Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): briggs and stratton model 446677 24 h.p., briggs and stratton, engine cranks

Question
Hey Tim,I have a craftsman GT 5000 lawn tractor with a Briggs 24.p. model 446677 els 725 ohv engine running on one cylinder. both cylinders have good spark. on occasion engine cranks slow . battery is good. dead side has a clean wet plug. replaced plug -still the same. pulled the plug wire on bad side-engine still runs. pulled the wire on good side-engine stalls. can it be a valve or push rod or both?  thanks

Answer
Hello Dennis, it is your valves that is giving you trouble. Why? On that kind of horsepower engine you have what is called intake and exhaust valves. The intake takes fuel,and the exhaust blows the exhaust fumes etc. (like blowing smoke). You should have 2 valves per cylinder.  The valves are timed for the opening and closing. Give it a valve timing job. Let me know what happens!