[matt167]

really not a hotrod engine, but it has a rather large problem and my lawn needs mowed..

just dumped a couple hundred into the mower for a new deck spindle and pully

fired it up and got about 100' before the engine just shut off w/o warning or hesitation.. fired it back up and it started hard ( turned just fine ) and smoked alot when it first started, then continued to smoke a little before it shut down again.. fired it back up and had the same problem, and the last time pop and fire but no start..

actually get off the mower and check it out now, and find the pan below the muffler is coated in fresh oil.. immediatly think, cracked pistion or rings.. so I get the compression tester and check it and it pumps 125 PSI

any ideas? I'm thinking time for a new engine, but before I spend that $$, I want to explore the possibility of fixing it if it's less involved than a rebuild.. I could rebuild, I have rebuilt others, but I really don't have time right now, and push mowing 2 acres is not fun with a 20" mower, but I have done that

[matt167]

it's a briggs and stratton 16hp OHV vertical shaft, circa 1998 in a Craftsmen

[DENCOUCH]

If the B&S hasa low oil sensor, that may be shutting it down.

[bigdog7373]

Could it be something simple like a head gasket or something? Sorry, I don't know much about your engine but if you are going to replace it, go with a Kohler engine. I have on on my 52" zero turn and they last a life time. It's getting close to 10 years old now and still running as good as it did the day i bought it.

[matt167]

Originally Posted by DENCOUCH

If the B&S hasa low oil sensor, that may be shutting it down.

probably is the oil sensor shutting it down, as I know it does have 1.. but it had to have lost 1/2 quart ( what it usually takes for the sensors to kick in ) in 100' thru the exhaust, so I don't think that is the problem..

[matt167]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

Could it be something simple like a head gasket or something? Sorry, I don't know much about your engine but if you are going to replace it, go with a Kohler engine. I have on on my 52" zero turn and they last a life time. It's getting close to 10 years old now and still running as good as it did the day i bought it.

I don't think a head gasket would cause it, altho it's possible being there is an oil passage that goes to the valve cover for rocker shaft oiling..

I would go kohler but, the mower is set up for a B&S

[a1supersport]

Oil smoke, or was it running rich? Any spark? We've had sensors get stuck in the "down" position.

[Joe G]

Originally Posted by matt167

any ideas?

Did you check for spark?

Is the choke stuck closed?

Did you try kicking it and swearing? haha

Good luck.....

[matt167]

it was white smoke when it first started, then switched to blue when it was idiling, when I revved it up just to try to get it back to the shed is right about when it died but it seemed to clear up b4 it died.. it does maintain spark at least until it dies, and as of now it will crack and pop every once in a while so it has spark of some degree.. this is a magneto ignition engine
choke and carb is operating freely.. and kicking and swearing didn't work

[stimpy]

double check the sensor ( fill the oil to its proper level and disconnect the sensor wire ) as if you had the mower up at a excessive angle to move the deck it sometimes knocks them off kilter and you could have also caused oil to run past the rings or thru a worn valve guide if its a vertical crank engine( I have alot of homeowners bring them to me thinking the motor has blown upfrom doing this and get the white smoke of death ... ) , a B&S is a very low compression motor and you can littlerlly run the things on motor oil once you get them to turn over .

[sqzbox]

With all the $ you just put in it, did you have the engine tilted towards the carb? If so you've drowned the intake system possibly got a bunch into the cyl. also. Check oil level, pull plug and crank engine to TDC with the plug removed and look for oil in the cyl. You also fouled the plug. Replace it don't clean it. If you've got oil in the cyl. you can poor gas down the carb and crank the engine with the plug removed to clean out the intake and cyl. and then change the oil and plug. It should fire right up being you've still got good compression. I've seen quite a few self taught lawnmower mech's make that mistake.

[matt167]

I did set 1 frt tire up on a small landing in front of the finished off part ( office ) of the shed to work on it.. probably 6" high

[Gringo]

did you check your air filter? How about the muffler, is it pluged or broken.

[burnt olds]

Originally Posted by Gringo

did you check your air filter? How about the muffler, is it pluged or broken.

also the dip stick tube or top on it not broken , or it was just tilted and filled the blow breather tube to carb and filled the breather .

[matt167]

well, I pulled the plug, poured gas in the carb while cranking, and cleared it out. then put a new plug in and changed the oil.. and it runs fine now. problem solved. thanks guys