how hard to replace head gasket and or valves on a Briggs & Stratton

[sunliner]

So I took my no-starting push mower into the shop finally. Has a B& S 500E series engine
Shops diagnosis was poor compression, could be head gasket or valves, they said. Won't know more unless they do about $70 worth of tear down and check, then possibly another 40 to fix, depending on what exactly they find.
As the mower was only $150 brand new, I'm not going to put any more serious money into it, will pay them the $20 for the check out thus far, and pick up the mower.
My question is this...just how hard would it be for me to redo a head gasket and/or what I think he said were valve gaskets on this thing?
I've never disassembled an engine before, but I'm somewhat mechanical...I've done brakes and other minor things on our cars for years.
Guess I don't have anything to loose at this point...

 

[mechanic mark]

post your engine model & type numbers xxxxxx, xxxx, & i'll try to locate repair manual

 

[reynoldston]

So I took my no-starting push mower into the shop finally. Has a B& S 500E series engine
Shops diagnosis was poor compression, could be head gasket or valves, they said. Won't know more unless they do about $70 worth of tear down and check, then possibly another 40 to fix, depending on what exactly they find.
As the mower was only $150 brand new, I'm not going to put any more serious money into it, will pay them the $20 for the check out thus far, and pick up the mower.
My question is this...just how hard would it be for me to redo a head gasket and/or what I think he said were valve gaskets on this thing?
I've never disassembled an engine before, but I'm somewhat mechanical...I've done brakes and other minor things on our cars for years.
Guess I don't have anything to loose at this point...

Not that bad of a job to do, smart move.:thumbsup:

 

[sunliner]

post your engine model & type numbers xxxxxx, xxxx, & i'll try to locate repair manual

here's what I got...09P602-0023-F1 . thanks!

 

[bertsmobile1]

There is nothing tricky about doing a head gasket.
Only tool you will need is a small torque wrench as the head bolts go in @ 25 ft lbs by preference in 2 or 3 stages and most car wrenches start at 20.
I have a 4" for working on magneto & dynamos 5 inch. lbs - 50 inch.lbs
a 6" & 8" for light alloy 5ft.lbs - 100ft.lbs
Then the standard 10" you find at most auto stores for motorcycles 15 ft.lbs- 120ft.lbs
A 14 " for cars then the stuff for trucks & tractors that you need 2 people to lift.

The trouble is no domestic torque wrench is particularly accurate at the top & bottom 10% of its scale.

The numbers are not particularly important 22, 23, 24, 25 makes almost no difference but what IS important is they all must be the same tension.
If one bolt is a tiny bit looser than the bolts on either side you create a weak spot where the gasket can fail.

Hundreds of You Tube videos showing you how to do it. Recommended is Donny boy 87 and Taryl Fixes All
Apart from the head gasket you will need a manifold gasket and an exhaust gasket.
Take the carb off from the head so you don't need to touch the throttle linkages, just move the carb to the side & tie it off if need be.
Muffler bolts may break and if not will be hard to take out because the heat accelerates corrosion and they corrode in place

 

[sunliner]

There is nothing tricky about doing a head gasket.
Only tool you will need is a small torque wrench as the head bolts go in @ 25 ft lbs by preference in 2 or 3 stages and most car wrenches start at 20.
...
Muffler bolts may break and if not will be hard to take out because the heat accelerates corrosion and they corrode in place

Sounds reasonable. I have a big can of PBblaster that came in handy when working on my truck. Chevy likes to thread steel bolts into aluminum motor blocks....not fun to get out after being driven for 10 years. Guess it'll work on this.
Way I'm looking at it that it's a $140 mower... though I don't want to buy a new one, it won't be totally catastrophic if I screw this up. good learning experience if nothing else. thanks for the tips!
-Mike

 

[sunliner]

post your engine model & type numbers xxxxxx, xxxx, & i'll try to locate repair manual

got the mower back today. to clarify, pressure leaking into crankcase. possible head gasket, maybe worn/broken piston rings. overall plan still the same...gonna take this sucker apart and see what I can fix. thanks