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I recently acquired this Briggs Quantum engine mounted on a new Poulan deck. I removed the air filter (which wasn't that dirty) and air filter cover to get to the carb. It appears very clean. I filled the tank (it was empty and dry) with fresh gas and attempted to start it. It didn't do anything. Then I sprayed quick start into the carb. It fires once, and shoots white smoke out from everywhere. Out the muffler, out the carb, and I'm assuming out of the head gasket. My question is, since it appears that it's coming from that general area, can I assume that the head gasket is blown? Would a compression test confirm this? I have a compression tester, but I haven't checked this engine yet. The engine is from 1988, so it's certainly used. Oh and by the way, the spark plug looks like it is also from 1988. The hex part is completely rusted. I wouldn't think changing it at this point would do any good, I think I have a bigger problem. Any help would be appreciated. :thumbsup:

Because of the compression release mechanism, compression tests are less than useless.
Leak down test work.
As you are going to sell this engine, do the right thing by the customer and pull the head.
A new gasket is less than $ 10 and becomes a selling point.
While it is off give the valves & seats a once over, If you have the Newey gear ( a worthwile investment if you are going to do this sort of thing long term ) it takes about 10 minutes.
Then you have a motor with " new head gasket & serviced valves" which you can sell with confidance.

Just found a good video on YouTube covering the head gasket replacement. Looks very simple. I think I will go ahead and do it right...

Well guys I ended up letting this one go as is. I got $30 out of it. I decided I had too many other projects going on now to warrant another one. The guy that purchased it from me said he was going to replace the head gasket and use it. :thumbsup:

There was a reply asking about the deck but now I don't see it. Anyway, the deck is not original, the old one had rusted out. The older gentleman I got it from had the new deck, and I swapped everything over (engine, wheels, handle, etc.) :thumbsup:

I was wondering why the rest of the mower looked so much older than the deck! Did he actually order a brand new deck or did he just happen to have it?

primerbulb120 said:

I was wondering why the rest of the mower looked so much older than the deck! Did he actually order a brand new deck or did he just happen to have it?

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He said he ordered it new. He definitely got the right one, everything fit on the Poulan deck perfectly, no drilling/cutting/modifying necessary. The old deck is the one I'm using as the engine stand for the Briggs I'm working on in my other thread.

Wow. It's not very often that anyone buys a brand new deck for their push mower.

Kind of reminds me of an old Poulan I've got in my shed.







(Yes, it's a little off topic, but who doesn't like looking at mower pictures? :wink

primerbulb120 said:

Wow. It's not very often that anyone buys a brand new deck for their push mower.

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Yeah I'm not real sure what he was thinking with the motor being in the condition it was... :confused2:

primerbulb120 said:

Kind of reminds me of an old Poulan I've got in my shed.







(Yes, it's a little off topic, but who doesn't like looking at mower pictures? :wink

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Hey, I could look at mower pics all day. :licking:
That's funny how the engine is mounted sideways on that machine!

jakesmurray said:

Hey, I could look at mower pics all day. :licking:
That's funny how the engine is mounted sideways on that machine!

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Me too! :smile:

That's not the original engine. I would have mounted it facing forward like most, but one of the motor mounts had some breakage around it. Since the engine only uses three mounts I decided to mount it sideways. (And at a crooked angle because the motor mounts are not evenly spaced.) Then I painted it black and silver.

Very nice...