I have a 16.5 murray it will turn over but has no compression and is getting fire took the spark plug out and it doesn't have any compression... can someone please tell me what's going on... I have never worked on one this is my first mower I bought and it was used dumb yes I know but please help!!

Could someone please tell me what's going on here

How are you measuring the compression?

How are you measuring the compression?

Just by hand I don't have any tools like that...

So your removed the spark plug and put your finger/thumb over the opening and when cranking you get nothing along the lines of compression, right?

Right no kind of force at all but I kept the spark plug in the coil and put it up to metal and it had fire... just not any kind of compression...

Take a flashlight and look into the spark plug hole while someone else turns over the engine. Do you see the piston topping out inside with each stroke?

Take a flashlight and look into the spark plug hole while someone else turns over the engine. Do you see the piston topping out inside with each stroke?

No it looks like it is stuck up if that's what I'm seeing its about an inch or so away from the hole inside...

I think you threw a rod. Use a wooden dowel rod or something similar and see if you can push that piston down toward the crank. If you can and the engine shaft doesn't move the rod is gone. Was it like this when you bought it or did it run?

i have a 16.5 murray it will turn over but has no compression and is getting fire took the spark plug out and it dosent have any compression...can someone please tell me whats going on...i have never worked on one this is my first mower i bought and it was used dumb yes i know but please help!!!!!!!!

It could have a bad pistion ring or a scored cylinder see if you can see any marks on the pistion or cylinder and let me know what you find out my email is [email protected]

No it wasn't like this... it ran great I used it about 20 or 30 hours all together and then it did this... I checked the oil before each use and now the oil is empty or its just on the end of the dip stick anyway.. ok so either way can it be fixed or would it be cheaper just to buy another mower...

I think you threw a rod. Use a wooden dowel rod or something similar and see if you can push that piston down toward the crank. If you can and the engine shaft doesn't move the rod is gone. Was it like this when you bought it or did it run?

No it wasn't like this... it ran great I used it about 20 or 30 hours all together and then it did this... I checked the oil before each use and now the oil is empty or its just on the end of the dip stick anyway.. ok so either way can it be fixed or would it be cheaper just to buy another mower...

Well we haven't figured out for sure what happened. Can you push the piston down? If so did the crank shaft turn? Does the piston move up and down when you try to start with the spark plug removed? How old and what condition is the tractor?

Well we haven't figured out for sure what happened. Can you push the piston down? If so did the crank shaft turn? Does the piston move up and down when you try to start with the spark plug removed? How old and what condition is the tractor?

Nothing moved when I tried puttin something in there to move it... no the piston doesn't go up and down its like its stuck right where its at... the tractor is in great shape its about 8 or 9 years old... well other then wats going on its in great shape...

And if you tried to start it that piston stays in sight, doesn't move. If so you might want to price a short blck. Brand New Engines - Briggs & Stratton Short Block Engines (http://www.brandnewengines.com/bsshortblocks.aspx)

I went and took the valve cover off and they are kind of loose... it still had a good amount of oil in it and it was all clean like new clean the oil was kind of dark but not bad.. but anyway thank you very much for your time I really appreciate you for taking the time out of your day to help...