So, today I charge the battery and spin my late 90s 14hp B&S Vanguard on my woods mower. Took the air cleaner off and used ether to get it running. Had to play with the throttle a bit but kept it running. Ran for a couple of minutes and I began to put the cleaner back on. Pop! Not too loud but a surprise. Engine immediately quit. Won't restart. I'd forgotten to check the oil, so I did. Eek, about a quart low. I'm still getting things into the garage from the move so I don't have my compression checker, but it spins fine on the starter. FWIW, it was more of a pop than a bang and nothing flew out of the engine. Ideas?????
Did you check the plug(s)?
A quart low on a small Briggs? How much does it hold total?
Got spark? Got compression? Got gas? Got timing? You're missing one of those things.
I'd say carb but I'm assuming you tried to restart with ether.
If not, try.
Then, as stated by the good Dr., start troubleshooting and start with spark at the right time and fuel.
I will do my best to check things but Instill have to get to my tools
I also learned that vanguards don't like ether. Bad for the pistons.
Checked the pushrods I found that one of the rockers was really loose. How much valve clearance should there be on a lawn mower engine?!?
If they are way out, why would that happen suddenly? Push rods look fine.
Wouldn't that prevent it from spinning over?
No, the crank can still turn. OHV might interfere though
I haven't dived in any further yet but am a bit worried as she turns very easily (no compression?) She must have been consuming oil more than I noticed. FWIW, she was about half full on oil. I can't find any rebuild kits but a new engine is 1500 or so. NOt sure she is worth spending 1500 on but, a new mower of her caliber 1s 6000 or more (this is a commercial grade zero turn).
Would you be able to mount up one of the larger predator engines from HF on there? They're fairly cheap and from what people say, almost as good as (and in some ways / cases, better than) the Hondas they're mostly clones of. Looks like $360 for the 420cc 13hp version or $730 for the 670cc v-twin 22hp one 
Was thinking about that. I'm not sure but would love 22hp on my Woods
cdowd
Dork
4/25/18 11:51 a.m.
Did it get hot? I had a Briggs get hot and the valve seat came out holding the valve up. I was able to put some JB weld on and tap it back in. It worked till I sold it (Cheap and disclosed the issue). Might be worth investigating. would explain the loose push rod as well.
That coincides with the excess valve clearance.
Time to pull the head to get a better look.
Vanguards do not like running low on oil. Did you do the old thumb over the plug hole compression test?
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
Still working on getting to my tools. Don't have a way to pull the plugs yet. What gets damaged usually?
cdowd said:
Did it get hot? I had a Briggs get hot and the valve seat came out holding the valve up. I was able to put some JB weld on and tap it back in. It worked till I sold it (Cheap and disclosed the issue). Might be worth investigating. would explain the loose push rod as well.
My thought too. There are several YouTube videos on valve adjustment as well as valve seat repair. Intek here:
He stakes it.
cdowd
Dork
4/25/18 5:08 p.m.
In reply to fasted58 :
I like that better than the jb weld I used.
In reply to cdowd :
One guy found a mouse nest under the engine cover that blocked airflow over the cooling fins. Overheated the head and the valve seat came out. Weird, but it happens.
markwemple said:
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
Still working on getting to my tools. Don't have a way to pull the plugs yet. What gets damaged usually?
I think either the valve seat thing, or it throws a rod.
Aspen
Reader
4/26/18 3:46 p.m.
fasted58 said:
In reply to cdowd :
One guy found a mouse nest under the engine cover that blocked airflow over the cooling fins. Overheated the head and the valve seat came out. Weird, but it happens.
EXACT same thing happened to my snowblower, at least the mouse nest part. The motor locked up don't know what broke, but I found mouse stuffing all around the pull cord, flywheel and alternator.
