Lawnmower engine work

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
How hard is it to deal with/fix internal engine problems?
I recently bought a somewhat used Simplicity 44" mower.
Today I was working on a separate problem w the Hydro drive, when all of the sudden POW loud bang, then started running like crap.
B&S 16 HP V-twin.
From what I can tell there is oil getting into 1 cyl. That one wont fire there is oil getting all over the plug, and oil coming out the exhaust. No outward signs of oil leaks anywhere else.
Is this a blown head gasket or something?
I've never pulled an engine like this apart....
 
No obvious loud banging or clanking. Just sounds like an engine running on 1 cylinder. Don't have a compression gauge but I guess I could at least use my hand to see if it feels the same as the other side.
There is a lot of oil in it, like coating the plug. I feel kinda like the oil is preventing firing - when I cleaned it off and swapped plugs, it fired decently a few times (and blew lots of blue smoke) before dying back to the 1-cyl lope.
I've only had this a month, it's been very rattly and high vibes ever since then - like from the seat feel you can't tell if the mower deck is running. The PO thought that was b/c of some problems w the deck mounts (one bent, one broken) but I fixed those.
 
Sounds like a head gasket to me. partstree.com is where I just ordered a head gasket for my Troy-Bilt with a B&S engine. They have good exploded view diagrams.
 
Being in the lawn care business I fix all of my own junk. From experience it could be as simple as a head gasket or as ugly as a blown engine. You have to pull the head first and look it over. Head gaskets do not normally go out with a bang so prepare for the worst.
 
just from seeing a hand full of motors "that had a load bang" dont end well..but just need to get inside and have a look. they are not bad to tear down just a lot of little pieces lol

sent from deep space via galaxy S 2
 
xjtrailrider said:
Being in the lawn care business I fix all of my own junk. From experience it could be as simple as a head gasket or as ugly as a blown engine. You have to pull the head first and look it over. Head gaskets do not normally go out with a bang so prepare for the worst.
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This. If it is shot just buy a reman. engine or another mower. I too have doubts on it being a head gasket
 
I agree with these guys...loud bangs usually mean bad things on any engine.

Small engines are fun to work on.
 
Since we're on the topic...

I've got a craftsman mower with a 18? HP B&S engine. Randomly while mowing, it'll nearly die, then surge, and the engine will cycle between running fine and nearly shutting off. When it does this the battery gauge will read low when the engine slows, and normal when the engine speeds up. Any ideas what is causing this?

/thread jack
 
13bullets said:
Since we're on the topic...

I've got a craftsman mower with a 18? HP B&S engine. Randomly while mowing, it'll nearly die, then surge, and the engine will cycle between running fine and nearly shutting off. When it does this the battery gauge will read low when the engine slows, and normal when the engine speeds up. Any ideas what is causing this?

/thread jack
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Dirty carb or clogged/too fine fuel filter. Could also be a clogged tank cap vent.
 
TheWarBeast said:
Sounds like you broke a connecting rod.

Get a predator engine from Harbor Freight. I know a lot of people that have used them for repowers and have had good luck.
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Sadly, they don't make a vertical shaft motor to replace anything above about 6hp yet. If they sold a 12.5hp vert, I'd drop one on my Snapper in a heartbeat!
 
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