[stangone5o]

Well I got the new air filter and now it wont start again, with or without the air filter.

I checked for spark again and it looked good. Battery has 12.31 volts. No loose wiring.

Im totally confused. How does this mower go from running fine one day then wont start then running fine again then wont start. this is crazy!!!

Now suddenly it starts but it does not sound 100% to me. At full throttle I can kind of hear some popping but im not sure and at half or low throttle it seems to be surging slightly. But it is now starting again consistantly. Maybe its just me I dont know. Should I post another vid of how she is sounding?

Does anyone think I need to adjust the valves? and how would I know if they need to be adjusted?

 

[stangone5o]

Here a quick vid of how the mower currently sounds and starts up. Any opinions or concerns of how it sounds/runs?

 

[Whirly]

Well I got the new air filter and now it wont start again, with or without the air filter.

I checked for spark again and it looked good. Battery has 12.31 volts. No loose wiring.

Im totally confused. How does this mower go from running fine one day then wont start then running fine again then wont start. this is crazy!!!

Now suddenly it starts but it does not sound 100% to me. At full throttle I can kind of hear some popping but im not sure and at half or low throttle it seems to be surging slightly. But it is now starting again consistantly. Maybe its just me I dont know. Should I post another vid of how she is sounding?

Does anyone think I need to adjust the valves? and how would I know if they need to be adjusted?

the poppin u hear may b caused by a valve being held open a bit.. if u have not done a valve adjustment I suggest u do it now.. there is a proper way to do it too..

 

[stangone5o]

the poppin u hear may b caused by a valve being held open a bit.. if u have not done a valve adjustment I suggest u do it now.. there is a proper way to do it too..

I guess I will order the gasket, its only 5 bucks. I saw a couple vids on youtube of the adjustment procedure.

Do you know where I can find the proper clearance for the valves and the proper torque for the valve bolts for my engine?

 

[Whirly]

I guess I will order the gasket, its only 5 bucks. I saw a couple vids on youtube of the adjustment procedure.

Do you know where I can find the proper clearance for the valves and the proper torque for the valve bolts for my engine?

clearance is set with a 'feeler gauge'.. it's in the range of 0.04 for one.. the other is different.. I do not know the exact ##.. this past summer I had to do my 'V' twin 20 HP.. it's tricky to get the adjuster torqued right.. I didn't use a torque wrench to do that.. ya have to hold the adjuster then tighten the lil nut.. ya can't use a socket to do that..

 

[stangone5o]

clearance is set with a 'feeler gauge'.. it's in the range of 0.04 for one.. the other is different.. I do not know the exact ##.. this past summer I had to do my 'V' twin 20 HP.. it's tricky to get the adjuster torqued right.. I didn't use a torque wrench to do that.. ya have to hold the adjuster then tighten the lil nut.. ya can't use a socket to do that..

I saw that in a video and it was a torx screw but his was 16 hp and mine is only 12.5.
I actually have torx sockets I can easily attach to my torque wrench. He did say the clearance should be between .03-.05 though so .04 sounds good.
Edit: Actually he said thousandths so would be .003-.005? idk maybe I will try to contact briggs for exact specs.

 

[SPINDLEY]

Did I see correct. In one of your posts the engine hesitated when you tried to start it. That’s a red flag. It seems your valves aren’t adjusted properly. We all know it runs but still backfires. Is that correct?

 

[SPINDLEY]

I can help you out if you give me a pic of your model, type and code. It’s stamped on the valve cover. No need to call Briggs. I got 20 plus years in this business. Trust me. I do this for a living.

 

[Whirly]

I saw that in a video and it was a torx screw but his was 16 hp and mine is only 12.5.
I actually have torx sockets I can easily attach to my torque wrench. He did say the clearance should be between .03-.05 though so .04 sounds good.
Edit: Actually he said thousandths so would be .003-.005? idk maybe I will try to contact briggs for exact specs.

I can help you out if you give me a pic of your model, type and code. It’s stamped on the valve cover. No need to call Briggs. I got 20 plus years in this business. Trust me. I do this for a living.

SPINDLEY said he can help u a lot.. take his advice.. I will set on the sidelines & offer advice from there..

 

[SPINDLEY]

With all do respect Whirly. I will still take any suggestions. Two heads are better than one in this case.

 

[Forest Gump]

Here is a couple of links from this site so as you can download a FREE Briggs SErvice manual for your engine.

The second one is a direct link for your engine instructions. See page 21. Their are also several you tube videos of such.

