Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Brigs 31d777 oil leak and belts slipping, ohc engine, briggs stratton

Question
I have a troy-bilt 1842 lawn tractor with a Briggs & Stratton 18hp I/C OHC engine (model 31D777, Type 0233E1, Code 030320ZA.  It has no pulling power going up hill.  I replaced the main drive belt and transmission belt last weekend and I noticed a lot of oil on the under side of the engine and deck - I noticed that the bearing under the engine (crank bearing) was fully visible and looked like oil may have been seeping through.  Shold the bearing be visible?  And, should I replce the oil seal and how dificult is it to replace the oil seal?

Thanks,

Steve

Answer
No the bearing should not be visible.  Its very simple to replace the oil seal.

You will need to remove all the pulleys from the engine or electric clutch if it has one.  IF the old seal is not there you simply slide the seal over the crank and tap it in until its flush with the sump cover.

If the seal is still in the engine, you can take two small self threading screws and screw one into the seal at the 3 O clock position and one at the 9 O clock position and pull evenly with a pair of pliers/vice grips etc to remove the seal.  This method is used if you do not remove the engine from the tractor.

IF you remove the engine from the tractor, you can use the above method or remove the bolts that hold the sump cover on and push the seal out from the inside of the sump cover with a large flat blade screw driver.

Clean your pulleys with a product like Brake Kleen or other commercially available cleaner.  Failure to do so will result in your belts slipping and loss of power.