I have a craftsman 18.5 intek plus model 31p777/ type 0348e1/code 010406ze. It had a bent rod when i got it and found the valve was stuck solid. I reused the valves and ground and seated them and set intake at .004 and exhaust at .009, i also replaced the key at flywheel.it starts but has low power and muffler starts to turn red hot. What am i doing wrong. Has new spark plug, should i buy new valves? These didn't have any chips on them. And i lubed them and they slide nice. Its like exhaust valve is leaking and gas is possibly getting to muffler. Or??

Well try .004 on intake, and .005 on exhaust. And please use lower case. Upper case is sometimes easier on the eyes, but it can be taken as shouting. Thanks. And welcome to amhd.

Ok I have got everything set perfect and Im still getting a pop pop pop sound coming through carb with muffler lighting up red hot. With loss of power also. What else could this possibly be. I also checked out the key in the flywheel again and it seem to look good. The flywheel is torked as tight as possible. IM lost. Could this be a bent crankshaft? It looks OK. Bad valves? Compression seems fine. Thank you for your time... Gary...