It's a 1-jug 16hp verticle shaft on a Wheelhorse. Blew white smoke twice, sputtered and then kept running normal. Now chokes black smoke and fouling the plug. A mechanic said something about a seal accessible from the bottom, so I pulled the engine and saw no sign of leaking on the shaft seal, and the oil pump/filter O-ring looks good.
Any ideas? I've good compression and the carb appears to work fine. This came on suddenly.
check the intake valve adjustment.
I'm guessing the white smoke would be unburned fuel? It billowed pretty good out of the exhaust for about 15 seconds, then smoothed out. The machine was on a side hill of slight degree. This happened twice only.
The black/carbon smoke is consistant now, as if the rings were shot and oil was leaking. But the compression is about 75, pretty good. I've not yet pulled the jug, would like to t-shoot it a little more definitively first.
?????
white smoke is oil, black smoke is fuel. check the intake valve clearance. compression readings aren't even published by briggs due to the compression release. but 75 is good, it'll be quite a bit higher when running. Chip
I found it. A small hole had developed in the head gasket along side the gallery that the push rods pass. Easy fix.
Thanks for the input.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required