Mick Jones

Have a go yourself. As you say a couple of gaskets, a few parts and the oil if you think it's the compression release cam. If your not paying workshop labour rates and you enjoy doing it go for it. Make a note of timing marks etc as you take it apart. It could be your starter, worth trying another one if you have access to a spare to try but it sounds like you have convinced yourself there's bits in your sump so you know you will have to take it apart.😄

This sounds like it could be a safety switch/ circuit issue as you suspect. Not familiar with the Bolens set up to be honest but if you put 12 volt to the pulley clutch you should hear it "click" and pulley should not spin on the crank. Can't see it doing any damage if the clutch is disconnected from the rest of the wiring and engine isn't running obviously.

If it is definately oil entering the combustion chamber worth disconnecting the breather from the crankcase to the air filter ( thats just an emissions requirement thing.) This eliminates the chance of it being oil entering the top end of the engine via the breather pipe. Also check oil isn,t overfilled. The other possibility if its not oil is that when you had the carb apart some dirt was left in there (dosnt take a lot) and some of it has got under float needle causing it to run massively rich. Mick.

It does look like the head gasket is damaged. If you take the head to your local machine shop and have it pressure tested. They will be able to advise you.

Yes, some of the iseki compacts were badged up as Massey.

Thats £30 an hour for four hours skilled labour. Most gardeners are on that or more. I would say your customer got a good deal. Let him take it else where next time.

As spud mentioned if you disconnect the stop wire from coil this eliminates any possible earthing fault. Its quite possible you have a spark out side the cylinder but the spark fails under compression. Sounds like its worth trying a replacement coil.

The "B" will be the size of the vee section(profile) the1245 quite possibly the length (1245 MTR) if that helps.

The father in law used to buy at auctions after the war, at Burtonwood in Lancashire. I believe the americans had pulled out and he told me they used to auction off crates unopened. You put in your bid and took a gamble. I recall him telling me a friend of his made quite a lot of money buying the american socket sets cheap ( they used A/F sizes while we were using whitworth) He sat on them for a while and sold them on.

Wow, The locals that live near you get better breakdown cover than A.A./R.A.C./Greenflag put together.😂 It is satisfying if you can help someone out in a bind though. 👍

Rob, It may be worth you having a look at a long thread on " the farming forum" (TFF) There is a lot of discussion on this subject and by the looks of it many grey area,s regarding tax/reclaiming vat and even max speed limits for certain pickups, vans etc. I think the thread is titled "best pickup" or something similar. 👍

Mound planting would be a good call. A bit like a Devon bank. More cost involved but an instant windbreak. Our old place had ground conditions similar looking to this, clay and a high water table. We had no chance of draining it away to anywhere, soakaways filled up and held water.

The symptoms you describe do sound like a fuel problem. There is nothing worse than tracing a problem that is intermittant. If you go to basics a diesel engine needs: 1) fuel 2) air 3) compression I would think compression/ pump timing would be o.k. as you say it runs fine at times. I would try it with a temporary tank/fuel line/filter set up to eliminate any problems with the existing fuel supply system. As mentioned above use a new pump (not too expensive) It could be there is the diesel is contaminated with the diesel bug but i would expect your workshop mechanics would have picked that up (it looks like the contents of a chimney sweeps hankerchief in the tank)😄 The other thing to try is remove the air hose to the inlet manifold when it starts smoking,( not while chipping) this will tell you if its a blocked or restricted air supply. Good luck with it. Mick.

Another vote for Rowett. I,ve used them for a few years for my compact and mule. Always seem good to deal with. Mind you, never had to put a claim in yet.🤞