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davec


Joined: May 2, 2005
Points: 5

Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Original Message   May 2, 2005 12:46 pm
I have an old snapper hi-vac, 5 hp Briggs engine.  I have replace the differential and now the drive plate has gone out.  Should keep repairing it or go for a new one? If I go for a new one, which engine?  There are 3 engines listed:

6.5-hp Briggs & Stratton Quantum
7-hp Briggs & Stratton Intek OHV
6-hp Kawasaki OHV

I have a pretty small lawn,  but also use the mower to suck up leaves in the fall

Replies: 1 - 22 of 22View as Outline
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #1   May 2, 2005 12:52 pm
How much are the repairs going to cost you?
Termy


Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #2   May 2, 2005 12:55 pm
Well it depends on how old it is I guess. If your Snapper is 20 years old or older, than ya, go buy a new one cause you aint going to find parts for that thing anyway. If its only 10 years old, keep it and repair it. Kawasaki engines are top knotch by the way!


jodyand


Dodge
you drive the Rest I drive the Best.
That thang got a Hemi?SWEETTTT


Location: Pride La.
Joined: Apr 15, 2003
Points: 197

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #3   May 2, 2005 1:03 pm
Terminator20 wrote:
Well it depends on how old it is I guess. If your Snapper is 20 years old or older, than ya, go buy a new one cause you aint going to find parts for that thing anyway. If its only 10 years old, keep it and repair it. Kawasaki engines are top knotch by the way!

Termy my old Snapper RER is about 33 years old and i dont have a problem finding anything for it. Im sure the walk behinds are the same way.

MissSnowshoveler


If you don't have free speech, what do you have?

Location: NS
Joined: Feb 5, 2005
Points: 706

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #4   May 2, 2005 1:03 pm
Welcome davec,

Snappers are generally a long life machine...so you have to ask yourself a few questions.  Is it in good enough shape to put some money into it?  Do I have the money for a new one?  If I repair this, what will be the next to go? and so on.

ModelHI-VAC Baggers
Style
Push or Self-propelled
Width (in.)
21
Engine Choices6.5-hp Briggs & Stratton Quantum
7-hp Briggs & Stratton Intek OHV
6-hp Kawasaki OHV
Wheels
Plastic: 8” front, 10” rear
StarterRecoil or electric (P217018BVE)

Either of these engines would be a good engine.  I'd probably prefer the Kawasaki engine, but that's because I know how well they work in small OPE applications.  (I work in a small engine repair shop).  We sell the Snappers here and really like them a lot, we also sell a lot of other makes, models, and brands.  So I'm sure that you will make the right decision.

If you have your heart set on a new machine then go for it, but if money is tight look hard at the old machine and see what it needs to be new again.

Hope this helps just a little.

Sherri

If you don't have free speech, what do you have?
davec


Joined: May 2, 2005
Points: 5

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #5   May 2, 2005 2:13 pm
$28 for a new drive plate, $5-10? for a new belt.  I am just thinking, what is next? When do you bail out.  I got the mower from my son-in-law,  I think it has been used about 10 years, engine seems OK so I am leaning towards repair.  Any thoughts on what else can go wrong?
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #6   May 2, 2005 2:17 pm
davec wrote:
$28 for a new drive plate, $5-10? for a new belt.  I am just thinking, what is next? When do you bail out.  I got the mower from my son-in-law,  I think it has been used about 10 years, engine seems OK so I am leaning towards repair.  Any thoughts on what else can go wrong?


Check  the rest of the mower because if it's in decent shape I would repair it for that cost, especially since the engine seems good. There's not much left that would be expensive to fix anyway.
AJace


I have an Ariens 926 Pro because I like Orange



Location: Near Gettysburg
Joined:
Points: 969

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #7   May 2, 2005 4:12 pm
I have a mid 70's or so Snapper self-propelled walk-behind.  The deck and the whole structure of the mower is in very good shape as is the paint.  The engine has seen better days, so I'll replace that and practically have a used mower in very good condition. 

Ariens 926 DLE Professional; Toro S200; Craftsman LT1000, Echo ES-230;

buttlint


Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Points: 791

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #8   May 2, 2005 6:55 pm
Dave,
Drive disks are a pretty common repair on those.
Check the drive tire also....they are normal wear items.
Check all of the exposed bearings on the drive system....and on the wheel adjusters/axles...they run dry and depending on use, they sometimes start loosing thier $#%*.
Check the wheel treads....they have hollow core wheels and can get quite thin until they break through and split.
And if....this unit has been use with "Ninja" blade for any length of time....Check that the carb mounting bracket hasnt loosened. (You can grab the air filter housing and try and move it up and down.) That bracket has been know too loosen and break the intake tube.(running lean and sucking in dirt) The bracket mounting bolt can also break off into the engine...and it's a big expense too repair.
Getting parts is not a problem with those...OEM parts are still available....and lots of aftermarket stuff also that should be available for years too come.
If you could post your engine model, type and code (On the front of the starter housing, above the spark plug.) we can tell how old this unit is...which might help determine what will go next.
Posting the snapper model numbers (On top of the deck...behind the engine.) also helps. HTH.
bontaiJoe


If it's free, it's for me!

