21 hp briggs. Something happened to it.

I have a Troy Built lawn & garden tractor with a twin cyl Briggs & Stratton engine. Was using it today when all at once the motor changed sounds like it was under a heavy load, laboring hard but the load was not any different. Checked the mower deck and all turned free and not in a bind. No rough bearings. Kick the deck out and they all keep spinning for a few seconds like always. It's a 2005 model with 225 hrs on it. Oil is on full mark and it did not smoke. Checked the air filter and it is clean. It did seem like a little loss of power. Checked fuel filter also , its good. Any ideas what happened and what I need to look at or do to it? Appreciate for any information.
 

Lost spark on one cylinder?
Lost compression due to push rod or valve issue on one cylinder?
 
Sounds similar to my neighbor's. Shortly there after it set up tight, rod seized to the crank. Seems than the cheaper engines use cheap metals and when the oil gets low or past its service life they heat up and weld them self together. Pull the plugs and turn over by hand to see if it turns free or drags.
 
Probably either lost a push rod or rod failure. Briggs low dollar engines, and Troy bilt are low dollar, just aren't built like Dads Briggs that ran for 35 years without issue.
 
Just went thru this on my zero turn.. Seems a muffler leak caused the heads to heat up, and a valve stuck just enough to bend a pushrod.. Pop off your valve covers and check the adjustment...Also look for gasket leaks while you are checking things out..

My engine was toast as it needed two cylinder heads and piston/rings so I bought one online for $800 with a muffler, and am back to mowing. Equipatron has decent prices and OK service.
 
OHV engine? If it is probably stuck a valve, bent a push rod, stuck valves are a thing caused by lack of maintenance, using wrong oil, using fual that is low octane and getting old, bascially the valve is getting gummed up ant sticking in guide.
 

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