B&S Quantum XE 5.5HP

[djg618]

I have a log splitter engine I need to check out. It's the original that came on my log splitter.
It's a B&S Quantum XE 5.5HP engine. I used it once in the cold (0-10 degrees F) and it died after a minute of running. It was always stored in an unheated garage. I couldn't pull the cord when I tried to restart it with the hydraulic lever in the neutral position. I assumed the oil (SAE 30) was too thick and I fried the piston. So I replaced it with a used one I found. Now the replacement is falling apart.

Since then, I can pulled the cord easily. So I would like to take a look at the piston or at least the cylinder wall before I try to restart it. Not being an engine guy, I'm not sure what I need to do first. I'm guessing remove the spark plug cylinder head? and I should get a view of the wall? What do I need to remove to get a look? Any advice is welcomed.

What could have caused this failure? It was new and used very little at this point. Was it all in my head?

 

[bertsmobile1]

Take a deep breath, slow down and start from the top
What model engine do you have , numbers off the ID not the blower housing sticker.
Next what exactly is it doing or not doing as the case may be
What do you hear, feel see, smell and how is this different to what used to happen before.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

How did it die? did it slowly sputter and die out, did it die like you flipped a switch, instantly, or were they metal on metal sounds? most likely if you messed the piston and walls up, you would have noticed it blowing oil smoke out of the exhaust,

 

[djg618]

How did it die? did it slowly sputter and die out, did it die like you flipped a switch, instantly, or were they metal on metal sounds? most likely if you messed the piston and walls up, you would have noticed it blowing oil smoke out of the exhaust,

It's been half a dozen years or more and I don't really remember. Definitely no metal sounds or smoke.

 

[djg618]

Take a deep breath, slow down and start from the top
What model engine do you have , numbers off the ID not the blower housing sticker.
Next what exactly is it doing or not doing as the case may be
What do you hear, feel see, smell and how is this different to what used to happen before.

Not sure which numbers you're referring to, but this is all I could find. It's on a sticker, so it's probably not the ones you are talking about.

As I've said, it just died after running about a minute. I may have run one split through it, but I don't think so. Just let it warm up. It happened many years ago. No loud noises or smoking, just died. Once it locked up, I tried to pull it once, but couldn't budge it. So I stopped. Contacted two local repairmen and both said it wasn't worth the cost to repair it. Buy a new one. The second guy had a used 6 HP pressure washer engine for $50, so I bought that and swapped them out. Set the locked up one on a shelf and forgot about it. A couple years later, when the replacement engine started to give me problems, I tried to pull the rope on the 'bad' engine, and it pulled freely. It now pulls like nothing ever happened. And I always checked to see if it had oil in it, so that wasn't the problem.

 

[djg618]

I tore into the engine today and I did not find any additional numbers stamped on the frame any where. This is what I found. Can anything be done with it?

 

[Scrubcadet10]

too far gone, IMO... can you hang a fingernail on that gouging? is it rough? you might can get a 799983 short block and swap over external components.

 

[djg618]

Doesn't feel too bad. Any ideas on what could have caused this? Lack of oil because it was too cold? If the engine is toast. couldn't I just smooth out the cylinder wall with some emery cloth and use it as is since it's freed up?

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Lack of oil most likely, usually carbon scoring is smaller vertical lines... It's worth a try with the Emory cloth, though it may burn oil if you get it running

 

[slomo]

Oil is pretty cheap. Just keep pouring oil in it. Keep the oil level full at all times. This is SG rated and full of ZDDP zinc and other anti-wear additives.