The last one I fixed the owner never came back to get it. I had it for over 3 years and gave it away just to get rid of it. Sence you can use a trimmer as an edger, people just don't care for them. I've got one now that has no compression at all so I probably not fix it. The three hours motors work well on old-style bike frames. Good video!!!
I have a Craftsman edger similar to this with a tri-blade. Belt life has a lot to do with how you use it. I was wearing out belts and breaking them at least twice a year. On heavy overgrown grass it would stall the blade / pulley. The Kevlar belt is still turning which causes the belt to wear extremely fast. Edging with damp ground can cause the blade guard to get packed with soil and stop the blade also. Then you have to take a large screwdriver and dig out all the compacted soil to get the blade to turn again. If cutting thick over grown grass, it cuts better "pulling it backwards". It cuts and expels the turf easier and faster. By doing this, it greatly extends belt life. 😀
I picked up a McLane edger for 20 bucks with a seized 3hp Briggs replaced it with a Harbor Freight Predator engine for 80 bucks about 4 years ago I use it every day for commercial lawns thing is a beast and keeps on chugging along. Best 100 bucks I've ever spent on equipment. I do need to replace the cutter head as the threads are starting to wear down a bit but you cannot go wrong with a McLane Edger. They are $600 brand new
I purchased one exactly like this brand new over 8 years ago. I keep my lawn long and the 2 cycle "stick" edger seems underpowered at times. The dealer told me when they sold this that this is a "tank" and will out live me. All I have done is change the oil, blade, filter and lube. Never had to change the belt so far. I do not think that I will for a while either. Still is like brand new condition.
Good fix and the handle bolts were loose and you might adjust the mixture and a new filter for the air is needed. That one is about shot. I got my I/C craftsman 6 years ago and it's still running the same belts as are the 2 Snapper walkers and after I got the linkage right, the Roof hasn't had one in years either. The old 85 rider is the same but it sits a lot so not very often. Good fix and the 'L' head motors are like the G.M./Detroit 2-cycle diese;ls in that 'If they'll turn, they''ll burn. GBWYou!
Great video, I had an edger like this decades ago! I think that all the years of use, which was around 15 years or so, I replaced the belt once ! be mindful, however that the grease fittings need to be serviced every few months, depending on how much time you use the edger, also, your edger is missing a front wheel and the wide spring clip that keeps them in place. When using the edger on a driveway or other wide surface, the spring clip keeps the two front wheels apart for more stable edging, when 'curb hopping ' the spring clip is removed and you can move both front wheels to one side or the other for edging the grass adjacent to the street, both front wheels together give a more stable run on the curb, just remember to snap the spring clip spacer back on the front axle before edging! Sorry for the long explanation, you don't see these edger today, almost obsolete, due to the string trimmer !!
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE It was great that you got the edger going again ! It's always good to keep up on the maintenance of the equipment, however, for me, it's getting harder to find a shop where I can buy parts, belts, and other small engine components, used to be able to go to the local lawnmower shops that had everything you needed, including a repair shop in the back if you wanted them to service your equipment! Kinda hard sometimes to order parts online 😕
The 1992 Briggs is running well, if it was me i would have blown out or replaced the airfilter and adjusted the carb as it sounded like it was running a bit rich. Good repair all the same, nice well made old machine .
Good job diagnosing the stuck shaft. More work employing the new cable assembly than fixing the old lever; and less satisfying. Seems to be another hole on that front pulley shaft; missing Zerk fitting maybe? I would put a boot on that plug; from experience, there are numerous unpredictable things that can and do short it.
I like the joke that you made when you said there's a pretty shocking experience you have to pull the spark plug cap off the spark plug to stop the engine I have a lawn mower that has the same problem lol
if you're talking about making money, I would have to say a Honda mower with a plastic deck, with the gcv160 engine, it's light and durable, and cuts well if you keep the blades sharp. But for pure fun, a old toro deck with a Suzuki 2 stroke, bad for the environment but it sounds and performs great.
