Briggs 20HP twin owie
#1
Briggs 20HP twin owie
Spent just about a week getting the pulley off of this thing. Kinda had it kicked to the curb cuz I was afraid of finding out what all had let go.
Customer called me a month after I serviced it told me her 10 yr old grandson was helping out the neighbor and somehow the battery got upset and melted the positive terminal in half.
Said it had a problem starting when hot, as in nothing from the key. Thought of a few things until I got it to the shop on the trailer, charged the used battery they had stuck in it, and tried to start it still tied in the trailer and, nothing Having one similar to this myself for 10yrs, I grabbed the PTO lever and it kicked right over and started. DOH! (MTD with manual PTO/height gauge) So I ran a bead on the height gauge, put a new battery in it and figured it was good to go back, never even took it off the trailer.
Well she was gone for a week and I had other deliveries and pickups to make so I fired it up to back it off the trailer and store it until she returned. Fired right up, backed it off and it started such a clatter, I thought it was Christmas eve...
Shut it down pushed it up in the shop check all I can think of....dummy me tried the key and fired right up for about two revs...boom....
Customer called me a month after I serviced it told me her 10 yr old grandson was helping out the neighbor and somehow the battery got upset and melted the positive terminal in half.
Said it had a problem starting when hot, as in nothing from the key. Thought of a few things until I got it to the shop on the trailer, charged the used battery they had stuck in it, and tried to start it still tied in the trailer and, nothing Having one similar to this myself for 10yrs, I grabbed the PTO lever and it kicked right over and started. DOH! (MTD with manual PTO/height gauge) So I ran a bead on the height gauge, put a new battery in it and figured it was good to go back, never even took it off the trailer.
Well she was gone for a week and I had other deliveries and pickups to make so I fired it up to back it off the trailer and store it until she returned. Fired right up, backed it off and it started such a clatter, I thought it was Christmas eve...
Shut it down pushed it up in the shop check all I can think of....dummy me tried the key and fired right up for about two revs...boom....
#6
Oil level was not a problem. Was full when I got it to service, after I serviced it and even this time when I brought it back, and when I got it up in the shop...and when it let go.
Now what happened to the oil level during what ever caused the battery to short out on the seat...will likely remain unknown. Least until that 10 yr old grows out of seat warming age any way.
I will tear it on down and see what marks and scars will clean up or if there is enough damage that it just isn't cost effective to fix.
Now what happened to the oil level during what ever caused the battery to short out on the seat...will likely remain unknown. Least until that 10 yr old grows out of seat warming age any way.
I will tear it on down and see what marks and scars will clean up or if there is enough damage that it just isn't cost effective to fix.
#7
Yeah...not good. It was lack of oil at some point in time that caused that. It could have been that the rod wasn't getting oiled for some reason even if it was full of oil, but for that kind of transfer of metal on the crank, it wasn't getting lubed. The top one is always the first to go (farther from the oil in the sump).
If this were mine, I think it would get a used engine stuck on it. You'll need to get the metal off the crankshaft and then you may find that the crank is damaged anyway. You'll need at least one rod, most likely 2. It may need rings, you can check the end gaps and see. It will need gaskets and the side cover plate (you did mention it was cracked in the pm, right?), and a camshaft (you said it was damaged in a pm too). Looks like a little weight for the scrap pile to me. If you want to try to fix it, it can probably be done if the block is good still. If the camshaft took a lick, check the cam bosses in the block and sump cover to make sure they don't have a tiny crack in them, as often happens when the cam gets hit.
What do you think you want to do?
If this were mine, I think it would get a used engine stuck on it. You'll need to get the metal off the crankshaft and then you may find that the crank is damaged anyway. You'll need at least one rod, most likely 2. It may need rings, you can check the end gaps and see. It will need gaskets and the side cover plate (you did mention it was cracked in the pm, right?), and a camshaft (you said it was damaged in a pm too). Looks like a little weight for the scrap pile to me. If you want to try to fix it, it can probably be done if the block is good still. If the camshaft took a lick, check the cam bosses in the block and sump cover to make sure they don't have a tiny crack in them, as often happens when the cam gets hit.
What do you think you want to do?
#8
Thx cheese got the pm and ya the cover plate is gone also. I pulled the head on the blown cylinder and one head bolt closest the exhaust valve gauled and broke. Piston skirt is damaged and a small chunk out of the bottom of the cylinder wall. What I thought I saw on the cam may have just been shrapnel but I still think it took a shot too.
That crank journal looks pretty bad too.
I was going to check with another shop I work with sometimes and see what he had for used engines.
I have a 14hp single vangaurd but I don't know that that is enough for this mower especially with 46" deck and knowing the pilot I acquired a Craftsman couple years ago with 46" deck and blown 15HP Kohler on it, just doesn't seem like enough motor to me. Does a great job with the 18hp twin briggs I put on tho. I think it might need electric clutch now tho so I could (reluctantly) use it.
Might also look for a used mower or see how her finances could be for a newer model with safety features that might help keep the kid safe and mower intact.
Any rate it won't be a quick fix unless I find something used available so I get to go mow for her today and talk it over with her.
Preciate the help...will let ya know...
That crank journal looks pretty bad too.
I was going to check with another shop I work with sometimes and see what he had for used engines.
I have a 14hp single vangaurd but I don't know that that is enough for this mower especially with 46" deck and knowing the pilot I acquired a Craftsman couple years ago with 46" deck and blown 15HP Kohler on it, just doesn't seem like enough motor to me. Does a great job with the 18hp twin briggs I put on tho. I think it might need electric clutch now tho so I could (reluctantly) use it.
Might also look for a used mower or see how her finances could be for a newer model with safety features that might help keep the kid safe and mower intact.
Any rate it won't be a quick fix unless I find something used available so I get to go mow for her today and talk it over with her.
Preciate the help...will let ya know...
#9
cheese,
This is at least the second, if not third 20HP I have seen with the broken cover plate. I have a 18 and 18.5 that I have abused for many years. Is this as common on the smaller horsed ones or is it maybe briggs just stroked these one step too far
This is at least the second, if not third 20HP I have seen with the broken cover plate. I have a 18 and 18.5 that I have abused for many years. Is this as common on the smaller horsed ones or is it maybe briggs just stroked these one step too far
#10
Well for the same reason I took flyin lessons when I got laid off in 01' was to hopefully pump up my resume to get into general aviation and make use of my A&P and be able to drive what I fixed, seems I could pay a bit more attention to terrain and effects of customers lawn mowers.
Took some serious high handed Bronco riding moves to keep the hydro hooked up mowing her yard. She has about 1.5 acres of the 5 acre plot she mows and the front is tiered, graded only, no retaining walls and looses about 30' elevation in less than 100' width. 3 levels in all.
Talked (not much talking ) her into looking for a used mower or at least a used engine with pressurized oil system.
Took some serious high handed Bronco riding moves to keep the hydro hooked up mowing her yard. She has about 1.5 acres of the 5 acre plot she mows and the front is tiered, graded only, no retaining walls and looses about 30' elevation in less than 100' width. 3 levels in all.
Talked (not much talking ) her into looking for a used mower or at least a used engine with pressurized oil system.
#11
That 15 horse kohler will run the 46" deck. The John Deere GT235 came with the 15hp kohler and a 48" deck and the kohler runs it strong.
#12
I never seen the kohler running, I was just basing it on a 15.5 briggs I have on another craftsman with 42" inch deck. Makes a nice lil tractor and a decent grooming mower but doesn't like to handle anything heavy without lots of patience.