Starting Problem with an MTD - Help!

[rgs03833]

Hi guys, I have an MTD that have a Starting isssues....

If I remove the Spark Plug, the Engine Turns freely. If I Put the Spark Plug back in, it Choke the Engine and it won't turn at all....

Battery is Fine, the Starter is Fine. I also took the Muffler off just to make sure the Air is passing through just incase some thing is stuck in the Muffler.

Can anyone tells me what is wrong?

What else should I take off?

I think the Engine is FLOODED! How would I fix it?

Thank you in advanced!

RGS

 

[Zork]

Hi guys, I have an MTD that have a Starting isssues....

If I remove the Spark Plug, the Engine Turns freely. If I Put the Spark Plug back in, it Choke the Engine and it won't turn at all...."

Do you mean the engine wont turn with the starter?

"...Battery is Fine, the Starter is Fine. I also took the Muffler off just to make sure the Air is passing through just incase some thing is stuck in the Muffler..."

If the engine doesnt turn with the plug in it, it sounds like a weak battery or bad cell or weak starter. Unless the engine cyllinder got oil in it (by turning tractor on edge to hook up belts etc) which would increase your compression significantly. Can anyone tells me what is wrong?

What else should I take off? Nothing until I hear more from you.

I think the Engine is FLOODED! How would I fix it? Remove plug, heat it up and clean it. Let cyl dry out for some time. New plug and properly gapped. Check the smell of the gas and if it smells any bit like varnish it is most probably bad and you may need to drain tank and carb.

Thank you in advanced!

RGS

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[SandburRanch]

Put an amp meter on the cable to the starter. If it reads around 300 amps rather than around 100 amps when attempting to crank, adjust the valves.

 

[rgs03833]

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Hi Zork, nice to see you on

I took a Pix so you can see what I took off

1. Battery is Charged + Battery Charger Starter mode is at 50Amp.

2. Start is fine, Spin Freely.

3. It only happened when I put the Spark Plug back in.

4. If I take the Spark Plug out. The Engine turn freely. If I put the Spark Plug back in. The Engine just Spin like 1 Rotation and then sound like it Choke, and would NOT start at all

5. There is Oil in the Pix before the Piston?, I don't know what those things call, it got Srping in it, but I think it let the Air in and then Burn it and then let out of the Exhuast.

When I remove that Cover, the Engine spin freely again.

Thank you !!!

 

[rgs03833]

Put an amp meter on the cable to the starter. If it reads around 300 amps rather than around 100 amps when attempting to crank, adjust the valves.

It gave me Sparks. I don't have the Amp Meter, but I have a Voltage Meter... It only goes to 10AMPS on that one

I don't think it's the Battery.... Battery is FULL.

Can you tell me what Valve?

Thankx!!!

 

[rgs03833]

OK, here is what I did....

I lifted up the Tractor from the Back. The Oil started to drain out... Then I put the Cover back... Started the Tractor and it Fired up !!!

Yay!!! I think there is too much Oil inside the Engine, and when the Piston hit it, it clogged because it's too much Oil and it was unable to go up and down.

Gonna have to drain some more and then test it

Thank you !!!!

 

[Zork]

Did the oil run out of where the plug is screwed in and connected?

 

[Catfish Man]

I had the same symptoms when my kids overfilled with oil.

It's easy to overfill doesn't take much

 

[rgs03833]

Did the oil run out of where the plug is screwed in and connected?

No, No Oil coming out of the Spark Plug, which I think is good, LOL

Anyway, I put that Cap back on and Turn the Engine, it fired right up and smokes lots of Oil.

I'm wondering if there is a Leakage somewhere? Is the Oil leaking into the Engine or something, is that possible? Maybe a Gasket?

What I did is I Lifted the Tractor from the Back and Put it on Two Cinder Blocks, one on each wheel. I let the Oil Drip a bit and Started the Engine and BAM... It starts up right away.

:thumbsup:

.

.

 

[Zork]

I'm not sure why you took the valve cover off and I'm not sure what problems you are currently having. If you are draining the crankcase oil from the engine through the valve cover (now off and rear tires elevated) you did so incorrectly and probably allowed oil to enter the cylinder past the piston. Oil in the cylinder will cause the compression to increase substantially and maybe not start from the battery. Oil in the cylinder/piston ring grooves will cause the engine to smoke for 20-30 minutes. The way to properly change the oil is through the base plug or valve spigot attached to the crankcase.

