I'm hoping someone here can help me out. I just bought an old snapper push mower a couple weeks ago (think its a 78) and was told by the guy I bought it from he had changed the oil, cleaned and oiled the air filter, new plug, and replaced the drive belt. Well, the plug and belt do look new, but the air filter wasn't touched, and the oil looked awfully thin, like water. I took care of the air filter, but the oil was real metallic looking when I drained it, and super thin, even when cold. the engine runs great, doesn't make any unusual noises, and has a little end play in the crank, but no back in forth in the bearings. I got to thinking though, all the pictures I've seen of these with the 3.5hp briggs, show them with a dipstick tube, but mine doesn't have one, just the white plastic plug that threads into the fill hole in the bottom of the case that has the two little nubs on it you can stick a screw driver in to turn it off. I've only been able to find one other snapper like mine for sale on craigslist that had the same plug as mine and not a dipstick. I have the oil filled to the the threads for the plug, is this high enough, or is this thing supposed to have a dipstick tube and dipstick and have more oil in it? I can't use it until I get this straightened out. The snapper model # is V212P and serial # is 81020366. I'm not to sure on whether this is the original engine, or if the engine cover is different, as the sticker is all faded, but i swear I can make out 4h.p. on it, but the air filter when I look it up is said to be for a 3.0-3.5hp engine, and I don't think they used a 4h.p. on these until in the 80's sometime. The numbers off the engine cover are as follows- model # 92908, type # 1826 01, and Code # 77110208. Can anyone help me out? Don't wanna blow this thing up cause I didn't have enough oil in it.
Need help!
- Thread starter afoulk
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combatcarl
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- Jul 21, 2012
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Oil filled to the threads is good. I have nearly the same engine on a recent pick, and it does have a dipstick. I think dipsticks became common around 80, most older ones just have a plug. I'd dump and replace the oil, then top off with a little marvel mystery oil. Just run a straight 30 weight conventional oil, or a 10/40. The old B&S really don't care what it is, as long as its oil.
I did change it, have G OIL sae30 in it right now. I think I'm going to mow the yard, maybe a couple times, then change it again to try and get all the metallic looking stuff out of it. I figured a dipstick probably would pass down into those threads anyways and the oil level wouldn't be any higher with it anyways, but wanted to be sure.
Snapped a pic of the fill plug this evening. Judging by the whitness mark on the engine cover and the missing bolt, I'd say it used to have a dipstick and tube assembly. I also noticed there is no cover over the drive wheel for the self propelled unit. Anyways, I looked at the bottle of oil I used, and it looked like I only had about 15-16oz. of oil in it. It took some patience, but I got another 4 or 5oz. in it. I think I'll try to find a factory diptstick tube assembly, as the plug in it now doesn't look like a factory briggs part ( the ones ive seen usually have round nubs on them) and there is no oring, nor does it look like there is a relief for one.