Briggs and Stratton engine problem?
I just garbage picked a Wheeler mulching lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton Quantum 5 HP engine on it. My concern is with the engine. It seems to be running too hot, like it's overheating. The first time I started and ran it, white smoke was pouring out of the oil reservoir after I shut it off, so I poured half a bottle of the correct oil in there (it was all I had) and that seemed to fix the smoking problem. (The oil reservoir was completely empty.) Now, it starts on the second or third try every time and there is no smoke at all, no knocking noises, and it runs and cuts the grass just as good as any other mower, but the heat just pours off of it after only moving about 2 feet on a 67 degree overcast day.
I mowed the same length with my other 4 HP Briggs and Stratton mower, and it was barely even hot. So, could the motor be shot from the lack of oil, or what?
Thanks for replying!
I'm also running it without an air filter, and the mower does not have a primer bulb equipped.
Last 2 answers were wrong and wrong!!
The timing is NOT off. It's NOT running lean, and the exhaust is NOT restricted!. If ANY of those situations were occurring, there would be OBVIOUS signs.
It doesn't matter if you can see it or not, but your cooling fins are clogged. remove the three 1/4" bolts that hold on the pull-start cover.
remove the sheet metal shroud that wraps around the cooling fins. See all that solidified junk blocking the flow of air?? That's the problem.
Clean it up and put it back together .
Install a NEW CJ8 spark plug by Champion.
PUT AN AIR CLEANER ON IT............ Enjoy your new machine !!
