QuestionI am have the above listed Engine on a Craftsman lawn tractor. The problem I have is the engine runs real rough at speeds over an idle, and blows black smoke. It was also blowing oil droplets out the breather tube, but this seems to have lessened since I have changed the Head Gasket, adjusted the valves to specs. and replaced the breather. however it still runs bad when it is throttled up over an idle, last summer I replaced the carb. with a new one from B&S.com in an attempt to solve this problem. I have also installed a new fuel filter, fuel cutoff sol. and air filter last summer. running it without the air filter has a little affect on it (I tried this thinking it might be saturated with oil), and the plug fouls out black after it runs for just a few minutes. What Am I missing?
Randy
AnswerSound like the head gasket is not sealing, and compression is getting past the gasket and pressurizing the pushrod gallery.
Remove the valve cover and start the engine and watch, you can see the compression blowing if it is leaking, if it isn't the
oil will just sprinkle out, if leaking, oil will spray everywhere,
so do this out in the yard.
If it is leaking, then the new gasket blew, the head is warped, or both.