I have 3 of those right now. Despite being well built they are hard to sell. Most people just use trimmers to edge now. People ask up to $200 for them but I usually get about $50. I have never had to change a belt on one.
for me very rarely unless the pulley and the belt don,t create a good grip and tension in between the drive guide and that,s a nice looking brand of Lawn Edger too i hope John McClane approves of this lawn edger too lol.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yep after all in this case you don,t need to edge up terrorists or villains or henchmen from buildings or even ground level and even in the city,s buildings etc.
un-tread and no ethanol gas, probably about 6 months, it won't have the same power but it will still work. teated, probably a year but it will also have less power.
I bought an MTD edger like this around 1987 and have only changed the belt 1 or 2 times. Yours looks like the activation link was too long and needed to be adjusted. Mine has an adjuster in the middle, but it could be at the lever end. You also needed a new blade and it is not good to run 2 blades on an edger. Yes, it may make a wider channel, but it will put more stress on the other parts.
It’s really hard to tell from watching a video but the noises I heard and the variation I could see in the pulley when it was turning give me the impression the bearings are out on the shaft with the blade. Even when you were just handling it it seemed like there was a lot of end wise slop in that shaft. The great thing about ball bearings is for the most part you can get them for almost anything by crossing part numbers with a good bearing guy. Usually every town has at least one of those with a word or two at an auto parts counter to locate said bearing guy. OEM not needed here big savings. I hate to be a critic I really do but the noises that engine was making told me it was running like crap and really needed a carb kit with a new diaphragm. Those carburetors are ridiculously easy to work on so learn a skill and do it. If you don’t I predict it will be hard starting and you’ll have to put gas in the air filter every time.
I have a 1989 model edger, which I bought new, but lower grade (Aircap) than this McLane. It has a 3 HP horizontal engine, but Tecumseh (I wish it had a Briggs like this one). I believe I have replaced the belt 1 time. It was not broken, just looking old & maybe starting to slip. This is a nice machine, with the angle cut option (which I also wish mine had). If you sell it, would you let us know how it went. I would think that if you find something like this for free in this basically solid condition, you could make a few $$ if you decide to sell it, when it's in season.
In my personal opinion Tecumseh is better then Briggs and Stratton. At least in my opinion. Mine powers my Ariens Snowblower. It's from the 80s as well and starts first time everytime! Although if the engine dies I'm throwing a Honda engine on it.
Anyone know how I can get this McLane edger to actually disengage the blade? It’s in the fully back handle position, new belt etc. just tugging the rope spins the blade, and it’s always spinning the blade when running, regardless of the handle position. I can even manually push the whole contraption back a little further and it still spins… EDIT: I see now where you had to free up the shaft where it moves in and out, that’s probably my problem. Thanks for this video.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGEfound the part # online in the instruction manual. I have since acquired the 2 belt safety shields. This is what actually makes it not spin. When not present, the belt can spin in more of a circular shape- so it is “shorter.” With the shields installed, it’s much more elongated, so it no longer spins.
Wow that’s one old edger but I’m not surprised it lasted that long those old Briggs engines last a very long time they take a lot of abuse my dad used to race go karts and they put those old flat heads on them and ran them off of alcohol they take some serious abuse
The main reason the belts burn out: people run the blade too deep into the ground that's not cut deep yet, the engine turns the pulley and spins the belt, thus burning out the belt. Best way is to gradually drop the handle down, or go over it a few times
The one I’m using was used when I got it 5 years ago. It still has the same belt so I can’t really answer the question. The blade is an entirely different story.
Haha, a shocking experience. I don’t have one of these edgers. I currently have an electric edger and would like a stihl gas edger. I personally think that these edgers are too big and bulky
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE not really but an electric edger would work perfectly for the space we have a gas one would be nice if it was cheap and needed a carb clean or something easy.
