OHV adjustment

[HD]

Ok, I've got a older Craftsman lawn ridding mower. Lately, when I go to start it, on the compression stroke it has a hard time turning over to the next stroke. At first, I thought the starter was drawing to many amps and not letting it fire on the up stroke.....

Anyway, Google says that I need to adjust the OHV..... .03 on the intake and .05 on the exhaust.... Seems that the OHV adjustment changes after it gets older on a Briggs and Stratton motor...

So, long story short....have you done this?

[Rebel SS]

Yup. Engine should be cold....as long as yer doing it, I'd lap in the valves with some cpmpound to reseat. Have you checked comp ratio? Good ratio would be 85-100 lbs; old timers say anything anything over 65 or so is OK...I'm so-so on that one. If it's a 2 cylinder, no more than 15% difference in comp ratio 'tween cylinders.
But, as it gets older and valves wear/leak, it should be EASIER for engine to crank over, HD. I'd look for something else first, then proceed if all looks OK.
You didn't hit something and maybe shear the crank pin, and knock it outta time or bend crank, didja?

[HD]

This is what it's like......

[Rebel SS]

.017?!  What did he do to that poor engine?  Ya, that's how ya do it...me, being anal on engines, just likes to check everything else first before I do the valves. Can ya get by without lapping them in? Sure! Do what he is showing (use a GOOD feeler gauge)....also, weak valve springs are often the culprit too. Can make valves "bounce" or "float" on high end...as any race driver knows. Kinda go hand in hand. My blower I just rebuilt my carb on, actually needs new valves too ( trick now is to actually "shorten' them with grinder. Older small Tecumsehs have valve issues) but I'm not putting$200 into a 22 yo snowblower....anyhow, got off track there. Yer not out anything with the reset....But that's just my .02 to try to help ya out HD.

[Glenn_S]

Kohler engines are known for this. I have to do mine in my Craftsman about every two years. Then it rund great again.

[deadeye]

Yes, and it fixes the hard to turn over start issue. I could dredge up my old post on this.

[glenn57]

Meh,  just dig up one of your milk cans and buy a new one HD!!

[Rebel SS]

Maybe ya got a smurf jammed up in the intake. 

[HD]

Winter is over (I hope)....so, I pulled the Craftsman out of the shed and adjusted the valves. She turns over easy now and purrs like a kitten!

[LPS]

I have never even thought about adjusting valves on a mechanical thing before. 

[Dotch]

Huh, here I was betting on a smurf in the intake...