Bent valve, is it worth it to fix..........

[jim72911t]

My lawn mower?

I've been struggling with my lawn mower for a couple of weeks now. Cleaned the carb, checked for spark, even checked to make sure the flywheel didn't break the locater key and spin on the shaft. All checked out, but still, no start. Tonight I pulled the valve cover off and found a dropped exhaust valve. It won't pull out of the guide, so I'm assuming it's bent.

Did a search, and the parts are going to cost ~$30 or so. After that, I figure it'll only cost me my time, and my time is free when I'm fixing something for myself, to paraphrase Peter Egan.

Plus, I kind of enjoy this stuff.

Is anyone else here cheap enough to do a top end rebuild on a lawn mower that was bought used at a yard sale for less than $75?

(BTW, an equivalent mower (6.5HP, RWD, mulch/bag/side discharge) would probably cost $300-400.)


Maybe I should just hire a gardener.

Jim

[ruf-porsche]

Hire a gardener and spend the free time working on the PORSCHE

[Zero10]

Fix it. Time for a performance cam. If it's not OHC then make it OHC.
Perhaps some forced induction while you're at it. Heck, if something breaks then take the chance to upgrade! Sodium filled valve, a small turbocharger.....
You would have the coolest lawnmower on the block.

On a related topic, I'm just as cheap. Have you ever bought a matching set of broken end tables just to cannibalize one to feed the other?....

[allaircooled]

I would pull the valve out, take a hammer to it until its straight. Then reinstall and see if she fires up. Cost $0. Its just a lawn mower. Wouldn't try this on the 911 though.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Try it. If it works, focus on the important things - like forced induction turbocharging.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I've fixed Briggs motors with a hammer. Just try to get the valve as straight as possible. If it doesnt work, who cares?

[jim72911t]

Yup, I'm an idiot with no life. Pulled the head off tonight (~30 minutes, two beers), and it looks like the valve isn't bent, just really gummed up with crap. The weak little valve spring simply didn't have enough force to pull the valve back up.

Tomorrow I'll ream out the guide, polish both valves, and I should be good to go.

Since I'm not a fan of forced induction, I think I'll limit mods to an early S cam, a bump in compression, and maybe an M&K muffler, if he'll make me one. I'll probably skip the cad plating of bolts and powder coating of engine tin, at least this time.

I wonder what it would take to put MFI on this thing.

Jim

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I once ported out the head on a 5HP Briggs in a homebuilt go-cart cause I was bored. I have no life as well

[Zero10]

MFI? It's got more than one cylinder?

[mikester]

Originally posted by allaircooled
I would pull the valve out, take a hammer to it until its straight. Then reinstall and see if she fires up. Cost $0. Its just a lawn mower. Wouldn't try this on the 911 though.

+1

Use alchohol instead of gas.

[slakjaw]

Originally posted by Jared Fenton
I once ported out the head on a 5HP Briggs in a homebuilt go-cart cause I was bored. I have no life as well

Did it make a differance? Did it still run?

[JeffO]

while your in there: rejet the carb
lighten the blade for more rpms
port and polish

ever see Tim the toolman's lawnmower? it was a serious yard tool.

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by jim72911t


Since I'm not a fan of forced induction

Jim

BAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[charleskieffner]

plant a dezert xeriscape, never water it, never mow it, never touch it...........and watch it grow.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by ruf-porsche
Hire a gardener and spend the free time working on the PORSCHE

No self respecting man lets another man cut his grass! Thats like letting another guy do your wife!!

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by slakjaw
Did it make a differance? Did it still run?

Nothing I could feel...