Badly smoking Briggs

daugen · Apr 1, 2013

Need some mechanical help here. Most annoyed that when I tried to do my first tilling yesterday, the D&R pull behind tiller, which I pull with my Gravely,
started to smoke. Then it hiccupped, smoked even more, and died. I let it sit, started right up again, no strange mechanical noises,but
it's acting like it has too much oil. Or maybe a stuck ring over the winter? Do I need some Marvel mystery oil in there?
I'm not a mechanic, I can't take this thing apart, but after checking the oil level twice, which is fine, I'm stumped.

Briggs 900, typical cheap small Briggs. With all the bouncing around a tiller does, it would be nice to find a tiller with pressure lube, but
not out there in this size I believe. Of course with splash lube, if one if bouncing around, oil sure is "splashing". Just wonder if it's splashing too much.
Normal Rotella straight 30W changed last fall.

Ideas before it goes to the shop? Anything I can do without pulling the head off, which I'm not adventurous enough to do by myself.
thanks

I used my little walk behind tiller and beat myself to death in ten minutes in our clay and rock. And then I think about three grand for a tiller for the Kubota and
definitely that's a "next year". Luckily I have a good friend with lots of tillers who will bring his old Horse over and will till and hill for me.
Now that's a good friend...

RandyT · Apr 1, 2013

Just a though. I am thinking that the tiller hitch was stored down, which causes the head/valve cover to sit low. maybe with the head facing at a downward angle, oil seeped into the valve cover and through the breather tube to the carb, and it is burning the oil getting spit out the breather assy.

daugen · Apr 1, 2013

RANDYT said:
Just a though. I am thinking that the tiller hitch was stored down, which causes the head/valve cover to sit low. maybe with the head facing at a downward angle, oil seeped into the valve cover and through the breather tube to the carb, and it is burning the oil getting spit out the breather assy.

warm, maybe hot. Yes, I did store it down, had a chance to fit it in a nicer spot in the larger barn, and didn't have a log handy, or whatever, to prop up the hitch.
I'll look for signs of oil seepage; funny no burning oil smell. I'll pop off the air filter and start from there. Thanks

daugen · Apr 1, 2013

well, nice surprise, the tiller came with a three year warranty, and I'm in the last year.
Back to the dealer and will of course ask for the broken parts if any.
So best I not fool with it. All set to start tinkering too...then I called factory support to see if they had a TSB or whatever on this and they said no way,
and btw, take it back to your dealer under warranty. :dance1:

certainly improved my day...
I wonder if they'd let me pay a little more for a Vanguard, Honda or Subaru Robin...
but I'm sure the thing is easily fixable because it ran fine.

RandyT · Apr 1, 2013

If I am correct, the tiller may have a three year warranty, but the engine should only have a 2 year warranty. the 3 year warranty on briggs, is the vanguard engines only.