Old Briggs head gasket swap - cast or aluminum?

Fish said:
Or is it 99% aluminum?




Actually, I wouldn't get too worked up over the torques, this isn't the space shuttle...... About the only thing I really torque is rod bolts, most of the guys here probably do about that too.
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I will agree on this with this on most mowers to a point but with some of the newer gaskets torques have become very important. I run into this more on cars, trucks and motor cycles.
 
Okay folks. Don't get in a tizzie. This is just a hobby project and I have time to learn whether the block is cast iron or aluminum for historical reason. It is not like I have to get the mower running tomorrow.

The reason I was asking is that I have done a lot of hobby research. Cast iron head bolts get oiled. Aluminum head bolts get lubed with graphite grease. Bolt metals call for the own torque values which are different.

I simply thought someone could confirm my cast iron/aluminum question with the model/type/date data provided. I did the magnet test myself.

Thank all of you for your responses.
 
ricklea1953 said:
Okay folks. Don't get in a tizzie. This is just a hobby project and I have time to learn whether the block is cast iron or aluminum for historical reason. It is not like I have to get the mower running tomorrow.

The reason I was asking is that I have done a lot of hobby research. Cast iron head bolts get oiled. Aluminum head bolts get lubed with graphite grease. Bolt metals call for the own torque values which are different.

I simply thought someone could confirm my cast iron/aluminum question with the model/type/date data provided. I did the magnet test myself.

Thank all of you for your responses.
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I will look in my book at the shop tomorrow and see if I can find your model and see if I have the specs that u are looking for ..I use 10-w30 oil on the bolts I have used that graphite grease and I didn't like it I found it messy but that's your call there .....I will let u know what I find
 
I don't know where you got your info on lubricating head bolts, but I never apply any lubricant to head bolts before installing. Unless the engine manufacturers have changed something that I missed, all small engines I have worked on recommend dry torqueing head bolts in a two step process. Please post where you got this info on wet torqueing, time for me to learn something new.
 
There is a thread on here that talks about this. If you put oil on the bolt your not going to get the proper torque.
I have never heard of any engine manufacturer recommend putting oil on threads. I all so would like to see where you got this info from.
 
I got the information from a library book called HOW TO REPAIR A BRIGGS AND STATTON ENGINE by Pete Dempsey. The same thing is said in the CLYMER BRIGGS AND STRATTON L-HEAD REPAIR MANUAL. I guess I should forget about doing reading research and just guess or wing it.

Take no offense, please, but this is what I find wrong with forums. You get lots of input but have to weed thru it and figure out who knows what they are talking about.
Some people wing it and call that experience. Others work in the industry and have professional knowledge.

Just my two cents worth.

Thanks for your input - all of you.
 
ricklea1953 said:
I got the information from a library book called HOW TO REPAIR A BRIGGS AND STATTON ENGINE by Pete Dempsey. The same thing is said in the CLYMER BRIGGS AND STRATTON L-HEAD REPAIR MANUAL. I guess I should forget about doing reading research and just guess or wing it.

Take no offense, please, but this is what I find wrong with forums. You get lots of input but have to weed thru it and figure out who knows what they are talking about.
Some people wing it and call that experience. Others work in the industry and have professional knowledge.

Just my two cents worth.

Thanks for your input - all of you.
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its in the Haynes book also ...I looked for your torque specs and haven't found them as of yet ...I have to many books but when i find it i will Post it here for u
 
Nothing wrong with working out of a service manual. I think your original question was what was the block and head made of and we determined it was aluminum with the magnet test. I have install many heads and I will still say this. The older mower engines really aren't as touchy as to how you install head gaskets. What I have done in the pass was just reinstall the old gasket. When I do this I give the gasket a coat of shellac. Also another thing I do now is instead of oil I use the blue lock tite on the head bolts. This seals them and acts as a lubricant. Most important is clean everything. Yes you are going to find no one works the same and yes you need to sort out the BS. Is this the same engine you are working on the ignition system and afraid to pull the flywheel? I only am going to tell you how I do something but do it your own way seeing you are the one doing it. And also by the way if the job go's bad I haven't got any money invested but giving you my free advice. I am a retired mechanic and have put many engines together and have found in the pass if I can't find new gaskets for some of the older engines anymore so I will make my own gaskets. I have also found that I am not the best person with words when it come to writing out these repairs so listen to someone that can explain this better then I can.
 
reynoldston said:
Nothing wrong with working out of a service manual. I think your original question was what was the block and head made of and we determined it was aluminum with the magnet test. I have install many heads and I will still say this. The older mower engines really aren't as touchy as to how you install head gaskets. What I have done in the pass was just reinstall the old gasket. When I do this I give the gasket a coat of shellac. Also another thing I do now is instead of oil I use the blue lock tite on the head bolts. This seals them and acts as a lubricant. Most important is clean everything. Yes you are going to find no one works the same and yes you need to sort out the BS. Is this the same engine you are working on the ignition system and afraid to pull the flywheel? I only am going to tell you how I do something but do it your own way seeing you are the one doing it. And also by the way if the job go's bad I haven't got any money invested but giving you my free advice. I am a retired mechanic and have put many engines together and have found in the pass if I can't find new gaskets for some of the older engines anymore so I will make my own gaskets. I have also found that I am not the best person with words when it come to writing out these repairs so listen to someone that can explain this better then I can.
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yes I have used shellac also and made my own gaskets as for loc-tite I have never used it on head bolts
 
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