briggs compression

[ira biggs sr.]

17.5 hp briggs , vertical shaft, on a cub cadet o turn.17.5 hp ic engine , high performance , model318707 , type 0132-e1 , code0002218ze. the problem i have is when you try to start it and it comes up on compression it wont turn over, it just stops. it has a new battery , rebuilt starter and i jumped from my truck and the same thing.pulled the flywheel the key is not sheared. the valves are both moving.i have never heard this engine run but it is to be ok. thanks for any and all help. pulled the spark plug and it turns free.
 

[H2OK9]

Adjust the valves, They have a bad habit of needing adjustment every so often and it sounds like they have been neglected
 

[t.r.k.]

Adjust the valves to .003. The book says .004-.006 but if you set them to .003 and tighten the setscrew you will be at about .004.

I have seen two of those engines that would not hold a valve adjustment for long, both had been run a long time with infrequent or no oil changes, I am guessing that the hard part of the valve lobes on the cam were worn about through and the valve clearance would get out of spec in very few hours run time.

Good luck with yours.
 

[Ronnie Graves]

you didnt tell him the secret rotate the engine backwards it un-loads the compression release then set the valves to 0.03
 

[t.r.k..]

Well, actually you don't.

You set the valves with the piston a fraction of an inch down the cylinder past TDC.
That is what the manual says.

Nobody takes the head off one of these engines to set the valves if they can get away with it. The only way to get an idea of where the piston is is to remove the blower cover, rotate the crankshaft until the piston comes up on comression, and then rotate it until the back edge of the magnet is just about past the magneto. At this point the piston should be starting down the cylinder.

Then adjust the valves at this position.

I don't see what rotating the engine backwards will do for you. I don't think the compression release retracts until it reaches about 300 rpm.
 

[Ira biggs sr]

adjusted the valves and it turns over as it should. i never would have guest. thanks again i learned something today.