Location: Saylorsburg, PA
Joined: Jun 4, 2004
Points: 424

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #9   May 3, 2005 9:19 am
davec wrote:
I have an old snapper hi-vac, 5 hp Briggs engine.  I have replace the differential and now the drive plate has gone out.  Should keep repairing it or go for a new one?
I vote to repair the old one AND get a new one. That way you have a backup in case one is down for repairs. I'd probably go for the 6.5 Briggs, I'm not a big fan of Kawasaki (I know that puts me in the minority).

"Man's mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension." -Oliver Wendell Holmes
davec


Joined: May 2, 2005
Points: 5

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #10   May 3, 2005 12:36 pm
BL,

Thanks, carb mount seems fine.  I will grease all the bearings.  Before the drive plate bearing went South, I thought the engine sounded bad, but it must have been the bearing.  Now it sounds fine.  More pluses for keeping it.  The model is RP21500 and the purchase date is 1993.  BTW purchase price was $469, so adjusting for inflation, they are cheaper now.

Bill_D


Nice day for a mow!!

Location: Chicago
Joined: Dec 6, 2002
Points: 920

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #11   May 4, 2005 3:24 am
Go out and buy a new one.  Spend more than you wanted to, but not more than you can afford.  I just bought a Honda 450  Bike today on a whim, when i took my kid to get a few new parts for his bike.  We only come around once.  We bust our azzes every day.  We deserve a few perks here and there when the wifee cant say nayyy.  My motto is, if I have an excuse why I need it, I'll buy it.  As far as the 450 goes, w/ my back pain and all gettin worse as I get on in years, I need the quality of a Honda 450 to soothe it..  Hell I was gettin Siatica on my old one, and we cant have that, now can we?!!!

Incidently of the engines you mentioned, I'd go w/ the Kawy.

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #12   May 4, 2005 9:22 am
PICS!! 
Termy


Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #13   May 4, 2005 4:21 pm
Marshall wrote:
PICS!! 


I agree, it would be nice to see some pics


Bill_D


Nice day for a mow!!

Location: Chicago
Joined: Dec 6, 2002
Points: 920

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #14   May 4, 2005 5:14 pm
Dont have any of my own pics yet, but heres a pic of the CRF 450 I bought.

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/reviews/honda02cr450/test/gallery/zDSC_0090.jpg.html

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #15   May 4, 2005 5:31 pm
WOW BILL, I WOUD LOVE TO HAVE  ONE!
Bill_D


Nice day for a mow!!

Location: Chicago
Joined: Dec 6, 2002
Points: 920

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #16   May 4, 2005 11:54 pm
Took her for a quick rip after the Bulls loss tonight to let off some steam.  That 450 is one strong but amazingly quiet 4 cycle engine.  Very lightweight bike.  Will take some getting used to for sure.
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #17   May 5, 2005 8:34 am
davec, did they get it repaired for you, how does it work and run now?
davec


Joined: May 2, 2005
Points: 5

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #18   May 5, 2005 1:21 pm
Marshall wrote:
davec, did they get it repaired for you, how does it work and run now?


Marshall, I am going to buy the parts (drive plate and probabley rubber drive wheel), grease the bearings andkeep it going another year and spend the $ on toys.  Maybe a mountain bike, fly rod, camping/rafting gear... who knows.

Thanks for all your help.

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #19   May 5, 2005 4:39 pm
That will be money darn well spent!! 
davec


Joined: May 2, 2005
Points: 5

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #20   May 15, 2005 2:37 pm
Well, I bought a new drive plate, idler pully, rubber drive ring ($56 total), took a couple of hours, a lttle swearing, but runs like new.  Now for the new toys....
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #21   May 15, 2005 7:33 pm
Dave, glad to hear it! Ok, what are next toys?
pecanmanwill


got a dog named Devon and a cat named Scooter and a She cat named Fluffy

Joined: Dec 3, 2002
Points: 677

Re: Buy a new Snapper or Repair the old one?
Reply #22   May 16, 2005 11:19 am
Dave====That is what I like abought a Snapper.  It can be rebuilt and doing so puts it back in top notch shape.  Like Marshall stated, glad you got it going---Will

Will--sometimes called pecanmanwill
Replies: 1 - 22 of 22View as Outline
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