A hint that your valves may need adjusted, especially the exhaust valve is the compression hang-up at TDC when cranking the engine.

Listen to SPINDLEY, he can help you. I'll sit on the sidelines with Whirly and listen.

These links may work best when using google chrome.

Links to download free Briggs Service manuals.


https://www.mytractorforum.com/280-...com/280-small-engines-repair-stickies/242387-briggs-statton-repair-manuals.html

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NaqjIxWV1ybEN0LWo3azl6OUU/view

 

[Whirly]

With all do respect Whirly. I will still take any suggestions. Two heads are better than one in this case.

that was my thought too.. even the 2 heads..

 

[38racing]

Here is a couple of links from this site so as you can download a FREE Briggs SErvice manual for your engine.

The second one is a direct link for your engine instructions. See page 21. Their are also several you tube videos of such.

A hint that your valves may need adjusted, especially the exhaust valve is the compression hang-up at TDC when cranking the engine.

Listen to SPINDLEY, he can help you. I'll sit on the sidelines with Whirly and listen.

These links may work best when using google chrome.

Links to download free Briggs Service manuals.


https://www.mytractorforum.com/280-...com/280-small-engines-repair-stickies/242387-briggs-statton-repair-manuals.html

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NaqjIxWV1ybEN0LWo3azl6OUU/view

Usually briggs has the decompression on the intake valve.

 

[stangone5o]

Hey guys thanks for the info and links, I will take a look at those.
I had the mower out today to get the last of my leaves. I had to charge the battery but then it started right up and I didnt have any issues. It still sounds pretty much the same as in the last video I posted but i dont know if thats good or bad. There was not any loud noticeable popping backfiring happening but maybe a small faint pop here and there.

Do you guys adjust valves as part of maintenance or only when needed?
This mower is 12 years old and they probably have never been adjusted so either way I figure it wont hurt to check them and adjust if needed and see how she sounds afterwards.
@SPINDLEY... Here is that stamped information...
Model-219807
Type-0147 E1
Code-070521ZA

 

[Whirly]

Hey guys thanks for the info and links, I will take a look at those.
I had the mower out today to get the last of my leaves. I had to charge the battery but then it started right up and I didnt have any issues. It still sounds pretty much the same as in the last video I posted but i dont know if thats good or bad. There was not any loud noticeable popping backfiring happening but maybe a small faint pop here and there.

Do you guys adjust valves as part of maintenance or only when needed?
This mower is 12 years old and they probably have never been adjusted so either way I figure it wont hurt to check them and adjust if needed and see how she sounds afterwards.

@SPINDLEY... Here is that stamped information...
Model-219807
Type-0147 E1
Code-070521ZA

in a manual I saw years ago B&S said to readjust the valves every three years.. I have not seen that in the current manuals.. B&S deleted that info..

 

[Bill Kapaun]

in a manual I saw years ago B&S said to readjust the valves every three years.. I have not seen that in the current manuals.. B&S deleted that info..

It's in the Owners Manual under "Maintenance".
Kind of where one would expect it to be.
Yearly for this engine, although that is probably overkill for average use.
See attachment-

 

[stangone5o]

It's in the Owners Manual under "Maintenance".
Kind of where one would expect it to be.
Yearly for this engine, although that is probably overkill for average use.
See attachment-

Well thats good to know. It is not listed in my craftsman owners manual for the mower, or else I would have done it by now.
I wonder why they left it out.

 

[SPINDLEY]

Valve setting are as follows. INTAKE is .003-.005. EXHAUST is .005-.007. You want to take your spark plug out and find compression stroke. Then take your valve cover off. That’s the silver cover with the numbers stampings. Now bring the piston on top dead center. The way you know, if you hold your finger over the spark hole you’ll feel the pressure on the upstroke of the piston. You can do this by hand by turning the flywheel. Once you feel the pressure take a piece of wire about a foot long and stick it in the spark hole. This is know when the piston is right on TDC (top dead center). Now your ready to adjust the valves. Intake valve is always the same side as the carb and exhaust is always the same side as the muffler. Not sure of the tools you need,but these probably have a jam nut on the top o the rocker. Losen the nut and adjust to the desired spec. When putting the cover back on use a bead of oil resistant RTV sealant to seal it back up. Put the plug in and fire it up.

 

[SPINDLEY]

Anything I missed there gentleman, please add your comments

 

[SPINDLEY]

Your owners manual is on the Briggs website