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My lovely Briggs and Stratton oil-guzzler in the riding mower is now down for a while. Yesterday while cutting the garden, it almost caught on fire. Apparently, some gasket somewhere finally gave out enough to blow just enough oil onto the exhaust cover to cause it to smoke enough for me to stop and look. And when I did, there was enough oil on there to actually bubble and boil, causing the smoke. I'd say it was only moments from simply bursting into flame. So I cleaned it off as best I could, and finished cutting what I was cutting.

Now, I've ordered a gasket kit. My plan is to just start taking things apart, and replacing the gaskets as I come across them. It's a 20HP Intek B&S, if that's important. Is there anything I should watch out for? Specifically, one of those situations where I remove a last bolt, and the part was spring loaded, causing some important piece to launch across the yard, and causing me to loudly cuss. Other than that, I'm just gonna go for it. I should also add that my total experience with anything besides simple maintenance on a small motor adds up to less than 15 minutes.

2 stroke or 4? Valve springs in a 4 stroke is the only springy thing coming to mind

sent from a phancy fone

4 stroke.

Peel the hood and fenders off and clean it so you can see what is leaking. Start it up and look at the valve covers and crank seal real good. Valve covers are know to leak on those. Is it the twin or single cylinder. Either way cover looks about the same. Adjust the valves when you are replacing the gaskets.

Twin cylinder. And I've have as much idea how to adjust the valves as I would to forge the motor from a scrap of raw iron.

The "passenger side" valve cover looked to be leaking a bit, but most of the oil seems to be coming from up under the front of the motor, blowing out/down onto the exhaust cover. I have no idea what is there, but I ordered every gasket on that bitch anyway. I'll be able to see more when I start tearing it apart. It's kind of tough to see up underneath the front with all the shrouding.

assateague wrote:Twin cylinder. And I've have as much idea how to adjust the valves as I would to forge the motor from a scrap of raw iron.

The "passenger side" valve cover looked to be leaking a bit, but most of the oil seems to be coming from up under the front of the motor, blowing out/down onto the exhaust cover. I have no idea what is there, but I ordered every gasket on that bitch anyway. I'll be able to see more when I start tearing it apart. It's kind of tough to see up underneath the front with all the shrouding.

There is a rubber hose under there that runs from the block to the valve cover, look at it.

On top of the cover? That one looks like it's leaking (on the passenger side), but it really doesn't look like that's where the majority of the oil is coming from. I suppose it could be running down, and coming out the bottom front, but there was no oil on the front of that valve cover, just on top. It would irritate me a bit to have a complete set of gaskets, and have the leak be from a a 4 inch piece of hose. That I don't have.

assateague wrote:On top of the cover? That one looks like it's leaking (on the passenger side), but it really doesn't look like that's where the majority of the oil is coming from. I suppose it could be running down, and coming out the bottom front, but there was no oil on the front of that valve cover, just on top. It would irritate me a bit to have a complete set of gaskets, and have the leak be from a a 4 inch piece of hose. That I don't have.

Valve covers and crank seals are the normal leakers. There is a good youtube on how to adjust the valves, It is really easy and needs to be done. If you think you are going to reseal it, just jerk the motor off there and do it on the bench. The hardest part is getting the crankshaft pulleys off. Sometimes they get stuck on there really bad.

Well, every bolt on there should be very well lubricated, due to the continual application of oil blown from the motor for the last 6 years.

Do I need a flywheel puller to get to either the crank gasket or valve gaskets?

assateague wrote:Well, every bolt on there should be very well lubricated, due to the continual application of oil blown from the motor for the last 6 years.

Do I need a flywheel puller to get to either the crank gasket or valve gaskets?

Flywheel is on top, shouldn't need to pull that unless it is leaking there. The lower seals are the ones that usually leak. Valve covers are the silver things on the end of the head, held on with 4 bolts, no biggie. If this motor has a bunch of blow by it may not be worth fixing and it might be time to, Oh gosh sorry I have to say it, spend some money and buy a mower. Craigslist is usually full of riders. If it starts, turns and mows it is worth a couple of hundred and may last for a few years. You should be able to get a rider on sale from one of the box stores pretty quick, the mowing season is about over. About 10 golf course coons should pay for one

Much as it pains me, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I bought this thing used from a guy for $600, about 8 years ago, with nothing but spark plugs, gas, and oil since then, so it's been worth it's money to this point. I'm gonna give the gaskets a whirl and go from there, but if I do have to get one, I'm ready for that. Sort of.

i have not done much with B&S. parts should be cheap and easy to find. be glad it isnt an Onan finding parts for them are getting tough and the are pricey.

Assa get a zero turn and forget about it. Regular riding lawn mowers suck.

You must be high.

They last longer and its getting to the point where they are less than $1000 apart. Worth the extra money up front.

Apparently you are.

Guess so. Look up Scag mowers sometime. The Turf Tiger is a beast.

The Duck Hammer wrote::lol:

Guess so. Look up Scag mowers sometime. The Turf Tiger is a beast.

Are you trying to kill Assa?

sws002 wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote::lol:

Guess so. Look up Scag mowers sometime. The Turf Tiger is a beast.

Are you trying to kill Assa?

Didn't say he should buy one, just to look them up. Scags are awesome and don't wear out.

sws002 wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote::lol:

Guess so. Look up Scag mowers sometime. The Turf Tiger is a beast.

Are you trying to kill Assa?

he must be cause you cant touch a new commercial grade mower with two fistfuls of Benjamins


ASSA if we lived closer you could use my new JD X758. i havent even used it yet

well if Assa starts looking right now, i'm sure he can find a cheap mower by May of next year

I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

you're doing it right when you end up with a few extra bolts and a spare piston

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

The current production cubs are fucking shit. I will never own another one. Mines in the shop more than it is cutting grass.

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

why is everyone calling them "garden tractors"? it's a fucking lawn mower, you aren't bailing hay or discing your fucking yard!

(MT)Montanafowler wrote:

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

why is everyone calling them "garden tractors"? it's a fucking lawn mower, you aren't bailing hay or discing your fucking yard!

My neighbor bales his yard but he uses a 4440.

The Duck Hammer wrote:

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

The current production cubs are fucking shit. I will never own another one. Mines in the shop more than it is cutting grass.

i could not agree more. note where i said the old cubs when IH still made them.1982/83 and older.

The Duck Hammer wrote:

(MT)Montanafowler wrote:

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

why is everyone calling them "garden tractors"? it's a fucking lawn mower, you aren't bailing hay or discing your fucking yard!

My neighbor bales his yard but he uses a 4440.

i dont let my lawns get tall enough to make hay with it.

one2many wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote:

one2many wrote:

assateague wrote:I get my mowers either from the classifieds or the guy's house down the road who runs a semi-formal repair shop from his garage. I've had two mowers in the last 16 years, and have spent less than $800 combined. I'll be damned if I'm gonna go buy something new this time, if I need a new one. Which I very well might, after tearing this thing apart without a clue what I'm doing.

money well spent. i wouldnt change the way you do it.
i buy older cubs 682,782,982 the red ones before IH sold the cubs to MTD. they are still my favorite garden tractors and the ones i use all the time

The current production cubs are fucking shit. I will never own another one. Mines in the shop more than it is cutting grass.

i could not agree more. note where i said the old cubs when IH still made them.1982/83 and older.

I understood you. Just throwing my experience out there so Assa didn't make the same fuck up I did.