeled Assembly
Engineering Analysis
A key component for a lawn mower engine is the spark plug, as this provides the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture above the piston head which allows for combustion to occur. An important aspect in the design of a spark plug is the minimum voltage required to create an electric arc across the gap of the spark plug. The designer must consider how a spark plug works, and then how much voltage is lost in the process of transferring energy from the wire to where the spark occurs. Therefore a problem statement set forth for engineering analysis might be “what is the voltage needed to ignite a spark plug of these specifications?”
The next step would be to enumerate the assumptions made for the system, as well as take measurements of the desired dimensions. For instance, the internal resistance of the wiring may be taken to be negligible. One major simplification of this problem would be to consider the system as a basic transformer, where the current generated initially by the pull start and later by the perpetuation of the engine transfers a given voltage to the spark plug, which must be large enough to cause an electrical arc in the engine. A diagram of the system would help to show the similarities as well as illustrate the differences between a spark plug and a simple transformer. If dimensions such as the length and diameter of the wiring being used are known, these can be used in the calculation of the minimum voltage required. Otherwise educated assumptions can be made for these dimensions, in order to determine if the resulting answer is reasonable. Other variables can be researched, such as the resistivity of the material being used as the wire, the gauge of the wire, or the number of turns used for each coil of the transformer. Another important measurement would be the diameter of the coil itself, in order to determine the approximate length of the wire in each part of the system.
Because this spark plug analysis has been simplified to a simple transformer, the governing equations are also rather simple to evaluate, with the most elaborate analysis involving a dynamic system which would require a first order differential equation to be modeled properly. Other than this, fundamental algebraic equations should be able to be used for this system. These include voltage equals current times resistance (V=I*R) and the definition of resistance in terms of its physical dimensions and resistivity (R=ρ*L/A). With these equations, one can compare the predicted input voltage to a potential output voltage. This output voltage needs to be large enough to allow for the electrons to ‘jump’ from one side of the gap to the other. This voltage of course is determined by the metal involved and the size of the gap to be crossed.
After a probable output voltage has been established, it must be determined if this solution is reasonable. For instance, can the necessary input voltage be supplied from the original pull-start of the engine? This may in fact prompt another analysis question – as to the magnitude of the voltage that is capable to be supplied to the spark plug. These two solutions should validate each other if the assumptions that have been made are correct. Finally, discussion would be made as to whether this answer as well as the primary assumptions and equations used are reasonable and hence could be used as a reference point for the manufacturing of this spark plug. If the solutions found do not make sense, but the assumptions seem to be correct, it could be that the design of the plug needs to be reevaluated, in that the gap is too wide or the number of coils is too few, etcetera. This process would be continued until an acceptable version of the spark plug is developed.
