Buddy brought me a late 70's Troy Bilt tiller with a 5HP Briggs motor. Rod was broken, so I put a new rod in it and put it back together. He fired it up while I was away, and I think when he did it was low on oil (the crankcase gasket apparently leaked, and when I tore it back down there wasn't much oil in it). It ran for a few seconds and when he tried to engage the tines it died and now won't start.
I tore it back down and put new rings in it (cylinder walls look smooth, no gouges or scratches) and put it back together and it won't do anything.
Timing key on crankshaft/flywheel looks fine.
Timing marks on cam and crank are lined up.
I put a compression gauge on it and got 30LBs, which I know is low.
Given the above information, what should I be looking at? I know it is not recommended to bore/hone these engines, and since I don't have a local machine shop that isn't really a cost effective route anyway.
Valves seem to be opening and closing properly, but I guess I need to pull muffler and carb and check clearance. Just doesn't make sense that it would be valves given that it did start briefly.
Has strong spark, but will barely pop if I pour gas directly into spark plug hole and then reinstall plug and turn it over. Backfires out of both intake and exhaust (and when I say backfire I mean barely putts). Again, that says valves to me.
Anyone have any guidance they can offer? This is my first Briggs tear down. I've rebuild a couple of Honda ATV engines so figured this would be a cinch, but now I'm about ready to toss it.
Harbor Freight has a bolt on engine but it does not have a provision for the reverse pulley on this Troy Bilt, and he really wants to keep the reverse if possible.
Thanks
I tore it back down and put new rings in it (cylinder walls look smooth, no gouges or scratches) and put it back together and it won't do anything.
Timing key on crankshaft/flywheel looks fine.
Timing marks on cam and crank are lined up.
I put a compression gauge on it and got 30LBs, which I know is low.
Given the above information, what should I be looking at? I know it is not recommended to bore/hone these engines, and since I don't have a local machine shop that isn't really a cost effective route anyway.
Valves seem to be opening and closing properly, but I guess I need to pull muffler and carb and check clearance. Just doesn't make sense that it would be valves given that it did start briefly.
Has strong spark, but will barely pop if I pour gas directly into spark plug hole and then reinstall plug and turn it over. Backfires out of both intake and exhaust (and when I say backfire I mean barely putts). Again, that says valves to me.
Anyone have any guidance they can offer? This is my first Briggs tear down. I've rebuild a couple of Honda ATV engines so figured this would be a cinch, but now I'm about ready to toss it.
Harbor Freight has a bolt on engine but it does not have a provision for the reverse pulley on this Troy Bilt, and he really wants to keep the reverse if possible.
Thanks