GT235 (Briggs): White Smoke // PTO engagement causes engine to stall

[snpower]

Last year I started having trouble with the engine stalling out when I engaged the PTO. Adding half choke at the same time I pulled the switched was my workaround.

I wanted to make it to the end of season before addressing but now the engine is blowing white smoke. It was fairly severe at first, but I found the fuel line from the filter to the engine was leaking and replacing that eliminated almost all of the smoke - I still get a puff during shutdown.

I was ready to take the machine to a reputable small engine shop but then thought I might replace the carburetor myself... for the Briggs Vanguard engine I see a price of $264 (actually now I see $385) and a rebuild kit for $140. Is that the best pricing out there? Part Number MIA13085 superseded by 13148 or 12925.

On a side note the tech I talked to said the smoke was a tell tale sign that 87 octane had been used extensively. I use non-ethanol 87 or 89 in my 2 cycle engines and whenever I can in the GT but haven't been religious about it. I am the second owner at any rate...

 

[tomplum]

So white smoke from the muffler is usually oil consumption on these. It can be from a head gasket failure and typically is first noticeable as the engine is under load. It can also be from fuel in crankcase which could be a carb or fuel pump issue, but could also be unspent fuel should you only be running on 1 cylinder. That would also explain the wanting to stall as the load is applied. It would be interesting to get the "tech's" take of why 87 octane causes a smoke condition in this instance. You could look the carb price up via the BnS model and type numbers and compare, but Vangard carbs are pricey for what is available.

 

[Richard001]

It would be interesting to get the "tech's" take of why 87 octane causes a smoke condition in this instance.

I also am interested in how low octane fuel will cause smoke!

Also Tom, typically oil consumption will be blue smoke. White smoke would be from water in the cylinder, but as this is a air cooled engine, I'm guessing that the poster is off on his color identification of the color of the smoke.

A plug check is in order. Excessive oil consumption will foul the plugs and/or will show oily opposites on the plugs.

Richard

 

[tomplum]

Should be Richard, but most tell me they see white smoke. Or black smoke if they're pouring fuel into it. Plug check may tell a story here. Good idea.

 

[radios1]

make sure the PCV is working, and hooked up correctly..

 

[tsbrewers]

I have one too, the PTO thing is very common, and from what I can find, just the shot of choke is the "fix" I was getting smoke on startup, but that went away with a new o-ring on the dipstick tube.

 

[snpower]

These are all good tips and I’ll try each one today. The smoke appears very white to me, no doubt there could be a hint of blue to it.

 

[snpower]

These are all good tips and I値l try each one today. The smoke appears very white to me, no doubt there could be a hint of blue to it.

The right plug seems dry, no oil odor. The left plug seems dry, maybe a slight oil odor... can稚 tell exactly.

The dipstick does not appear to have an o-ring. The parts diagram does not point to the presence of an oil ring, either.

 

[tsbrewers]

The dipstick does not appear to have an o-ring. The parts diagram does not point to the presence of an oil ring, either.

It is on the tube by the threads, item #32 in the diagram,




the part number is LG691870

Probably not your issue, but it fixed mine having a big puff of smoke when I start it. I didn't actually replace that o-ring though, I had one that was the perfect size to fit in the bottom of the dipstick cap and stuck it there instead. So technically I have two on mine now.

 

[tomplum]

I've seen that o ring on horizontals play that part before and lead to consumption. Cheap and easy to try for sure.