briggs motor help...

[sen2two]

ok, so as my first post let me just say i been wanting to built a kart for a while, but the cars had the cash flow to them. so now i have a motor and some metal to build my frame, off i go!

so what i have is a 17HP OHV briggs & stratton from a craftsman lawnmower.

Model: 311707
Type: 0132-E1
Code: 980923ZE

someone gave it to me becuase they couldnt get it to run. i pulled the head and noticed one of the pushrods were slightly bent. im new to small motors, so does this have a cam in the block? would the bent push rod have destroyed the cam at all? also, there was A LOT of gunk on top of the piston. im thinking this is another reason they couldnt get it to run.

what i wnat to know is, where can get replacement parts like a push rod or a cam. and are there any upgrades i can do to this motor? also, while trying to fix it, the guy qaccidently caught the carb on fire. should i replace with a better one, or just clean it up and keep it...?

anyone here use this motor or have experience with it. any tips or tricks related to my motor would greatly help. thanks!!!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

That motor will be hard to use on a cart, vertical engines are a pain.

 

[sen2two]

well, right now its still on the mower. maybe i'll just fix it and keep it as a mower. but i still need to know where to get replacement parts for it...

any ideas?

what motor should i look for? i want a minimum of 13hp. maybe find a 10hp motor and upgrade it?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

those briggs 11-18 horse mowers are a dime a dozen, you could find a whole mower with a engine that runs for under 50, just the other day i saw 2 free 12hp agway mowers on craigslist. I've personally gotten a free 8hp rear engine rider that had a sheared flywheel key, a free running 11hp craftsman with a bad mower deck, a free 8hp john dear rear engine rider that burnt oil, and a free murry 18hp v twin that my dad got, and he is two dumb to clean the carb and get it going.

 

[sen2two]

those briggs 11-18 horse mowers are a dime a dozen, you could find a whole mower with a engine that runs for under 50, just the other day i saw 2 free 12hp agway mowers on craigslist. I've personally gotten a free 8hp rear engine rider that had a sheared flywheel key, a free running 11hp craftsman with a bad mower deck, a free 8hp john dear rear engine rider that burnt oil, and a free murry 18hp v twin that my dad got, and he is two dumb to clean the carb and get it going.

****... thats a lot of free motors. but that dosnt really happen here in orlando. most people around here dont have ride on mowers. or even push mowers. most people have a lawn service cut the grass. so getting a good motor is a lot harder to come by. when i search craigslist. most people want 100 or more for a motor that needs work. so i want to try and use the one have...

know where to get parts? i mainly just need a pushrod and maybe a cam if the bent pushrod scared it.

how do i check to see if this motor is in timing?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

First go here( http://www.briggsandstratton.com/maint_repair/manual_and_more/ ) and type in your model number, then a parts diagram should show up. Get the item number of the pushrod, then go here ( http://www.briggsandstratton.com/maint_repair/repair_parts/ ) and type it in, should come up with the part you need. It may be cheaper somewhere else but this is a reliable source.

 

[Affair_driven]

602003 intake push rod
692011 exhaust push rod
790340 cam shaft (multiple associated parts included)

how do i check to see if this motor is in timing?

Timing can't change unless previously disassembled and re-assembled improperly. Dot on camshaft gear and dot on crank shaft gear should line up.
http://www.m-and-d.com/ works for me for parts. http://www.Partsandservice.com is also good.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

The 17 hp motors have head gasket issues till briggs updated the gasket, might have something to do with this. They would blow between the pushrod cavity and the jug.

 

[sen2two]

thanks for the tips everyone...

and yes, i pulled the head. i did have a small leak.

i should not have to do anything special when putting the head and push rods back on. since it should still be in timing right?

 

[sen2two]

i searched the part #'s on those websites. i didnt see the push rods for sale at all???

 

[Affair_driven]

My bad, intake push rod number should be 692003 and is available at http://www.m-and-d.com/BS-692003.html.
Other numbers are correct.
692011 exhaust push rod http://www.m-and-d.com/BS-692011.html
790340 cam shaft http://www.m-and-d.com/BS-790340.html

 

[sen2two]

thanks!!!

 

[sen2two]

also... how can i tell the difference between the in. and ex. push rod. they looked the same to me???

 

[Affair_driven]

Off hand, I don't know. There must be a difference given that they have different part numbers. Don't mix them. Sometimes exhaust spring is heavier. May need a heavier rod? Just a guess.

 

[sen2two]

i ordered the in. ex. push rods and a head gasket. the cam should be fine. i dont really know what caused the push rod to bend. but hopefully this fixs it.

and only one was bent. but im replacing them both anyways...