wisconsin tra12d engine

So I drove my Bolens mower in the shop to change belts, when I finished the engine will not start. Turns over but no go. There is spark gas compression but no go. It is blowing air out of the breather tube when turning over, I have checked the valves all seems well checked head gasket seems fine it sucks air for the carb but does not seem to get gas to run, it won't even start on either. So does it seem like it is out of time? Thanks

Since you say it was just running, Or at least that is what I think you are saying, my money would be on a valve not sealing. You probably need to remove the carbon from the head, lap the valves and set the valve clearance. While the head is off you can check the valve timing and see if the timing IS off.

t.r.k.
thanks for the response. How do I set the valves? I have cleaned the carbon of the head and cleaned the valves. I am not sure how to tell the timing by looking at the valves. I was also thinking about is there any gears that could have jumped and threw it out of time? And yes it was just running when I drove it in the shop.

If a valve is hanging open. Spraying either in it should result with a "popping" sound. If the pop comes out the breather.the intake valve is at fault. If the pop comes out the muffler. The exhaust valve is the problem.

If you hear a hissing sound. Then the valve is too tight.

Very unlikely timing gears jumped teeth. Not impossible, but not likely. They're steel gears on a TRA-12D, not plastic like those found in some other engines. If they do anything, they'll strip teeth off, and the cam will cease turning, or turn erratically. But, even for this to happen, something would have had to happen internally to cause it, and you'd likely have heard it.

I have one of these engines on a Bolens 1254 in the garage.

If you aren't even getting a pop on ether, and it was running before, I'd change the sparkplug first. Just because it sparks, doesn't mean it fires under compression. Cheap and easy thing to try. Also look carefully around all the areas you touched while changing those belts. Check for Loose plugs or broken wires, particularly the ones on the coil, and the ones to the ignition module. make sure its plugged in all the way. Your timing is controlled in that module and isn't adjustable. check the fuel line from tank to carburetor. Pinched? Kinked?

***DO NOT apply 12 volts to any part of the ignition system. That module won't like it.

Some air blowing out the crankcase breather tube is normal. There should not be air blowing back through the carburetor however. That would be an intake valve problem.

Keep in mind it ran before you changed the belts. What could have possibly been affected while changing belts? Look carefully. No way could you jump timing gear teeth just by changing belts. Check the fuel line. maybe you pinched it while changing those belts, or turned the fuel shutoff. I know those belts are in a tight location. On my 1254, the drive belts are a pain to change. Partial removal of the drive shaft and clutch is required. PTO belts aren't as bad, but its still tight working in there.

tractor guy,
I think you nailed it there was a popping sound coming out of the air cleaner, I was so tired of looking at it that I could not explain all that was going on last night. But today I remember that popping sound. I will look at it in a better light today,

t1
You are right those belts are a pain to change and I thought the same and looked all over it to see if I had bumped anything and could not find anything wrong, I was leaning towards the valve,but was so frustrated by that time that I could not see straight. Maybe better luck today Thanks