Briggs 13.5hp OHV Intek smokes & burning oil

13 years ago

My Briggs & Stratton single cylinder 13.5hp Intek lawn mower smokes when starting the engine, changing throttle speed, or when starting the blades. The smoke appears to be gray in color, and it uses a few ounces of oil in an hour and a half of mowing. The spark plug has carbon and oil residue on it. What do you think the problem is?

So far I have checked:

- compression 120 - 130psi (3 - 5 cranks) Is this good?

- valve guides seem ok; the valves do not bottom out when turning engine; each valve moves about 3/8 - 7/16"

- rocker studs tight

- pulled out both push rods; they are both straight

- readjusted both valve clearances for .005in

- when cranking over engine (valve cover off & spark plug out), oil spews out from around the the lower pushrod area

- checked the reed in the oil breather; it is clean and not cracked or chipped; seems to be working properly

The Briggs engine is:

Model 280H07

Type 0117 E1

Code 030220ZA

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (7)

walt2002
13 years ago
Sounds like blown head gasket. They always blow between the cylinder and the push rod gallery so no outside indication.

Walt Conner
ceesneezy
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey thanks Walt! I am hoping it's head gasket versus piston/rings. I will order the head gasket. Unfortunately, I have another issue to fix first. When I was taking off the flywheel to take a look at the oil breather reed valve, I used a backyard method to pulling the flywheel (instead of using a puller). Well I ended up stripping the last 3 threads on the flywheel bolt, which is no problem becauase getting another bolt is cheap.

The problem is that I slightly damaged the 1st 3 threads into the crank. Do you have any suggestions as to what to do at this point? (other than buy a new crank $167 from Briggs). I was thinking about possibly using oil and a new bolt to see if it will turn in. I can still see threads in the crank but the 1st three look a little damaged but I can still see their grooves. The bolt, however, was totally destroyed at the last three threads (no grooves). I'm thinking that the bolt is softer and will strip before the threads in the crank to prevent idiots like me from stripping out the threads in crank, when they are too impatient to wait until the next day to buy or borrow a puller!
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andyma_gw
13 years ago
Get yourself the correct tap and chase the holes using plenty of oil and patience. That is right way. I have had a fair degree of success just using a good bolt or 2. Once or twice, I have even filed flutes into a bolt too.
walt2002
13 years ago
"The problem is that I slightly damaged the 1st 3 threads into the crank. Do you have any suggestions as to what to do at this point? "

Barrow a tap from Auto Parts Store or a friend. I am lucky enough to have a friend who has every tool you can think of.

Walt Conner
ceesneezy
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Andyma and Walt for your replies! I decided to put the flywheel back on, then use the old damaged flywheel bolt and just hammer on it as hard as possible into the tapered end of the crank. Then I used some epoxy so it doesn't back out. Haha! Just kidding! Actually I ordered a new flywheel bolt yesterday. When it comes in, I will try to see if it turns in using absolutely no force. If it doesn't then I will use tap. I'm glad to know there is hope!
ceesneezy
Original Author
13 years ago
UPDATE:

My brother has a tap & die set, but it only went up to 1/2 inch. So, we measured the flywheel bolt threads and diameter. I bought a 9/16" 18 TPI tap from local hardware store. I put lots of oil on tap and crankshaft threads. Then turned into crank with adjustable wrench. After about 3 turns, the tap turned very easy so I decided to clean the rest of the threads. Then I turned in the new flywheel bolt and torqued to 100 ft lbs. Mower started right up! Now I will order head gasket and see it if stops the smoking.
ceesneezy
Original Author
13 years ago
UPDATE:

My brother has a tap & die set, but it only went up to 1/2 inch. So, we measured the flywheel bolt threads and diameter. I bought a 9/16" 18 TPI tap from local hardware store. I put lots of oil on tap and crankshaft threads. Then turned into crank with adjustable wrench. After about 3 turns, the tap turned very easy so I decided to clean the rest of the threads. Then I turned in the new flywheel bolt and torqued to 100 ft lbs. Mower started right up! Now I will order head gasket and see it if stops the smoking.

Briggs 13.5hp OHV Intek smokes & burning oil

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Briggs 13.5hp OHV Intek smokes & burning oil

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