First post, looking for some good advice.
Machine in question: 2013 Craftsman LT1500, 17.5hp 420cc single cylinder engine.
Ran like crap this spring. Found HEAVY amounts of oil in the intake - coming from crank case breather tube. Disconneced the breather tube from inlet, and its blowing lots of blue smoke and spraying oil everywhere. Exhaust from the muffler is NOT blue in color and appears normal. With the breather tube disconnected from the intake, it runs better. Not normal, but better.
So I have excessive pressure in the crank case. These engines are notorious for blown head gaskets. Order a new one and installed this weekend. Old one is...suspect. Not new/good. It shows its age. But it definitely doesn't show obvious tell tale signs of being blown either. Hmmm. Anyway, I got it installed no problem. But it's still blowing blue smoke and oil from the breather tube.
Alright, maybe the rings are shot. I don't have a leak down tester but I grab my compression tester and it shows 95psi. This is probably a bit low but definitely higher than I expected to see if the compression wasn't good.
As I say, I don't have a leak down tester. Always wanted one, though, and this was a good excuse to order one. It's on its way to me know. In the meantime, though, should I be checking something else?
Feedback is welcome.
Machine in question: 2013 Craftsman LT1500, 17.5hp 420cc single cylinder engine.
Ran like crap this spring. Found HEAVY amounts of oil in the intake - coming from crank case breather tube. Disconneced the breather tube from inlet, and its blowing lots of blue smoke and spraying oil everywhere. Exhaust from the muffler is NOT blue in color and appears normal. With the breather tube disconnected from the intake, it runs better. Not normal, but better.
So I have excessive pressure in the crank case. These engines are notorious for blown head gaskets. Order a new one and installed this weekend. Old one is...suspect. Not new/good. It shows its age. But it definitely doesn't show obvious tell tale signs of being blown either. Hmmm. Anyway, I got it installed no problem. But it's still blowing blue smoke and oil from the breather tube.
Alright, maybe the rings are shot. I don't have a leak down tester but I grab my compression tester and it shows 95psi. This is probably a bit low but definitely higher than I expected to see if the compression wasn't good.
As I say, I don't have a leak down tester. Always wanted one, though, and this was a good excuse to order one. It's on its way to me know. In the meantime, though, should I be checking something else?
Feedback is welcome.