1996 -John Deere F525 - Kawasaki 17 HP gas engine- Puts out periodic puffs of blue smoke ?

[oldnslo]

It could be the reed valve. Question becomes what has changed that is allowing oil to gather in the vent area vs drain back into the engine?

 

[fastrumme]

Im gonna go ahead and order a new breather reed valve assembly { $30} and install it and see if that stops the oil coming thru the vent tube into the carberator assembly. I only paid $600 for this mower and it really does run good and cut well , so maybe the reed valve will fix the infrequent blue smoke issue.

At least I now know, it is not the valve seals.

 

[fastrumme]

I Just remembered that when I bought this, the guy told me that he just did a oil change/ filter change . I checked the oil gauge and it was slightly above full. I was reading some info online, that if to much oil had been put in this engine, it can cause the oil to bubble up and feed into the breather tube- carb assembly. I drained out about 1/2 quart of oil which brought the oil into the proper range on the dipstick.

This simple issue may have been the problem but I wont know until I mow the yard again.