[Shop-talk] Rock 1, Mower 0 ?

[Eric J Russell]

Hit a large rock the lawn mower. (Briggs & Stratton engine in a Craftsman push
mower) Bent the blade & sheared the key in the 'blade adapter'. The flywheel
key is intact. With the blade & spark plug removed I can manually turn the
engine but it feels like there are two unequally spaced tight areas with each
revolution. The engine will run but it knocks & doesn't run at full speed.

It is old enough that I don't want to bother wasting money on it (like a new
blade adapter & blade) if it is likely fatally damaged. I assume the blade has
some balancing/flywheel affect but shouldn't the engine manually rotate 360
degrees smoothly without the blade?

Ideas?

Eric Russell
Mebane, NC