Jacobsen lawn queen engine problems

I have a late 1940's to early 1950's Jacobsen lawn queen reel type mower that is a 2 stroke. Half the time I go out to try and start it nothing happens and won't even start on starting fluid. Other times I'll go out and it will start right up on the first pull. When I do get it running it will only run for about a minute and a half and won't start again. It has plenty of gas in the tank. When it's running it doesn't revv as high as it's supposed to and is doesn't have enough powerto mow the lawn. I'am thinking it might not be getting enough fuel? If you have any suggestions let me know. Thanks.

[Houston]

Sounds like either spark or fuel, when it wont start does it have spark?? Have you cleaned the carb? If it is similar to the carb on my jacobsen, there is a pin that moves back and forth between the idle and high speed circuits. If this pin is stuck, the motor will not spin up as it should. Only way I know to get it unstuck is to drill out the little plug on the top of the carb so that the pin can fall out. I tapped the hole for the plug, and sealed it off with a little brass screw and an o-ring. That way i can get back in there to clean out that passage again next time.

[Wayne Welch]

Check the muffler and exhaust ports and make sure they are not plugged with carbon. Check the crankshaft seals and reed valve, two cycles need crankcase pressure to run right (a scored cylinder can also cause low crankcase pressure). Hope this helps.
Wayne Welch
Rochester, MN

The carbuator has been taken off and cleaned. I'll see what I can do.

The valve that shuts the gas off I think is leeking and fludding the engine. When I put a full tank of gas in it half of the gas leeks out over night if I do that. Could this be part of the problem?

I'm in the process of fixing up a late 1940's to early 1950's Jacobsen lawn queen reel type mower. I was wondering if I could get some information it, like if they were very powerful mowers, were they very good quality back then, if they were easy to start and some of the history on them. If you have any info on them please let me know. Thanks.

[Sky]

Just me but IF it were me i'd restore tha beuty.
Jacobsens are good strong running mowers, thats about all i can say, i have a 1958 jacobsen 2 cycle rotory turbo cone mower that i just recently restored not to long ago and it does believe it or not, go through a foot of grass without hesitation what so ever. i might add that those jacobsens 50's and before are very hefty built to!

They are heavy and well built. It's nice that their easy to work on because their so simple.

[toolazy]

If it was me I would restore it also...
But you already know of my endevors with this engine! LoL

Great little motor and yes, jacobsen products are very easy to work on. Right now im rebuilding a mid 60's jacobsen snowblower! The thing is a battle tank. Wish they made stuff like this nowadays, buy it once and use it for 40 years. Talk about quality... Where have the times gone. *sigh*

[Austen]

I am planning on restoring it someday. Right now I'm just trying to get it to run right so I can mow with it for fun. We have a huge yard and sometimes using my Honda can get a little boring after a while, so sometimes it's fun to have a change once in a while. Right now I'm fixing up my first car so maybe after that's done, I can maybe do a full restoration sooner or later on my Jacobsen, it will happen someday. I'd love to post some pictures of it, but I don't have a digital camera, darn, maybe someday.

[John Newman, Jr.]

Don't have a digital camera? I just saw one at Walgreens Drug Store for $19.99! I guess it would be good enough to post some pictures here so we all can see what you are working on.

[Austen]

I'll get one sooner or later, then I can post a bunch of pictures of it when I figure out how you do it!

[Andrew Mackey]

The 321 series engine on your Lawn Queen was rated at 2 1/4 HP at 3200 RPM. Although that does not sound like much, he torque produced is what provides the work the engine performs. Jacobsen made good reliable mowers!
Andrew

[Austen]

Thanks for the info on the horespower, I've been curious about that. When I've used it a little bit, you really only have to give it half throttal and that's plenty for it, otherwise you have to go jogging behind it.

[Austen]

I also have to say heavy mowers to!