16HP B&S Carb Dissasembly?

[Jay4200]

I took my new-to-me Snapper for a spin around the neighborhood yesterday. It ran pretty good, but felt a little lean on top. I want to pull and clean the jets, but I'm not sure how to get there. Closest I got to the carb innards was taking apart the fuel pump, and I did load some carb cleaner into the thing via the fuel line. I generally like to do a full tear-down and cleaning, but got thwarted by complex assy, and couldn't find anything that looked like a carb bowl. Can anyone help with a how-to and/or pics of how to get inside the carb and where the jets are located?

This is the tractor:



This is the motor:



Lastly, any hints or links on and how to tune the throttle and/or governor? The throttle set-up is set a little tight, but basically correct as per manual, yet the motor doesn't move off idle until the throttle lever is at about 2/3, and doesn't seem to rev up as high as it should at WFO. I haven't checked RPMs with a meter, but it definitely has a mid-throttle sound/feel when fully cranked.

Thanks all - JayC

[dfkrug]

Yours is nice and clean and much newer than mine. Here is my 1979
vintage B&S 16 hp twin. It sat for years in a field, but once I took off
the carb and cleaned it up, it starts right up. My sheet metal is
removed for this photo, but you can see the carb and manifold. The
tractor it was attached to was a Craftsman. Mine is a vertical shaft
and yours seems to be horizontal. My carb has a nice brass float and
easy-access jets.

[zman007007]

It looks as if you may have to pull the front end hood section off to get to the carb completely. I have an older JC Penney model and I had to do that to get to it easy. It has the 18 hp engine. It has no main jet adjustment on it. ie. the main jet is fixed and not adjustable, which sucks. It does have an air mixture screw and a idle screw. zman

[carpenter383]

Not sure about your specific carb, but yo might just want to try cleaning everything good before you start making any adjustments.
You should be able to pull the governor spring tighter to raise the rpms. Just find where the spring goes from the throttle linkage to governor control arm and pull the spring further through the hole, then bend the end so it can't slip back. Do this a little at a time or it'll rev to the moon!

[zman007007]

Also if no one has tinkered with the governor I would leave it alone. You can really screw things up here, or blow a engine if you dont know what you are doing. I have no idea of you expertise, so just a suggestion. One way you can find out if it is getting full throttle is remove the air cleaner, then push your throttle control wide open with engine off, note position, then loosen the clamp that holds the outer housing of the throttle clamp and see if it will move any more to open the throttle wider. If so, push it as far as it will go, then tighten the clamp back down there. Crank engiine in idle position, and check out your throttle response then. zman

[jhwentworth]

Originally Posted by zman007007

Also if no one has tinkered with the governor I would leave it alone.

Excellent advice! If, after doing all the normal cleanings and adjustments, and checking the RPMs with a tach, the engine is turning below the spec, then mess with the governor. Most lawn mower motors spin about 3000 rpm and snowblowers spin at 3500-3600.

[zman007007]

Carpenter, your RPM"S may rev to the moon, but your soon to be blown engine will still be here on earth. Thanks for the kind words Mr. Wentworth. zman

[carpenter383]

Originally Posted by zman007007

Carpenter, your RPM"S may rev to the moon, but your soon to be blown engine will still be here on earth. Thanks for the kind words Mr. Wentworth. zman

Well that's what I was getting at
He specifically asked if there was a way to adjust the governor for more rpms

[sawz all]

I just rebuilt my 16 hp briggs on my bolens. Same engine as yours. Very easy job and if you still want to know about it just let us know you're still interested and I'll tell you about it.

Kevin

[Stimw]

Check with your local dealer, the Briggs Engine Manuals were the cheapest that I have ever found. The manual will have governor settings. Might even find one online, try google.
IIRC the high speed jet is accessable without removing the carb or disassembling. There should be a hex head plug on the side of the carb toward the botom, a 1/2 or 9/16". I think the jet is inside the hole the plug is covering.
The carb top gasket must be in good condition as there are passages through it. Also it should have the fuel pump on the carb operated by crankcase pressure/vaccum.