I bought it about 5 years ago I’ve been edging with weed whacker trimmer lines for 25 years that’s wasting the trimmer lines for edging . Now I’m using blade edger Echo PE 225 21.2 cc engine it spins really fast also edging the flower beds
Thanks so much..I've been perplexed why my belt shredded..NOw I know. Your the only video on youtube regarding this issue. Thx and God bless you.
Glad to help
yup spent a lot of time surfing youtube for an answer to this perplexing question. Thanx
The last one I fixed the owner never came back to get it. I had it for over 3 years and gave it away just to get rid of it. Sence you can use a trimmer as an edger, people just don't care for them. I've got one now that has no compression at all so I probably not fix it. The three hours motors work well on old-style bike frames. Good video!!!
yes these are popular with mini bikes and small carts. Thank you Duke's World.
I have a Craftsman edger similar to this with a tri-blade. Belt life has a lot to do with how you use it. I was wearing out belts and breaking them at least twice a year. On heavy overgrown grass it would stall the blade / pulley. The Kevlar belt is still turning which causes the belt to wear extremely fast. Edging with damp ground can cause the blade guard to get packed with soil and stop the blade also. Then you have to take a large screwdriver and dig out all the compacted soil to get the blade to turn again. If cutting thick over grown grass, it cuts better "pulling it backwards". It cuts and expels the turf easier and faster. By doing this, it greatly extends belt life. 😀
thank you Brian Evens, I appreciate it.
I picked up a McLane edger for 20 bucks with a seized 3hp Briggs replaced it with a Harbor Freight Predator engine for 80 bucks about 4 years ago I use it every day for commercial lawns thing is a beast and keeps on chugging along. Best 100 bucks I've ever spent on equipment. I do need to replace the cutter head as the threads are starting to wear down a bit but you cannot go wrong with a McLane Edger. They are $600 brand new
you are absolutely right, they are built very well. Thank you Michael Smith
Always great to see old Salvageable stuff come back to life!!
You an me both, thank you Phillyfathead.
Thanks to the person who's doing it! Biggest fan, SE101
I purchased one exactly like this brand new over 8 years ago. I keep my lawn long and the 2 cycle "stick" edger seems underpowered at times. The dealer told me when they sold this that this is a "tank" and will out live me. All I have done is change the oil, blade, filter and lube. Never had to change the belt so far. I do not think that I will for a while either. Still is like brand new condition.
glad to see someone vouching for these large edgers. Thank you Jim America.
Good fix and the handle bolts were loose and you might adjust the mixture and a new filter for the air is needed. That one is about shot. I got my I/C craftsman 6 years ago and it's still running the same belts as are the 2 Snapper walkers and after I got the linkage right, the Roof hasn't had one in years either. The old 85 rider is the same but it sits a lot so not very often. Good fix and the 'L' head motors are like the G.M./Detroit 2-cycle diese;ls in that 'If they'll turn, they''ll burn. GBWYou!
this is a dang good edger, I can see why they use it commercially
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Where there are grease fittings there is longevity!
Wow, I never thought that was going to start with that old gas in there. I don’t like working on those old Pulsa-Jets either.
they have their merits, not a bad as it seem to work pretty good, I just don't find them easy to work on either. thank you mjg263
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Blasted diagraphs.
Great video, I had an edger like this decades ago! I think that all the years of use, which was around 15 years or so, I replaced the belt once ! be mindful, however that the grease fittings need to be serviced every few months, depending on how much time you use the edger, also, your edger is missing a front wheel and the wide spring clip that keeps them in place. When using the edger on a driveway or other wide surface, the spring clip keeps the two front wheels apart for more stable edging, when 'curb hopping ' the spring clip is removed and you can move both front wheels to one side or the other for edging the grass adjacent to the street, both front wheels together give a more stable run on the curb, just remember to snap the spring clip spacer back on the front axle before edging! Sorry for the long explanation, you don't see these edger today, almost obsolete, due to the string trimmer !!