 

[Molerj]

Valves need adjusted! Easier for me to direct you to a site than explain it
Servicing the valves | Frequently Asked Questions | Customer Support | Briggs & Stratton

 

[k0ua]

Adjusting Overhead Valves

1. Release the brake spring. Then, turn the flywheel to close both valves.
2. Insert a narrow screwdriver into the spark plug hole and touch the piston. Turn the flywheel clockwise past top dead center until the piston has moved down 1/4". Use the screwdriver to gauge the piston's range of motion (image F)
   . PLEASE NOTE: This procedure must be performed for each cylinder on V-Twin engines.
3. Check the valve clearance by placing a feeler gauge between the valve head and the rocker arm (image G)
   . Clearances differ for the two valves and typically range from .002 - .004" to .005 - .007". Valve clearance specifications for your engine series are available by viewing our Engine Specifications Chart (PDF).
4. Adjust the clearances as required by turning the rocker screw. Once adjustments are completed, tighten the rocker nut.
5. Install the valve cover, using new gaskets, as required, and make sure the cover is secure.

Believe it or not this is the cause of most "wont crank" but the battery, starter,connections and starter solenoid are good problems on these OHV Briggs engines.. Took me a while to find this on the internet, after I had replaced batterys and starters and Starter solenoid. This condition can also damage your starter solenoid, but drawing excessive current, masking the problem, you replace the solenoid, and it may start, but after a while burns the contacts of your new solenoid. I still have a brand new starter in the styrofoam packing that was on the engine for 10 minutes to try it. Of course it did not fix the problem, and they dont't take electrical goods back at the store.. Yes valves out of adjustment will cause the engine to not crank, or partially crank and stop at TDC, as the compression release mechanism does not work right with the valves out of adjustment. The starter and battery are not sized to crank the engine with the compression release mechanism not working properly. It may start on a new or freshly charged battery, but it will be a "barely cranked" and just barely started situation.. Also the settings do not always hold from year to year and you may have to do it again. This has been my findings about these engines. Others feel free to jump in..


James K0UA

 

[rgs03833]

I'm not sure why you took the valve cover off and I'm not sure what problems you are currently having. If you are draining the crankcase oil from the engine through the valve cover (now off and rear tires elevated) you did so incorrectly and probably allowed oil to enter the cylinder past the piston. Oil in the cylinder will cause the compression to increase substantially and maybe not start from the battery. Oil in the cylinder/piston ring grooves will cause the engine to smoke for 20-30 minutes. The way to properly change the oil is through the base plug or valve spigot attached to the crankcase.

Hi Zork and All...


UPDATE: I got it working....

I did mentioned in my Thread @ 02-20-2012, 07:44 PM

" What I did is I Lifted the Tractor from the Back and Put it on Two Cinder Blocks, one on each wheel. I let the Oil Drip a bit and Started the Engine and BAM... It starts up right away. "

Anyway, to answer your question, Zork...

I took the Valve Cover off just to see... I got the MTD for cheap $125.00... What I got to lose right? LOL. But I'm GLAD I took the Valve Cover Off... I saw Gummy / Black Oil coming out like Crazy... And I also learned something.... It was more like a Curious thing LOL... Anyway... Like I said I'm Glad I did cause Gummy Dirty Oil was leaking out... So I started the Engine and the Engine FIRED right up....

So that gave me an Idea... Drain all the OIL.... That's when I lifted the MTD from the Back with the help of the Cinder Blocks and Drain everything, including the Oil Plug and the Filter... Once that was done, I start the Engine, without Oil, LOL... Just a quick test....Still Good/Start... I put good Oil in and started the Engine and it worked right away, FIRED up quickly and SMOOTHLY....

Anyway, I want to CLOSE this Thread.... I got it working since 02-20-2012, 07:44 PM...

BIG THANK YOU TO ZORK AND ALL.....



P.S. I did watch this Vid, but I didn't have to Adjust it... Maybe someday...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYbSKN4CxI[/ame]