21HP V-Twin Head Gasket Repair

[GasGuzler]

Manuals Don't have rev limiters. Post your mower's model no. It should start with 917.Xxxxx

Currently away at school but I’ll have to check. And is the limiter actually part of the transmission or is it like a CDI box on the engine? Because if it’s just the tranny I can just swap it.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

No, the engine could go up to 7k if you wanted it to. It's an internal part of the transmission. It would probably be easier to swap in a manual.

 

[GasGuzler]

No, the engine could go up to 7k if you wanted it to. It's an internal part of the transmission. It would probably be easier to swap in a manual.

Sounds like I’m doing that then, I already wanted to swap the rear fender since it’s nicer so this just gives me more reason to lol.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

Also, there's nothing wrong with Briggs v-twins, but if I was making a racing Mower, I would prefer a Briggs opposed twin. Basically the "indestructible inline 6" of mowers

 

[GasGuzler]

Also, there's nothing wrong with Briggs v-twins, but if I was making a racing Mower, I would prefer a Briggs opposed twin. Basically the "indestructible inline 6" of mowers

Haha my teacher at school has a 20HP opposed twin, he told me I could have the motor in the spring if I swap another motor onto his. I just like the sound of the V-Twins.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

IKR, the vtwins with open exhaust sound like motorcycles. IMO any engine is better than a single cylinder for a racing mower. Vtwins are also wildly reliable most of the time.

 

[ILENGINE]

Head bolt torque is 220 in/lb. I usually do a three step process.

 

[StarTech]

You could cripple the governor and rev the engine up until a rod goes thru the cylinder block. Note these Briggs are design to run safely at 3600 rpms max.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

Hey, that would make some good content... "Driving my racing mower until it throws a rod" Iol

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

I just picked up a Craftsman LT1000 with a 21HP Briggs V-Twin, model number 407577-0283-E1. I believe it needs new head gaskets, I have ordered the gasket kits but I was just wondering if I need to order new head bolts too? In the past I have ran into issues reusing head bolts and them snapping in the block while torquing them down. I was also wondering what the torque specs are for the head bolts, and how many stages I should torque them down and how many foot pounds for each stage. I’m 18 and fairly new to this, so any help would be appreciated.

Torque specs for this engine can be found online. Always look up correct specs for important parts such as head gaskets, and use a torque wrench. Gradually tightening head bolts in a pattern to correct torque is the right way. Reusing bolts will be no problem. Did you do a leak down test to determine bad head gaskets?