QuestionQUESTION: Last week,this mower stopped running. Pulled the motor, found the rod cap bolts were loose, cap hanging 1/2" away from rod. Pulled piston/rod, replaced rod, rings, head gasket; polished light aluminum transfer off of crank journal, new crank seal and reassembled. Engine runs fine; smooth; however, it will be running quietly for a while and then a ticking, not a knock, starts to be audible for a while, then wanes away after a minute or two. Is this a ring seating issue? Lifters? (NOT ADJUSTABLE lash) Cylinder had hone marks still visible from apparent last overhaul, and all specs pointed to original size piston/rod assembly. Figure this one out and I'll turn you loose on a clutch question. Thanks!
ANSWER: The clutch question is easy, redo the ground attached to the right side motor mount bolt.
The tick is from a "lazy lifter" this engine uses hydralic lifters from a small block Chevy. The rod bolts came loose do to rod/crank overheating do to lack of lubrication. The lifters are now probably cavitated with air.
Turn the engine until the intake valve is open. Let the engine sit overnight and then turn the engine until the exhaust valve is open. Try it the next morning and see if the problem is gone. If not you have a flat lifter and they need to be replaced.
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QUESTION: The pto is noisy, real noisy, until it is in gear or the deck is engaged. All pulleys spin freely, so it sounds like I need to clean and lube the pto. How do I go about that?
AnswerYou can't. This clutch is 20 years old and the sealed bearing is just flat worn out. The growl you here from the bearings won't be helped by lubrication. If you pull the seal off of the bearing you will see that the balls and the race are rust pitted. That's where the noise is coming from.
