Started my 26 HP Briggs this spring turned hard but did start. Ran for about a half an hour shut it off. Tried to start short time later but would not roll over. Adjusted valves.. no difference. Re-adjusted valves.. no change. When I was turning the engine over by hand I noticed that one valve on the top (assuming it is the intake) is not moving as far as the other valves. Pulled the rod out of this valve gave it a roll on the countertop and appears to be fine. Re-installed the rod re-adjusted the valves again.. no change. When turning the engine over by hand I heard a (wisping or puffing) sound on the opposite side of engine (starter side). I am at the point I am ready to drive it off a cliff but I can't get it started ! Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

When you say roll over... do you mean fire... or crank over or spin? Awssuming the most obvious first (to me anyway being the latter )... are you sure your battery isn't bad?

When you say roll over...do you mean fire...or crank over or spin? Awssuming the most obvious first (to me anyway being the latter )...are you sure your battery isn't bad?

It doesn't spin a whole revolution before locking up. You can spin it manualy and get past the lock up and the starter will spin it again until it locks up again. Battery is brand new 13.8 Volts

Ok.. thanks for that clarification. If you had something physically binding you should not be able to manually spin it past that point... I'm assuming those are the compression strokes you are feeling.

Might be a bad starter... I had that happen on a 20 hp briggs twin a couple years ago... acted like a weak battery would... was a bad (weak) starter in that one. Keep in mind it did spin it if the plugs were pulled.


Just for grins... pull you spark plugs and see if it spins over well with the starter... if you have a mechanical binding somewhere it won't... but if it's a week starter... it should turn over well and easy.

Ok..thanks for that clarification. If you had something physically binding you should not be able to manually spin it past that point...I'm assuming those are the compression strokes you are feeling.

Might be a bad starter....I had that happen on a 20 hp briggs twin a couple years ago....acted like a weak battery would....was a bad (weak) starter in that one. Keep in mind it did spin it if the plugs were pulled.


Just for grins...pull you spark plugs and see if it spins over well with the starter.....if you have a mechanical binding somewhere it won't...but if its a week starter....it should turn over well and easy.

Spins good without plugs

I bet your problem is a bad starter then. If it was a valve adjustment issue it wouldn't have come to a stop on the compression strokes.

You can repace the starter without removing the flywheel but it's a PITA... and needs open ended wrenchs and patience.

I did it twice... second time when the plastic starter drive gear lost its teeth a year later. Hang on to your old starter so you have a spare drive gear for down the road. THey are crappy quality.

I bet your problem is a bad starter then. If it was a valve adjustment issue it wouldn't have come to a stop on the compression strokes.

You can repace the starter without removing the flywheel but its a PITA.....and needs open ended wrenchs and patience.

I did it twice...second time when the plastic starter drive gear lost its teeth a year later. Hang on to your old starter so you have a spare drive gear for down the road. THey are crappy quality.

I am still stumped by the valve that doesn't travel as much as the others

I am still stumped by the valve that doesn't travel as much as the others

Haven't been inside one of these particular twin cylinder engines yet... maybe a loose rocker arm? These are OHV type pushrod engines if I'm not mistaken.

Hi,
One thing you may wish to check is the studs that the rocker arms attach to. Rarely they will back out.
Peace,
Clarke