Need help with my B&S 16 HP cast iron

parluskq · Jan 11, 2015

Here is a video of what the engine is doing. I have fooled with this engine for days now, and am not sure if it is the carb, the points, the timing etc. I explain the the first part of the video what all I have done to the engine so far. This came out of a Terramite 4, and I was hoping to put it back in the same machine, but I also want a dependable piece of equipment. I am about to the point to just do an engine swap.

hosspuller · Jan 11, 2015

Timing is off. Pull the flywheel. I'll bet the key is partially sheared.

Winmac · Jan 11, 2015

I'd guess you have more than one issue there, and I'd suspect to previous owner fiddled with it and gave up.
Couple things;
in the vid you mentioned lapping the valves, did you check or adjust the the valve lash afterward. No there is no adjusters the valve stem must be ground accordingly to give proper lash.
And I see the ignition coil is a new version ( it has a magnetic trigger) you should be able to delete the points altogether. If you search the coil part number you may find the Briggs installation guide.

parluskq · Jan 11, 2015

Thanks for the reply, the valve clearance was good after lapping them, I had the grind the intake just a bit, The new coil just may be my problem. I read on the old cast iron engines you have to send the flywheel back to B&S to have them re-polarize it when changing the coil over.

parluskq · Jan 11, 2015

I just went down and checked, I took the nut off of the flywheel and the keyway and the key are lined up perfectly, So there goes that idea. But as Winmac pointed out it has a new coil on it and still has the points. so I am thinking that may be a big problem.

like2wheel · Jan 11, 2015

Winmac said:
I'd guess you have more than one issue there, and I'd suspect to previous owner fiddled with it and gave up.
Couple things;
in the vid you mentioned lapping the valves, did you check or adjust the the valve lash afterward. No there is no adjusters the valve stem must be ground accordingly to give proper lash.
And I see the ignition coil is a new version ( it has a magnetic trigger) you should be able to delete the points altogether. If you search the coil part number you may find the Briggs installation guide.

I couldn't play the video, so I'm not sure of the symptons here, but I once had much frustration with that same engine. I was talked into putting electronic coil & module on to eliminate the points. After much aggravation, I found out that the electronic version of that coil requires a different flywheel to work with it. It was a long time ago, but I remember I found information that it was an issue with the magnet. Went back to the correct coil, & found that my original problem was the condenser. Hope this helps.

parluskq · Jan 12, 2015

thanks for the input, I think that this is my problem as well....It has a solid state coil on it right now and should't have one. I am going to try and find an armature tomorrow and see if it helps. I am thinking that is my problem

parluskq · Jan 12, 2015

Quick update video. Thanks Winmac for point this out to me too..I was going to think you on the video but don't like to do so with permission. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to find a new armature.

BAP · Jan 14, 2015

You can convert it over to the pointless ignition. You will need to remove your flywheel and send it to Briggs and Stratton to be "RE-POLARIZED". They will do it for FREE and send it back to you. I had 2 done and both engine run great now. No more points to keep adjusted and clean and condensors to keep working. The ones I did were in Simplicity garden tractors and I found out about the process from the www.simpletractors.com website a Simplicity forum.

like2wheel · Jan 14, 2015

BAP said:
You can convert it over to the pointless ignition. You will need to remove your flywheel and send it to Briggs and Stratton to be "RE-POLARIZED". They will do it for FREE and send it back to you. I had 2 done and both engine run great now. No more points to keep adjusted and clean and condensors to keep working. The ones I did were in Simplicity garden tractors and I found out about the process from the www.simpletractors.com website a Simplicity forum.

Good info. Wish I knew that 10 years ago.

Oh well, stepped up to a Kubota, but I still do miss that Simplicity sometimes...