uh oh won't turn over

[Guest]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, let me know if there is a better place. Got home from work Friday and our Deutz-Allis 613 hydro (12.5 hp briggs) is sitting in the front yard. "It just quit dad" was my welcome. When I tried the starter it just went "thunk", opened the hood and checked the oil there was just a little drip on the bottom and the engine won't turn over by hand either. Questions are: anything I can check without a teardown, is it better to rebuild this engine or buy a new one (qualitywise), is it something I can do over winter or too expensive (generally) to pay someone to do it? This has been the best piece of mechanical equipment I have owned (besides our baler) and I really want to keep it. Thanks for any ideas Warren

[BLT]

Go look for some junker MTD's or Murrays of the same HP range. Get the engine and rebuild it. The engine generally out lasts the mower.

[AC808]

I agree with Bob...lots of cheap mowers out there with good motors...get one of those!

[debalko]

My 856 wheelhorse 6 hp did something similar last winter. after cooldown I pipewrenched the Kohler and it freed up. Put in more oil and it ran. 6 hours later I have a unrebuidlable kohler with new ventilation in the case.

[HubbardRA]

Warren, Here is a link to a 12.5 Hp B/S currently listed on ebay for sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=79670&item=4330117289&rd=1 Hope this is what you are looking for.