Briggs and Stratton 17.5 hp won't start and backfires

Search ebay "Briggs 31C707 head" - some $25-35 ones. Search ebay "Briggs 796026". Look at the seller feedback # and read some reviews to find your trustworthy quotient.
 
East Central Illinois, I have a used head myself but shipping would be more than the head. I have traded, rebuilt and sold engines all over this area until I "retired" about 5 years ago as I am 86. May be higher on east coast but likely you are not looking in the right places, small one man shops in out lying towns.

Walt Conner
 
I can get a new one from Amazon Prime for $142 shipped and that includes all screws and gaskets. Almost the same as a used one of you include shipping...
 
njswede said:
I can get a new one from Amazon Prime for $142 shipped and that includes all screws and gaskets. Almost the same as a used one of you include shipping...
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Which is why I did not suggest getting one from me but shop your area. Actually, the best deal is often buying a "junk" mower with running engine. Deck gone bad, bad hydro, etc. And frankly I don't want to mess with boxing up, taking to PO, etc.

Walt Conner
 
I can't believe I didn't think of this simple test before: I put the head back on but didn't attach the pushrods, leaving the valves closed. Then I spun the flywheel by hand and could clearly hear air rushing backwards through the intake.

OK. So it's the head/valves. I'm thinking it got overheated and warped either the valve or seat. Either way, I'm getting a whole new head/valve assembly. Done messing with this now.
 
Tinkerer200 said:
Which is why I did not suggest getting one from me but shop your area. Actually, the best deal is often buying a "junk" mower with running engine. Deck gone bad, bad hydro, etc. And frankly I don't want to mess with boxing up, taking to PO, etc.

Walt Conner
Click to expand...

Yeah... I'm done messing with this for now. Just getting the original part with all the accessories shipped seems like the least amount of pain.

Thanks everyone who's helped with ideas!
 
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