163cc OHV Briggs

[atlarge54]

Well I opened my mouth at a garage sale last week and brought home what appears to be a pretty nice Toro Personal Pace mower. The note on the mower said "Needs new engine Make Offer". When I asked about it the lady said someone put on a new carb and told her it will need the engine replaced. She told me to just take it or it's going to the curb. I gave her a dollar and threw it in the trunk.

When I got it home I put some gas and a bit of Sea Foam in it and to my surprise it actually started. In the beginning it did a fair amount of sputtering with a slight backfire before it took off and ran properly. I mowed a bit with it and it did pretty decent but wants to do the occasional sputtering. Sometimes it reminds me of the 190cc Briggs flathead that I fought with last year that I swore was a fuel problem but turned out to be a loose valve seat. In the past week I've run it fairly hard and mowed several times. It runs pretty decent but just wants to occasionally sputter and cut out.

I guess I'll be pulling the plastic carb off and see what's inside. I did check the valve lash and it was ok. Spark plug looks good too. My internet searches on these engines haven't yield much information. I did see a video on the internals of these engines and was pretty un-impressed with the internals, plastic cam and floppy looking plastic governor.

I can't believe these mowers sell for over $500 new this stupid mower is AWD, sheesh!!! I need to keep two self-propelled mowers for SWMBO since she insists on mowing our two front yards. I like the bagged grass to mulch plants with.

Any personal experience with these engines would be appreciated.

 

[timcasbolt]

I've seen carbs like that where the choke linkage wasn't set quite right and the choke plate could flop around and partially close on it's own once in a while.

 

[Duner Wi]

Happens real seldom but I have seen a sparking plug do as you describe.
Extremely seldom but it can happen.

 

[Mule Meat]

I've seen carbs like that where the choke linkage wasn't set quite right and the choke plate could flop around and partially close on it's own once in a while.

Doesn't have a choke nor a primer. Just suppose to be able to pull the cord and go. They do not even call for an oil change in them.
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Check the fuel tank for debris that may block the screen for the fuel line.

 

[T.R.K.]

If it was in my shop, I would try to catch some of the gas from the gas line and see if it had any water in it. (We have lots of problems with water in gas here in NC, especially from mowers that have sat for a while.) Also, check the carburetor bowl for water. old fuel deposits, etc. Pull the white jet assembly out and clean both jets. Pry the jet asembly out, just don't grab the end where the ball bearing is, you can destroy the seal around that ball and then it will run too rich. The white plastic jet assembly comes apart in two pieces too. Be sure the 'emulsion tube'-the inner part with the holes in it is also clean.

 

[atlarge54]

Fuel is clean, good flow from tank, no debris in tank. Yesterday I finally got a chance to pull the carb and no visible dirt, blew out with compressed air. I didn't take apart the jet assembly. It actually ran worse, still did the "can't get up to speed with intermittent backfire" so I took off the head and checked valves, The seats and valves appeared to be OK. I'm not sure the linkage from the muffler to the choke hasn't been bent causing some choke issues. I did have it running enough to mow a small amount and from time to time it would lose power and cut out.

I do recall from my research of reviews on this engine one owner said: "I have so much trouble with these engines that I keep a spare new carb on the shelf." and "All you have to do is look sideways at one of these engines and it will overheat."

 

[atlarge54]

WOW ARE THESE CARBS CRAZY OR WHAT!!!!! I've been mowing quite a bit with this unit the past few days with the cover removed so I can watch what the carb/choke linkages are doing. It appears this engine requires some CRAZY marionette dance between the choke and throttle. My settings aren't exactly right but once it gets past the stutter burp sputter of startup and onto full throttle it runs quite well. This is unlike any carb I've ever seen.

 

[timcasbolt]

That sounds similar to my Intek 15 hp. Had me scratching my head for weeks.