Opening Cover for Air Filter?

[handygeek]

Pony 7HP Briggs & Stratton Model: 13WN77KS01

The plastic cover for the air filter is on top - not the lower side like most others.

This model has plastic knobs on top of the mounting screws.

No matter how I turn & twist things I cannot get the cover loose -
and I don;t want to break it.

Is there a trick to these things?

Do I need to apply some lubricant?

Thanks!.

 

[ILENGINE]

The knobs should turn and unscrew off of the studs underneath, and then the cover should slide off. Does it feel like the knobs are actually unscrewing or just turning but not coming loose.

 

[handygeek]

They appear to just turn and turn.

I tried putting some pressure on them by gently praying the plastic,
without breaking it, but no joy.

About how many turns would you guess should be necessary?

5-10, 10-20?

Thanks!

 

[handygeek]

Squirted some carb cleaner on the threads & waited a while - still no joy.

Hate to break it but not sure how else to get at the filter & it's way overdue.

 

[cpurvis]

If they just turn and turn with no visible change in the relation of the nut to the stud to which it is attached, they're probably stripped.

Carburetor cleaner is not what you want to use. It has no lubricating qualities that I am aware of.

A drop of motor oil would be better but you shouldn't need to lubricate a plastic nut on a steel stud.

Grab them with vise grips or pliers and pull up firmly at the same time. Should come off.

If the nut is locked to the stud and the stud is stripped in its threaded hole, the removal technique is no different but you have a different repair job facing you once it's apart. In that case you'll probably have to heli-coil the threads for the studs. If the plastic nuts are stripped, all you need to do is replace them and get the plastic out of the stud threads.

 

[bertsmobile1]

You will most likely find the nuts have rusted solid onto the studs which are moulded into the plastic cowl .
look closely when you are turning them.
If the wing is turning but the stud is not turning then just cut, break, melt the wing bits off.
AFAIK they are not available as a separate part but you will be able to do some sort of work around with pannel washers and normal wing nuts.

If the whole stud is turning then things become a little more difficult but basically same procedure except you will need to glue in some long bolts to replace the studs.
OTOH the cover with the 2 captive nuts is available

 

[handygeek]

OK, will give it a try tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[handygeek]

The plastic and metal threads appear to be moving together.

I suppose that means that the bottom half of the assembly
has seized.

I'll give PBBlaster a try - it almost always works - if not then
the arm-strong method will have to do.

I'll sort the re-assembly ... may be back with questions about
that ...

Thanks!