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That is the usual setting. I try to set both at .005 inch. Adjust the clearance for each valve with the opposite one fully open.

It helps us help you when you provide the product information label information off of the machine. Make sure the mounting bolts for the transmission to the chassis are tight on the left side drive unit. Are the operator handles even with each other?

Sounds like it needs the valves adjusted.

Hello C., That play is a result of age and wear. When new they have a snug fit on the splines. A new disc would fit better, but I don't see the importance or need for a new one. The brake is not utilized that much except for hold the machine when parked and the clutch/brake pedal is locked...

Thanks, I was just curious.

It is possible, but likely off of a body panel somewhere.

Drop box wants a person to sign up and I'm not down with that. As for the brake, tighten the center nut on the apply bracket a quarter of a turn at a time and see how the brakes act. The stopping brake and park brake are the same mechanism on most of these. The pedal lock is what holds the...

How is it considered "beyond repair". Did it throw a connecting rod through the engine block?

Try eBay. They show several used Kohler 23hp engines. I suggest going with a Kohler Command instead of a Kohler Courage if given a choice. The crankshaft dimensions is the most important factor, and they should be the same.

Looks like a piece of automotive style edging trim called "edge welting". This stuff was used to cover welded panel edges on many older vehicles. It was also use in some machine applications to prevent people from being cut on metal edges from welded seams.

Hello G., Many people understand what happens inside the engine cylinder above the piston but never think of what happens below the piston inside the crankcase. Without a crankcase breather system, the displaced air inside the crankcase would build pressure and force air and oil out of every...

Hello G., It's the world's petroleum manufacturer's thinning out the gasoline fuel mix to make more profit per liter/gallon. Ethanol blended fuel has never been good for anything with an aluminum carburetor or regular steel fuel lines, because it attracts moisture from the air. This moisture...

We need the model and spec number off of the engine. to better understand what carburetor and air cleaner you are dealing with.

If the valves appear to be opening about the same and it is cranking good, the camshaft is likely okay. I mentioned it because I've had them wear the lobes down before.

When you adjusted the valves did you notice if the exhaust valves were not opening as much as the intake valves? Late or lazy exhaust valve opening is a sign of a worn camshaft. Late exhaust valve opening will also contribute to the initial problem you described of popping back in the intake...

I'm not questioning you personally, I'm questioning the compression gauge.

I think the "140psi" on both cylinders number is fictitious or the gauge is broken. Was this cranking psi? The starter does not spin fast enough for that reading even with the throttle wide open.

A drop of red Loctite on cleaned bolt threads will help keep them from loosening. If they keep coming loose the main block will develop a stress crack and that would not be good.

The fuse holder is usually in machine harness and not on the engine. Here is a diagram of a similar model I found online through parts tree. Item 33 show to be a circuit breaker instead of a fuse. Circuit breaker on models like this do get rusty inside and act up with age. You can try jumping...

Hello B., The balancer you show is far better than any screwdriver or nail "trick" that people try to use. Good blade balance prolongs the spindle bearings lifespan. On a push/ walk behind mower, it reduces operating vibration that is transmitted into the handle of the mower. Many years ago...

Hello ILENGINE, Rotary cutter swing blades like used on field shredders are better off removed and ground and then weighed. If you get the weight withing a couple of ounces on each blade, that is considered balanced. If the blades are just plain beat to death from rocks, replace them.

They are made/ soldered into the harness. I think Teryll Fixes all has a video indicating how to replace them. Most of the time I just look up the harness using the engine information and order a new engine coil kill wire harness segment. A V-twin engine will have 2 tiny diodes in the coil kill...

The carburetor needs to be removed and properly cleaned. The air bleed system is partially blocked and not keeping a proper mixture balance, especially under load. I have no faith in aftermarket carburetors, so, if this one needs rebuilding invest in a kit,

I think these cylinders are Nicklsil coated cylinder, so do not hone. Stagger the rings so the gaps do not line up and use a large hose clamp lightly tightened with a narrow section from a plastic bottle to protect the rings. The piston and rings will slip right in with simple WD-40 spray. Run...

Try a section of rubber hose that slides snuggly over the spring. I had a machine years ago that would break springs like you described until an engineer gave me that advice. I never had another problem after I did that. It has a protective and dampening effect.

Welcome to owning equipment and the cost of upkeep.

