I have a small 2 h.p. MerryTiller that I use for between the rows in the gardens, which saves a lot of weeding, and it has been "old faithfull" for years. No problems ever ! I made the mistake of loaning it to my brother-in-law yesterday, and he removed the belt guard to try to see if he could get more adjustment on the idler to tighten the belt a little more, and did not replace it. When returning the tiller, it apparently fell over in the back of his truck, and landed on some steel he had in the box as well. When I started the tiller up, I saw oil leaking from the oil seal, and figured no big deal, and went and picked up a new oil seal, and went to install it. When I removed the crankcase cover, I noticed that the spacer (what I call it) in which the oil seal is mounted, was down on one side, and that in turn would put crankshaft pressure (?) on one side of the oil seal, allowing oil to leak out when the engine was running. My question is, should this spacer (?) be mounted flush with top of the crankcase cover, leaving a small gap underneath, or pressed down as far as it will go? I honestly don't remember even noticing it before. I managed to gently lift it up almost flush with the top, but two oil seals later, is still leaking. I've replaced oil seals on other motors without any problems, but all the other motors had a solid hub in which the oil seal was mounted, and not a spacer (?) Any help would be greatly appreciated, f. Model 60112 Type 0381-01 Code 77010301

I purchased a used 2 year old 42" 16.5 Hp Craftsman Riding Mower. When I first cut, it was not cutting very good, pulled the blades off and there I thought the problem was, blades were somewhat bent, slightly though. I replaced them with brand new blades and it is even worse. When I mow a strip, I look back and the left side is higher then the left side, the outer edge is deeper yet. I looked at the deck area that holds the deck from under the mower and the screw is setting exactly in the same spot from the bottom up, therefore thinking it would be sitting correct. I used a level and placed it on the middle of the deck and it is off, but the rubber cushion above the screw are all sitting in the same spot on both sides. If I move the screw and the rubber up to get the deck level, it gets worse. What am I missing? Is there something that needs leveled that I do not know about? I thought the two bolts that hold the deck would be set and if they are positioned the same, the deck would then be free to move up and down with the terrain. My grass looks like heck, a bad haircut with two mohawks. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!