B&S OHV 14.5 Blown head gasket?

Argee

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Hello, I'm new to owning a riding mower but have worked on small engines for many years. Just picked up an old Snapper for a song, it looks like the head gasket was blown. The engine ran, but with great clouds of oil pouring out of the exhaust. I can see a dark mark under the gasket adjacent to the pushrod plenum. I'm thinking it's been leaking for awhile, but just recently started burning oil since the muffler was not dripping-full of it. Also, the dip stick showed a perfectly full crank...maybe TOO perfect...

I don't see any evidence of blow-by, so am I on the right track with this?
 

pugaltitude

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Jan 11, 2012
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Hello, I'm new to owning a riding mower but have worked on small engines for many years. Just picked up an old Snapper for a song, it looks like the head gasket was blown. The engine ran, but with great clouds of oil pouring out of the exhaust. I can see a dark mark under the gasket adjacent to the pushrod plenum. I'm thinking it's been leaking for awhile, but just recently started burning oil since the muffler was not dripping-full of it. Also, the dip stick showed a perfectly full crank...maybe TOO perfect...

I don't see any evidence of blow-by, so am I on the right track with this?

Yes that looks like the problem.
Quite common on the engine.
 

Argee

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Thanks, OK now I just have to find a replacement; no shop in my county carries them!:laughing:
 
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