Crapsman briggs help needed.

[Tractor boy 239]

First mods if this is in the wrong section please move it. 

So I did the seasonal on the craftsman beater push mower. Finished that up and went to start it. It will not start at all. So I pulled the shrouds off. Then the carb and spark. Decided that since I had gone this far, I might as well pull the head and see what she looked like. The first one is the piston inside of the block. So this leads to questions one and two.  

1- is it common for fuel to be in the block?

2-the piston head looks as if it is covered in exhaust crud. I’m assuming this means something bad. So is that good or bad. 

The second picture is the cover for the head.  This is also covered in after mentioned crud. This leads to another question for me. 

- Is the cover susposed to be like this with said issue in question one?  

-Finally, is this cover okay to wire brush. 

 

[oldredrider 2,553]

Yup. OK to wire brush all that. Kinda looks like you have stuck rings therefore, no compression. That will keep it from starting. Got fire? Got gas? Only thing missing is compression.

[953 nut 60,136]

4 minutes ago, Tractor boy said:

is it common for fuel to be in the block?

On occasion a mower will be turned on one side and then the other while servicing things. If it gets into a position where the fuel from the carburetor passes from the float bowl to the cylinder this can happen. Chances are the gas got into the oil, best change it to be safe.

[Tractor boy 239]

1 hour ago, oldredrider said:

Yup. OK to wire brush all that. Kinda looks like you have stuck rings therefore, no compression. That will keep it from starting. Got fire? Got gas? Only thing missing is compression.

Yep have both. What would I have to do, to determine that?

 

58 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

On occasion a mower will be turned on one side and then the other while servicing things. If it gets into a position where the fuel from the carburetor passes from the float bowl to the cylinder this can happen. Chances are the gas got into the oil, best change it to be safe.

Okay, changed it anyway. 

[oldredrider 2,553]

Compression test will determine if that is part of the problem.

[Achto 29,408]

Having your piston covered in carbon is a good thing. Looking at your piston I can assure you that the rings are just fine. If the top of the piston was clean, this would be what they call piston wash, This happens when oil is getting past the rings.

 

This pic is a good example of piston wash caused by bad rings.

 

Every thing looks really dry in your picture, I'm wondering if you are getting fuel to the cylinder. If this is a carb on top of the tank model there may be a chance that the diaphragm in the carb may have a hole or crack in it. If this is the type of set up that you have try installing a new carb kit, it should cost less than $10 for an OEM kit. I'm guessing that you verified spark already.

 

 

[Tractor boy 239]

7 hours ago, Achto said:

Having your piston covered in carbon is a good thing. Looking at your piston I can assure you that the rings are just fine. If the top of the piston was clean, this would be what they call piston wash, This happens when oil is getting past the rings.

 

This pic is a good example of piston wash caused by bad rings.

 

Every thing looks really dry in your picture, I'm wondering if you are getting fuel to the cylinder. If this is a carb on top of the tank model there may be a chance that the diaphragm in the carb may have a hole or crack in it. If this is the type of set up that you have try installing a new carb kit, it should cost less than $10 for an OEM kit. I'm guessing that you verified spark already.

 

 

Yep spark is good. No the carb is mounted on the side of engine. 

[Achto 29,408]

I would clean the head up and put it back on the engine. Then do a compression test. if you don't have a compression tester, this can be as simple as holding you finger tight over the spark plug hole while some one pulls the rope. If you have good compression air should force past your finger. If compression and spark are good, then the only thing left is fuel. Try squirting a little gas into the spark plug hole, quickly put the plug back in and try starting. If it tries to start then I would look further into a fuel issue.

 

You don't recall if you may have hit something that snubbed the engine at one time? I have seen the key for the fly wheel shear from this type of incident causing the timing to be off.

[Tractor boy 239]

2 hours ago, Achto said:

I would clean the head up and put it back on the engine. Then do a compression test. if you don't have a compression tester, this can be as simple as holding you finger tight over the spark plug hole while some one pulls the rope. If you have good compression air should force past your finger. If compression and spark are good, then the only thing left is fuel. Try squirting a little gas into the spark plug hole, quickly put the plug back in and try starting. If it tries to start then I would look further into a fuel issue.

 

You don't recall if you may have hit something that snubbed the engine at one time? I have seen the key for the fly wheel shear from this type of incident causing the timing to be off.

Okay. I don’t think i hit anything. As for progress i forgot to mention last night when I pulled the head cover off, oddly enough I small puddle of oil came squirted out underneath when I pulled the head cover off. Is this anything of importance? 

-Tractorboy 

[Achto 29,408]

1 hour ago, Tractor boy said:

small puddle of oil came squirted out underneath when I pulled the head cover off.

 

Being a vertical shaft engine I would expect some oil to be held up in the bolt holes for the head. I don't think that this should be a concern.

[Tractor boy 239]

Okay.  Just checked  compression after wire brushing the head. It sucks pretty good. Any tips on getting the new starter spring back  onto the the pulley? Almost ready to start but lunch break is over.....

[Achto 29,408]

1 hour ago, Tractor boy said:

Any tips on getting the new starter spring back  onto the the pulley?

 

Recoil springs are easier to demonstrate than to explain. give this video a look.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi6__WqndbbAhUQmbQKHfUNAIkQwqsBCNABMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkEXOZPz7TM8&usg=AOvVaw2MS98JVw0RHdg3eN0AYw1x