Exhaust Valve spring retainer model FC401V-CS03 FC401

[StarTech]

It is not aluminum, yes it is the normal gasket.

And if it was me, no I would not reuse it as it is already crushed.

For testing you use a leak down tester along with some soapy water. But if the leak down tester is under 20% things are usually leak tight as there is always leakage pass the rings.

 

[txmowman]

It is not aluminum, yes it is the normal gasket.

And if it was me, no I would not reuse it as it is already crushed.

For testing you use a leak down tester along with some soapy water. But if the leak down tester is under 20% things are usually leak tight as there is always leakage pass the rings.

20% with 100psi of air put into the cylinder.

 

[StarTech]

I am so glad I have tester that operates under 20 psi and still gives accurate readings. It is great to be able to hand cycle an OHV to do a secondary leak down test that checks Mid and Lower cylinder conditions. I have seen those that test at only TDC to missing Mid and Lower cylinder problems. Can't do the same test on L-heads however.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hi StarTech,

They should all work under 20 psi if the regulator is lowered down to 0 psi and pressure gradually adjusted up once it is connected.

 

[StarTech]

Hmmm my HF one is set before attachment. Most are calibrated for 100 psi so percentage gauge would register right. All depends on the gauge pressure range used for the output side. HF one uses one that is in the 15 psi range where others uses 100 psi gauges.

Here it is set at 12 psi.

 

[Cfs]

So I got the old valve keeper installed and had trouble getting it to run. I set the valve lash 3-4 times at .005 both valves. I must not be savy enough to get it right the 1st time.

Anybody want to share their process for setting valve lash on a OHV please do so.

I let it sit for 3-4 hours while I watched OSU vs Washington football game. Came back to it and found that the gas tank had emptied through the carb into the exhaust pipe to the muffler. I removed and cleaned the carb and tried to start it before calling it a night…sure that it wouldn’t start… Choked it pulled the rope and it popped . I took it off choke pulled it and it ran strong. It had a fair amount of smoke from the gas that got into the exhaust, but once that burned off it ran great and is not burning any oil. It seems like one pull with Choke on is all the choke it needs 2nd pull at mid speed setting and it starts right up!

I checked if the next morning and it fired right up! I swear sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good!!

The guy who owns it told me the only problem with it was it would shut off when engaging the blades. Said it would start right up. Maybe that was a problem a year ago, but the exhaust valve was stuck open and both push rods had come loose of the rocker arms and the gas in the gas tank was full of water. I always try to listen to and understand what an owner tells me about their machine’s problems.. but sometimes they are delusional
Spit

 

[sgkent]

as suggested replace the gasket, take the old one with you if you buy it locally. Also, use a machinists straight edge to check the head for warp.