thank you B. Powell. This unit was severely abused and on a tight budge. They just wanted it to run again.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE It was great that you got the edger going again ! It's always good to keep up on the maintenance of the equipment, however, for me, it's getting harder to find a shop where I can buy parts, belts, and other small engine components, used to be able to go to the local lawnmower shops that had everything you needed, including a repair shop in the back if you wanted them to service your equipment! Kinda hard sometimes to order parts online 😕
I know right, it's all online now
The 1992 Briggs is running well, if it was me i would have blown out or replaced the airfilter and adjusted the carb as it sounded like it was running a bit rich. Good repair all the same, nice well made old machine .
thank you Alan Lake.
Good job diagnosing the stuck shaft. More work employing the new cable assembly than fixing the old lever; and less satisfying. Seems to be another hole on that front pulley shaft; missing Zerk fitting maybe? I would put a boot on that plug; from experience, there are numerous unpredictable things that can and do short it.
Yes I believe you are absolutely right
I like the joke that you made when you said there's a pretty shocking experience you have to pull the spark plug cap off the spark plug to stop the engine I have a lawn mower that has the same problem lol
it's happened to me more than once, thank you Gamer55MMC
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Screwdriver grounding to case works as I've done that a number of times with no shocks.
If you could mass produce any mower, which brand of mower would you choose to mass produce and sell
if you're talking about making money, I would have to say a Honda mower with a plastic deck, with the gcv160 engine, it's light and durable, and cuts well if you keep the blades sharp. But for pure fun, a old toro deck with a Suzuki 2 stroke, bad for the environment but it sounds and performs great.
I'm amazed you got away with service and adjustments. Most of the time these old edgers need new bearings.
there must be less time on it than it looks like.
I have 3 of those right now. Despite being well built they are hard to sell. Most people just use trimmers to edge now. People ask up to $200 for them but I usually get about $50. I have never had to change a belt on one.
I know right. it seems the only good thing about them is using the engines for mini bikes.
for me very rarely unless the pulley and the belt don,t create a good grip and tension in between the drive guide and that,s a nice looking brand of Lawn Edger too i hope John McClane approves of this lawn edger too lol.
I hope so too. Thank you Patrick Stapleton.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yep after all in this case you don,t need to edge up terrorists or villains or henchmen from buildings or even ground level and even in the city,s buildings etc.
I always had great experience with that engine, and carburetor still have 3 of them
nice, thank you Ray Morrison
Question. How long can I store gasoline that is mixed with oil for 2 cycle engines
un-tread and no ethanol gas, probably about 6 months, it won't have the same power but it will still work. teated, probably a year but it will also have less power.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE what do you use to treat the gas?
@@noeluna5852 I use sta-bil
I bought an MTD edger like this around 1987 and have only changed the belt 1 or 2 times. Yours looks like the activation link was too long and needed to be adjusted. Mine has an adjuster in the middle, but it could be at the lever end. You also needed a new blade and it is not good to run 2 blades on an edger. Yes, it may make a wider channel, but it will put more stress on the other parts.
yes because of the different part, it still needed a bit more adjusting, thank you for the comment
Plz see u Honda brush cutter full repair
I will If I can find one
It’s really hard to tell from watching a video but the noises I heard and the variation I could see in the pulley when it was turning give me the impression the bearings are out on the shaft with the blade. Even when you were just handling it it seemed like there was a lot of end wise slop in that shaft. The great thing about ball bearings is for the most part you can get them for almost anything by crossing part numbers with a good bearing guy. Usually every town has at least one of those with a word or two at an auto parts counter to locate said bearing guy. OEM not needed here big savings. I hate to be a critic I really do but the noises that engine was making told me it was running like crap and really needed a carb kit with a new diaphragm. Those carburetors are ridiculously easy to work on so learn a skill and do it. If you don’t I predict it will be hard starting and you’ll have to put gas in the air filter every time.
