In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Briggs, Huskee Splitter problem

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by Certified106, Jul 23, 2016.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    I was in the middle of splitting wood and my splitter just died. No weird sounds no anything it was just running and then off. Anyhow I pulled the cord an thought uhoh...... Took it back to the garage and sure enough no compression. I pulled the top off the head an this is what I found, the valve seat on the intake valve popped out. I'm not quite sure how to proceed from here. Is this a common problem with these motors? I put the valve seat back in however it isn't fully seated yet. I'm guessing I need to remove the whole valve to press the seat in? MasterMech.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #1 Top
    Eric VW likes this.
  2. Guido Salvage

    Guido Salvage

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    1,735
    Likes Received:
    4,938
    Location:
    The heart of the Bluegrass
    Did you clean any built up carbon out?
     
    Guido Salvage, Jul 23, 2016
    #2 Top
    clemsonfor and Eric VW like this.
  3. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    Yes I did it actually was almost spotless. I just got I seated back in there but now I wonder what is going to keep it from doing it again. I wonder if I could peen it to help it stay.[​IMG]

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #3 Top
    Eric VW and HDRock like this.
  4. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,024
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    Yes, peening the material around the seat to hold it in place is an accepted practice for repair. Ive done it with mixed results but you have very little to lose at this stage if it doesn't work.

    This is not a knock on Briggs in general as they build plenty of high-quality engines but failures like this are pretty prevalent in a LOT of their consumer-grade motors.:picard:
     
    MasterMech, Jul 23, 2016
    #4 Top
    Horkn, clemsonfor, Andyshine77 and 3 others like this.
  5. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    Ok it's back in, peened and fired on the third pull. Never had this happen before. Maybe time to price a predator from harbor freight......

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #5 Top
    clemsonfor, TurboDiesel, Eric VW and 1 other person like this.
  6. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2016
    Messages:
    1,379
    Likes Received:
    4,615
    Location:
    Saratoga county ny
    As master technician said nothing to loose, but time.

    I would save the effort and Throw a harbor freight predator on it.
     
    Boomstick, Jul 23, 2016
    #6 Top
    clemsonfor and Eric VW like this.
  7. HDRock

    HDRock

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    17,249
    Likes Received:
    60,361
    Location:
    Grand Blanc, MI,
    Well that's cool you got her back running, get a replacement picked out and run it like you stole it:)
     
    HDRock, Jul 23, 2016
    #7 Top
    clemsonfor, TurboDiesel, woodsman416 and 2 others like this.
  8. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    Split all of this an it was still going strong. I'm wondering if it's a ticking time bomb though.....[​IMG][​IMG]

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #8 Top
    Horkn, Kyle Mulligan, woodsman416 and 2 others like this.
  9. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2015
    Messages:
    24,401
    Likes Received:
    140,421
    Location:
    US
    Go with it Certified106 :yes:
    Like was said, pick up a Predator when/if necessary.:)
     
    Eric VW, Jul 23, 2016
    #9 Top
    Horkn, clemsonfor, Certified106 and 1 other person like this.
  10. HDRock

    HDRock

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    17,249
    Likes Received:
    60,361
    Location:
    Grand Blanc, MI,
    I would be wondering that too, it might surprise you though, never know:dex:
     
    HDRock, Jul 23, 2016
    #10 Top
    Horkn, Certified106 and Eric VW like this.
  11. thewoodlands

    thewoodlands

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    15,040
    Likes Received:
    62,334
    thewoodlands, Jul 23, 2016
    #11 Top
    Horkn, HDRock and Certified106 like this.
  12. Guido Salvage

    Guido Salvage

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    1,735
    Likes Received:
    4,938
    Location:
    The heart of the Bluegrass
    Side shaft? I have a buddy with a Honda GC 190 he is trying to sell.
     
    Guido Salvage, Jul 23, 2016
    #12 Top
  13. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    Bottom shaft

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #13 Top
    Horkn likes this.
  14. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    I started cutting at 8am and got the truck and trailer loaded and back home by 1 and it was already 89 degrees at that point. Everything I was cutting was in direct sun and by the time I got done I was whipped.

    I got home and was going to try to split it all but with the splitter problems all I got done was the trailer....... I just stopped as I'm totally spent it's 92 in the shade and the humidity is 78%. The truck can wait until tomorrow.......

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #14 Top
    Horkn, MasterMech, HDRock and 1 other person like this.
  15. HDRock

    HDRock

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    17,249
    Likes Received:
    60,361
    Location:
    Grand Blanc, MI,
    Started cutting at 7 a.m., 70 degrees in the shade, Sun Got Down on Me at 1 p.m, 85 Degrees and I quit
     
    HDRock, Jul 23, 2016
    #15 Top
    Horkn and Certified106 like this.
  16. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills
    It was brutal today! I feel like I should go unload the truck but Honestly I want a shower and a ice cold beer!

    Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
     
    Certified106, Jul 23, 2016
    #16 Top
    Horkn and HDRock like this.
  17. HDRock

    HDRock

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    17,249
    Likes Received:
    60,361
    Location:
    Grand Blanc, MI,
    Already had a shower and Munched some Grindage :beerbbq:, I'm on beer number 3 and a half :D:cheers:
     
    HDRock, Jul 23, 2016
    #17 Top
    Horkn, clemsonfor and Certified106 like this.
  18. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,024
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    If I remember correctly the shaft size is not standard either. So it may not be a direct swap but with some minimal massaging you should be able to get a Predator on there. Should a complete engine replacement become necessary, I'd strongly consider converting it to a standard horizontal shaft setup as parts are available off the shelf from multiple sources and it's just plain nicer to do whatcha gotta come time for some maintenance.
     
    MasterMech, Jul 23, 2016
    #18 Top
    Horkn and Certified106 like this.
  19. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    11,911
    Location:
    In The Hills

    So I have done a ton of research and not been able to find anything definitive as to whether or not the vertical shaft Predator will bolt up. Do you know if it is the shaft diameter or length that isn't standard? Also if I was to go to a Horizontal Shaft would it cause any issues raising up the hydraulic pump that far above the return off the bottom of the tank?

    I ended up talking to a friend at church who worked on small engines for 30 year at a local university and he said that flat head Briggs is junk. I showed him a picture of the valve seat and he immediately knew what engine it was. He said the first year they came out the university bought 12 mowers with that engine and before the summer was over 9 of them had done that. He called Briggs and they said they knew it was a problem and the way to fix it is to throw it in the dumpster and buy a new one. They stated it had either gotten hot from no cooling or the carb had leaned out. I know this is obvious but the thermal expansion of aluminum and steel are totally different so it loses its interference and pops out. They also told him the cast block Briggs engines don't do it and he could replace it with one of those.
     
    Certified106, Jul 28, 2016
    #19 Top
    Horkn and clemsonfor like this.
  20. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    15,996
    Likes Received:
    37,474
    Location:
    Greenwood county SC
    I had an old Briggs do the same thing. It's junk. Yes it's a bomb figure out the next step now
     
    clemsonfor, Aug 1, 2016
    #20 Top
    Horkn likes this.
Page 1 of 2