B&S 17.5 OHV - oil on engine - gaskets?

[dmarion]

Slowly making progress. Used a small brush and a shop vac today to get a lot of the crud off (there was a lot more than I anticipated once I got started). Still have a little more to do and then will probably hit it with some simple green and a hose to see if I can get a little off and if I can get some of the crud I cant reach by hand or with the brush (inside the cylinder shroud, etc).

 

[bertsmobile1]

That is one of the reasons why all engine makers recommend you remove the engine covers and clean off the fins every season.
I do it every service so I pick up leaky gaskets early when a 1/4 turn on a nut will stem the tide.
Oil + dust + heat + mud bricks which is what 1/3 of the people in the world make their houses out of.

 

[dmarion]

Thanks guys. Got it all back together and finally and mowed today. Seems to be running fine and no new oil leaking that I could find. I had read both online and in some manuals I downloaded that the rocker cover was supposed to be torqued to 60 in pounds. I don't own a torque wrench but was going to buy one - turns out I couldn't find one locally that registers less than 10 foot pounds. I tightened without a torque wrench to what I thought might be appropriate - it wasn't and I had to tighten a good deal more (I had started and ran the mower to watch for leaks). 2 of the 4 bolts actually protrude out the back of the head slightly (can't see the end of the other 2). If anyone needs some pictures of that please let me know.