Where did you ordered the v belt
I ordered it from amazon, there's a link for it in the description
I have a 1989 model edger, which I bought new, but lower grade (Aircap) than this McLane. It has a 3 HP horizontal engine, but Tecumseh (I wish it had a Briggs like this one). I believe I have replaced the belt 1 time. It was not broken, just looking old & maybe starting to slip. This is a nice machine, with the angle cut option (which I also wish mine had). If you sell it, would you let us know how it went. I would think that if you find something like this for free in this basically solid condition, you could make a few $$ if you decide to sell it, when it's in season.
sure thing Tom Lewis, I'll let you know.
In my personal opinion Tecumseh is better then Briggs and Stratton. At least in my opinion. Mine powers my Ariens Snowblower. It's from the 80s as well and starts first time everytime! Although if the engine dies I'm throwing a Honda engine on it.
Anyone know how I can get this McLane edger to actually disengage the blade? It’s in the fully back handle position, new belt etc. just tugging the rope spins the blade, and it’s always spinning the blade when running, regardless of the handle position. I can even manually push the whole contraption back a little further and it still spins…
EDIT: I see now where you had to free up the shaft where it moves in and out, that’s probably my problem. Thanks for this video.
that's a good possibility but have you considered that someone put too short of a belt on there?
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I did, that’s why I replaced the belt.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I freed up the shaft. It still spins the blade lol grrrrrr
how did you find out what the part number was for the belt?
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGEfound the part # online in the instruction manual. I have since acquired the 2 belt safety shields. This is what actually makes it not spin. When not present, the belt can spin in more of a circular shape- so it is “shorter.” With the shields installed, it’s much more elongated, so it no longer spins.
I have a large old craftsman that I use on my job and I’ve never had to change the belt
nice, you must take good care of it?
Wow that’s one old edger but I’m not surprised it lasted that long those old Briggs engines last a very long time they take a lot of abuse my dad used to race go karts and they put those old flat heads on them and ran them off of alcohol they take some serious abuse
heard the same stories too, these were and are still great little engines
5:55 you put too little oil in it. you are supposed to fill it to the top of the fill hole
nah, just enough
That’s what we call yard Harley
lol.. nice.
I think that engine has points ,i had the same one 😊😊😊😊😊.
I don't this engine is old enough to have points.
The main reason the belts burn out: people run the blade too deep into the ground that's not cut deep yet, the engine turns the pulley and spins the belt, thus burning out the belt. Best way is to gradually drop the handle down, or go over it a few times
you make a good point.
The one I’m using was used when I got it 5 years ago. It still has the same belt so I can’t really answer the question. The blade is an entirely different story.
when taken care of, these can last a long time.
this video just popped up on my watch list, i was literally just given a McLane 101-3.5 RP7 last night to get running. how odd is that.
that's really weird, must be the AI.
Haha, a shocking experience. I don’t have one of these edgers. I currently have an electric edger and would like a stihl gas edger. I personally think that these edgers are too big and bulky
I feel the same way. I never really got why people had these. I guess if you lived on a corner lot and also had a sidewalk to deal with.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yeah, I just think a handheld edger would be easier to use
I wish I had an edger period.
do you have a lot of driveway or side walk on your property?
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE not really but an electric edger would work perfectly for the space we have a gas one would be nice if it was cheap and needed a carb clean or something easy.
I use Echo PE stick edger works good never had issues I use it everyday
Every day? wow. how long have you been doing this for?
I bought it about 5 years ago I’ve been edging with weed whacker trimmer lines for 25 years that’s wasting the trimmer lines for edging . Now I’m using blade edger Echo PE 225 21.2 cc engine it spins really fast also edging the flower beds
I always buy commercial equipment so it’ll last longer I do for lawn maintenance
@@heathwilson2572 Yes I completely agree with you on that.
@@heathwilson2572 ah that makes sense.
I'm sure you noticed this, but that blade assembly is not original to this machine. It was clearly salvaged from different machine.
now you're going to make me look at the diagram for it.