Craftsman 18 hp hard to turn over?

[300UGUY]

I have a problem with a Craftsman mower with a B&S 18 hp motor. I put a new solenoid and starter on, it doesnt want to start. It turns over very slowly. Plenty of oil, but the battery is dead. I have been trying to jump start it with a battery charger. Is the engine simply shot? I really don't understand why it doesn't start.

 

[RandyT]

Do you have one cylinder or two. Does it start to turn over and then stop, and maybe sometimes tries to kick back. Could need the valve clearances adjusted. Compression release on camshaft could be broke, lower likelihood though.

 

[300UGUY]

Do you have one cylinder or two. Does it start to turn over and then stop, and maybe sometimes tries to kick back. Could need the valve clearances adjusted. Compression release on camshaft could be broke, lower likelihood though.

It's a twin, I pulled both plugs, it seemed to be a little stiff, but I could turn it with one hand on the wrench. It turns very slowly, only moveing a little bit. The starter makes a bunch of noise, it seems like it is trying, but it can't get it turning. I know it sounds weird, but I am thinking of replacing the battery, maybe it is shorted internally, or ???

 

[toppop52]

As RandyT said, adjust the valves.

 

[hitts427]

Sounds like you need to rebuild starter

 

[bp fick]

Adjust the valves, indeed.

 

[Dana Warner]

I would disconnect the dead tractor battery and jump it directly from your car battery.

 

[k0ua]

Fought that problem for years, valve adjustment. believe it or not. Swapped out batteries, starter solenoids, and starters. (still have a new one in the box, they don't take them back) Adjust the valves, and adjust them next year too. A new fresh battery may make it roll over, and your starter solenoid may be burnt now, from the excessive starter current drawn trying to break the engine over top dead center. And replacing that may make it start, but the root problem remains, valve timing and operation of the compression release mechanism. Known Briggs OHV problem.

James K0UA

 

[toppop52]

99% of hard starting on B&S ohv engines is valve adjustment, you can do it in 30 minutes the first time and 15 the next, very simple.

 

[Dana Warner]

Is your engine an OHV engine which has easily adjustable valve or the old L head engine which does not?

 

[300UGUY]

Is your engine an OHV engine which has easily adjustable valve or the old L head engine which does not?

This one must be the old one, the valve is in the block. I took the plugs out, it doesn't seem to be a compression problem. It didn't turn over very well. I have a new starter and solenoid, and I am using a battery charger to turn it over. It should be really spinning. I am debating what to do next - junk it, pay somebody to rebuild the motor, or ??

 

[rsewill]

This one must be the old one, the valve is in the block. I took the plugs out, it doesn't seem to be a compression problem. It didn't turn over very well. I have a new starter and solenoid, and I am using a battery charger to turn it over. It should be really spinning. I am debating what to do next - junk it, pay somebody to rebuild the motor, or ??

Like Dana Warner said, jump start it from a vehicle. Try it without plugs. Don't burn out your starter.

 

[Dana Warner]

I'm sure others will disagree with me but battery chargers are not designed to be used in place of a battery. If you want to test the operation of your starter you should be jumping the starter from a good battery. Even a bad battery can cause you to have starter symptoms. I would suggest you remove your bad battery from the circuit and jump directly from a good battery. The battery charger is ok to be used as a boost on a weak battery but should not be used in place of a battery.