Home and Auto Mower engine help... - Page 2

Stewie · 10-07-2020, 05:12 PM

I have the opportunity to buy a lawn tractor with a Briggs 21 hp engine. The current owner has had the mower in storage for over a year. When he fired it up a couple of weeks ago it blew white smoke for a while.

He took it to a small engine shop and they said they've seen the same thing quite often and it's usually a fuel problem, possibly a carb problem. He put new fuel with sea foam additive and started it up. It's been sitting for a week to see if that will cure the problem.

Is this an expensive fix if the engine needs work? It's a really nice mower for the price, but I don't want to inherit a problem.

Boise_Chief · 10-08-2020, 06:31 AM

I popped in to see if anyone addressed fuel in the oil. I will add to Dayze post. If the carb needle and seat sticks it can drain fuel into the cylinder and it leaks by the rings. From there it thins your crankcase oil leading to smoke and can damage the engine quickly. Check the oil change it regardless but I suspect you need to clean the carb.

**Baby Lee** · 10-08-2020, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

Thanks. I've dealt with mower engines for a long time. I haven't had one sit around and have this issue. I know Briggs builds a solid engine and hope it's just a fuel issue.

It's very likely the fuel, ethanol is ****all on small engine seals and gaskets.

You're likely gonna need to carb kit and calibrate, but doubt anything major beyond that is effed up.

10-07-2020, 05:12 PM
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $-1820099	Mower engine help... I have the opportunity to buy a lawn tractor with a Briggs 21 hp engine. The current owner has had the mower in storage for over a year. When he fired it up a couple of weeks ago it blew white smoke for a while. He took it to a small engine shop and they said they've seen the same thing quite often and it's usually a fuel problem, possibly a carb problem. He put new fuel with sea foam additive and started it up. It's been sitting for a week to see if that will cure the problem. Is this an expensive fix if the engine needs work? It's a really nice mower for the price, but I don't want to inherit a problem.
Posts: 13,871

10-08-2020, 06:31 AM	#16
Boise_Chief The Lurkiest Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Boise,ID Casino cash: $-875812	I popped in to see if anyone addressed fuel in the oil. I will add to Dayze post. If the carb needle and seat sticks it can drain fuel into the cylinder and it leaks by the rings. From there it thins your crankcase oil leading to smoke and can damage the engine quickly. Check the oil change it regardless but I suspect you need to clean the carb.
Posts: 2,021