Hello C., One problem that is possible is the ignition coils kill wire because an inline diode is failing. The harness diodes fail with age. Usually, one of the cylinders will lose spark/fire intermittently. Eventually the problem becomes chronic.

Hello C., Hello H., I think this was found while cleaning the cooling fins. These are known as "bucket" motors because of the top closure plate design. This is not "soot" it is dirt that has collected onto oil migration due to weak assembly RTV sealing. Clean the area and tighten the bolts...

Have you checked the main power fuse and fuse holder. I have found quite a few that have a swollen overheated fuse, and the holder had rusted contact pins. If this is the case, the fuse holder needs to be replaced.

Hello 1008com, I've had seemingly simple gaskets trip me up a few times, especially on the air box/inlet side of the carburetor. Hope the test run goes well for you.

The main ground cable connected to the engine was most likely the cause. That or the starter solenoid ground wire. Wire harness problems can be tricky to find because everyone overlooking the wiring and connections.

The orientation of the gasket is important, so verify all the holes line up correctly.

Sure, it is, Replace the cheap spindles and run them until they get noisy. Then shove grease in them, if they have fittings and hope they quiet down. Many of the cheap aftermarket spindles do not even have grease fittings and that is by design. A lot of the modern aftermarket spindles are...

My Cub Cadet RZT-50S has a tether on the cap and that thing is a hinderance whenever the cap is tightened down because it binds in the groove of the cap. Life would be easier without the tether.

The trick that is being overlooked I think is that the purple wire has to be pushed in first as a release tool is inserted when attempting to release the tab on the purple wire terminal connector. I manage to get most of them to release with a large paperclip that fit snuggly into the slot or a...

Did you remove the tank and actually clean it out? If so, are you refilling from a questionable gas can that has debris in the bottom of it.

Hello M., Anytime you make a help request, include the product ID label information and the engine label information. This greatly reduces guessing and "once upon a time stories". This problem sounds like a dealer needs to be involved so they can get the factory tech support involved. There...

Hello D., I don't think this issue is coil related but more of a fuel delivery problem such as the carburetor needs a good cleaning internally.

Hi J., Poor machine tolerances are the root cause if a valve guide actually falls out when the spring is removed. Most of the time, the bad ones are still a snug fit and gradually move upward with hours of run time or repeat overheating due to grass/dirt choked cooling find.

They should never just fall out like that.

That is the valve guide, and they should never move or come out of the head. They are tightly press fitted when installed new. The head was likely not machined properly when new. Mass production engines are not give the same attention to detail as an automotive engine.

Hello P., If you have the "flash bulb" type spark tester, throw it away, it's a junk gimmick some idiot put on the market years ago. You need an open-air adjustable gap type spark tester. Question: Are the coil hold down screws plain steel, back oxide coated or gold anodized colored? I ask...

A sheared flywheel key on a rider engine usually does not happen unless someone left the flywheel bolt/nut too loose. flywheels are torqued down pretty tight. On a fixed blade engine such as a push/ walk behind mower, it is much more common especially if an obstacle is hit with the mower...

Your initial description of the problem points toward condensation moisture droplets that have collected (due to constant weather changes) and settled in the bottom of the fuel tank. Simply adding new fuel does not make the aged fuel "new again" or break down water droplets. One thing that may...

Hello H., These problems can get tricky, but it takes a process of elimination and some patience. Often times, problems with and aged machine overlap, so one "fix" does not always do the trick. Let's look closer at the harness and electrical components. Have you wiggle tested the ignition...

Still need machine label information. I agree with sgkent. Most modern engines have a compression relief function to allow for easier cranking. 60 PSI is considered good enough to support initial combustion. Once combustion takes place and the engine fires over the compression relief mechanism...

Can you provide the engine label numbers? Model/Spec and list numbers are important

Hello M., Most brake assemblies have a center adjuster friction lock nut that can be tightened a little at a time until the brakes grab again. It takes a little bit of riding a tightening to get the adjustment where you want it. The brake should act as a parking lock when the clutch/brake pedal...

Sounds like your fuel tank needs to be removed and washed out really well then left out in the sun to dry before reinstalling.

Hello ILENGINE, I agree about the plastic side seals used on most of the "sealed" bearings. They are meant more for keeping the original factory grease in the roller area where it belongs. If more grease is in the mandrel tube, it will eventually get hot enough to migrate past the lip of the...