Small engine repair

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I have a 1978 garden tractor that has a 16hp twin Briggs and Straton engine. I keep fouling one of the spark plugs. I think oil is blowing by the rings on one cylinder and coating the spark plug with oil. Would it be worth trying to rebuild this motor? And does anyone have advise on doing so? Or should I look into a new engine? I'll read the replies on the forum. This small tractor has been a real back saver. It was a great deal. We paid a small amount of cash and a goat for it. I love the barter system lots of us employ in living in the country. Thanks

-- david (gardenfarm@earthlink.net), November 26, 2001

Answers

Hi, you can get a rebuild kit (rings& gaskets) for about $35 and a manual for $25. If you have tools and some mechanical skills it should take about 2 days and a couple of busted thumbs. Daryll, PS. If you have any questions e-mail me.

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

Run a compression test and write down the numbers, then put about half a teaspoon of oil in each cylinder, run a second compression test. If the number are greatly different like going from 50 to 110 pounds after the oil, then you need new rings. If the numbers change only a small bit like 50 to 60 then your oil is comming from the valve guides. Either way if you tear into it, replace the rings and valve guides, resurface the valve seats and the valve faces and keep it clean enough that your mother would eat off of it during reassembly.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 26, 2001.

Id try some of that "high tech" oil additive first. SLick 50 comes to mind,, that job,, unless you have am equiped garage,,would be a pain. How long does it take to foul a plug? IF its something that you dont use all the time,,just clean and change the plug,,, if it fouls after a few mins,, thats a differant story

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 26, 2001.

At your local autoparts store you will find anti-fouling adapters for your sparkplugs. These are basically spacers which keep the plug tip out of the oil. If whatever condition is causing the fouling isn't too bad, this will get you by for a longtime, especially on something which isn't used on a regular basis. My guess is that the valve guides are the problem. On an engine that old, I would bite the bullet and completely rebuild the whole thing while I was at it. You might also want to check out the cost of a new engine from places like Norther Equipment. They sell that stuff at the best price I have found anywhere. It's still going to be expensive, but if you're short on time or mechanical experience, it's the best way to go.

-- john james (jjames@n-jcenter.com), November 26, 2001.

One thing to check , and that is with any small engines. Make sure the air cleaner,filter is thoroughly clean.. .If it is not an engine will start sucking up crankcase oil and fouling about everything. Just my 2 cents worth

-- sulix johnson (tpf59@gwtc.net), November 28, 2001.


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