Author	[Modern View]
bill mart 09-01-2012 16:58:28 69.204.65.189 Report to Moderator	Working on a 1992 Craftsman rider with a Briggs twin cylinder 18 hp verticle shaft engine. Seems to have a knock to it, maybe in the upper half. Are these engines known to go bad? The reason I ask is the deceased owner had an extra 18 hp engine laying in pieces behind the shed the mower was in. Bill [Reply]   [No Email]
Bill Hazelbakerxads 09-04-2012 06:19:34 50.73.114.130 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to bill mart, 09-01-2012 16:58:28   Replaced mine 2 times before we found out it was carbon build up on top of pistons. Went to straight 30 weight oil and no problem for several years now   [Reply]  [No Email]
d beatty 09-02-2012 21:49:30 24.12.128.253 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to bill mart, 09-01-2012 16:58:28   I have a Briggs 18 HP opposed two cylinder.If I let it set over winter it wants to knock for a while but comes out of it. If I start it ever several weeks it wont knock. I can now let it set over winter sinse I use Lucas oil treatment. If it sets for a long time oil drain away from top bearing.   [Reply]  [No Email]
wisbaker 09-02-2012 20:36:04 184.157.223.164 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to bill mart, 09-01-2012 16:58:28   Some of that newer B&S stuff says "use synthetic oil only" I hear if you don't you get valve problems.   [Reply]  [No Email]
jt 09-02-2012 20:48:24 166.137.88.35 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to wisbaker, 09-02-2012 20:36:04   I am a Briggs Master Tech and have not seen Briggs telling you to use synthetic oil. As for valve problem issye in newer OHV Briggs engines, if you use gas that gets a little old and stale, it will cause valve stems to get deposits on them, stick in guides, and push guides out of heads and bend push rods.   [Reply]  [No Email]
rrobert 09-02-2012 11:25:40 71.227.6.189 Report to Moderator	Pull sparkplugs in reply to bill mart, 09-01-2012 16:58:28   And check for compression. I had an 18 hp that the valves would stick when it got warm. I had a 16 Hp Vortec that ran but seemed flat like the governor was missing. It ended up being that one connecting rod was broken.   [Reply]  [No Email]
jt 09-02-2012 07:31:42 166.137.88.18 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to bill mart, 09-01-2012 16:58:28   The biggest "common" issue with these engines were valves. Seats falling out and guides getting loose. A knock can also have carbon buildup in head and piston hitting it. Easiest thing to do is pull heads and take a peek at top end of engine. You can check seats, guides and cylinder for wear or piston slap.   [Reply]  [No Email]
bill mart 09-02-2012 18:55:24 69.204.65.189 Report to Moderator	Re: 18 hp briggs in reply to jt, 09-02-2012 07:31:42   thanks to all,will probably pull the heads,will check compression before and after. Bill   [Reply]  [No Email]