briggs maintenance FYI

[stienut13]

Good evening all,
I have a BRIGGS 28R707-1120-E1 mounted on a Murray 42" rider. It will be 11 years old in June and so far, so good. Though a few years ago I had to rebuild the carb to stop a nasty sump flooding issue, and I did install a shut-off. Thanks to all on the old forum for the help then.

Maybe I can pay-it-forward...

Went out Saturday to change oil, check plug, air filter, rpm's etc, clean it up for spring. It's south Fla, after all. Started by spraying some simple green on the engine to clean it up. Noticed some grass clipping behind the shroud on the right side. Pulled some out, and there was more, and more and more. Then I pulled the top shroud, front shroud and moved the side shroud out of the way. The grass clippings were packed in so tight around the right side of the cylinder I couldn't believe it! Actually had to get screw drivers, coat hanger wire and the hose to get it all out. All was clean under the flywheel
Got it all degreased and cleaned, oil changed too. Guess I dodged a bullet here.
I hope this helps someone, sometimes the simplest, easiest, most obvious stuff (in retrospect) is overlooked.
Thanks to all for all the knowledge, insight and laughs.

Jim

[frankp]

Here in New Hampshare, It's very common to find mice nest under shoud. Boy can they do damage. Eat the coil wire, metal engine cooling fins, and urainate into the carb.

[HondaG100]

If everyone did normal maintenance like you just did most small engine shops would be new sales only.

[stienut13]

Hi Honda,

Thanks for the kind words.

While I do regular maintenance, I never looked that closely at the engine tins. This build-up was very, very thick and tightly packed between the cylinder and shroud.
Guess it's like the contractor with the big house at the end of the street, looks good on the outside, falling apart on the inside. Sometimes you are just so used to seeing something,
you miss a small clue.

I did, however, find a dead rat and nest under the top shroud of a customers Swisher 8 mos. ago, along with a urine ruined carb and pee soaked air filter. This thing was sitting in a pole barn in western St. Lucie county for a couple of years.

Anyway, check your stuff like it's someone else's stuff. You are only paying yourself!!!!!!

Thanks again,

Jim

[dunoon2]

I'm in the trade, you can't imagine what I find under air shrouds.

[Mek-a-nik]

Had a guy call me back in November, said his John Deere tractor just "clicked". I guess so, the mice used a small rug he had in his shed. The "strings" of the rug, for lack of the correct word, were wrapped around the bendix.
I guess they didn't want him starting that thing and taking out their family slasher style.

[3v0]

Mice can find their way into the combustion chamber through an open valve. We had it happen to a six cylinder combine engine. So I expect it could happen to larger single and two cylinder engines. It seem the lesson here to to ensure there is no path in through the intake or exhaust.