Going to look at a mower tomorrow...what should I check for?

[Brad66]

Used for several hours at a time for 8 years? Smokes at start-up and under load? I think the rings are shot. The Chinese just cant make B&S engines that last. The good thing is that they are really easy engines to work on. And not terribly expensive. If you don"t want to tear it apart yourself you can buy a short block and put parts from your old engine on it.

good luck

 

[I-75]

... And not terribly expensive. If you don"t want to tear it apart yourself you can buy a short block and put parts from your old engine on it...

Egad! That sounds like major surgery. I like the "not terribly expensive" part. Not sure at all about the other stuff and would no doubt need to hire someone to do it. Are the rings themselves replaceable?

 

[MBDiagMan]

What color was the smoke? Do you know which B&S engine it was?

If the smoke is blue, it is either internal problems, like worn rings or POSSIBLY a clogged crankcase vent. There was a v-twin B&S along about 2003 or 2004 that was plagued with the clogging breather problem.

If the smoke was black, then the engine is running rich, which might be something as simple as a stuck choke.

Best of luck and hope this helps,