Spring Maintence

[BLT]

I just read another post where clogged air fins might be the cause of an engine problem (overheating). I have had the same problem with the cast irons. If you want reasonable engine life you have remove those baffle/s around the fins and blow them out with air. You'd be surprised how much juck collects in the fins. OHV engines are are prone to more problems then the flat heads from what I have been reading over the winter. I just took the baffle off my 7010 after rebuilding it two years ago and could beleive has much trash had collected in the fins. In a radiator you can sort of see it with bugs, leaves and what ever. But with an air cooled you have to go looking for it.

[MN_FISH]

Good subject BLT Up here in the last few years the people with the B&S motors are having problems with the valve guides. Doesn’t matter what brand or how new it was of mower as long as it had the Briggs motor. Mostly only one side on the twins. The cause is not keeping their air-cooled motors clean. Blowing your motor off with air pressure is cheap insurance. Also if adding fluids and you spill some try and wash it off. Make sure the motor is cold when using water pressure. We have a 20 HP Koehler on the air seeder and where it sits it is in terrible dusty spot not to mention the fertilizer dust and seed dust from filling the cart. Whenever I get a chance I blow it off either by the shop or air hose from the drill fill truck. Keeping it clean I believe is why it doesn’t burn any oil and has been trouble free. It’s 6 years old and no idea how many hrs on it but it gets used extensively spring & fall. Keep your motors clean to make them last longer. Clean Air filters help prolong engine life also. For the little oil they hold frequent oil changes is also cheap insurance to prevent major dollars in repairs and headaches!