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Hello,

I am new to this forum but hope that all the knowledgeable folks here can help me with an issue.

I recently acquired a snapper - 259707-0126-01 riding mower. It's old and needs some work but I am up for the task. When trying to crank the engine I notice the starter engages the flywheel and spins it, but the flywheel rotates about 3/4 turn and then due to compression gets really hard to turn. This prevents the engine from starting. If I help the starter (manually pushing the flywheel where it gets stuck), the engine fires up.
I have sprayed liquid wrench around the flywheel and in the spark plug hole and that has helped with the spinning since at first, I was barely able to spin the flywheel at all by hand. I have changed the oil also.

My question are the following: Is it normal for the flywheel to be tight on the 1/4 turn? How do I make this move freely?
Also, I don't seem to have overhead valves that could be adjusted.

Thanks,
Jay

As your engine does not have a decompressor it would be hard to turn over by hand on the flywheel.

I would check the battery cables. Make sure all your positive connections from battery to start solenoid and then to starter motor are good. Also make sure you have a decent earth.

A good way to test this is to use a good battery and crank the engine with some boosting cables directly on the the engine block (negative) and direct to the starter (positive). If the engine spins over freely with this test then you have a poor connection somewhere.

If you have the same problem I would suggest checking the valve clearances. With your side valve engine this can be done by removing the breather behind the carburetor.

Download the manual for further instructions:
http://www.powerproducts.co.za/technical/briggs_270962.pdf

LawnmowerJustin said:

As your engine does not have a decompressor it would be hard to turn over by hand on the flywheel.

I would check the battery cables. Make sure all your positive connections from battery to start solenoid and then to starter motor are good. Also make sure you have a decent earth.

A good way to test this is to use a good battery and crank the engine with some boosting cables directly on the the engine block (negative) and direct to the starter (positive). If the engine spins over freely with this test then you have a poor connection somewhere.

If you have the same problem I would suggest checking the valve clearances. With your side valve engine this can be done by removing the breather behind the carburetor.

Download the manual for further instructions:
http://www.powerproducts.co.za/technical/briggs_270962.pdf

Click to expand...

Thank You Justin for your response. I did use my car battery connected directly to the starter and negative to the negative terminal, but it still had issue turning. I will certainly check the clearance behind the carburetor. Does the manual below show that anywhere?

Jay

jay235 said:

Thank You Justin for your response. I did use my car battery connected directly to the starter and negative to the negative terminal, but it still had issue turning. I will certainly check the clearance behind the carburetor. Does the manual below show that anywhere?

Jay

Click to expand...

Check section 6 page 5 (page 175 of the PDF) for instruction on checking and setting valve clearances.

Check table 7 on page 13 of section 6 to get your clearances. This should be Inlet .005-.007 and Exhaust .007-.009.

Hope that helps.

Sounds like you have a real oldie. What I would check, I would suggest removing the head so you can see the piston/cylinder and valve tops.

I am guessing that you will see big chunks of carbon caked in the head, and maybe a bit of oil.... Take a wire brush, brush off all of the carbon
you can get to, especially the layer down in the combustion chamber of the head, try not to get the carbon up in the cylinder. The older
head gaskets usually come off in one piece, so just re-use it for now, put back together.

If you did have a bunch of carbon up there, it should now turn over much easier. Also, get a new air filter.