Fix a Hard to Pull Start Cord by Adjusting Valves - Briggs & Stratton 550EX Lawnmower Engine

If your start cord is very hard to pull and the engine runs very loud and hot, your lawnmower needs a valve adjustment! Similarly if the lawnmower has very low compression and will not start, it could also be caused by improper valve timing.
To adjust the valves on a Briggs & Stratton 550EX engine is very easy. The valve clearance is 0.004" to 0.008" for both the intake and exhaust valves.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
Use of the information in this video is solely at your own risk. The creator of this video assumes no liability for any property damage, injury or expenses incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result.
The creator of this video makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the procedures and instructions contained in this video.
Any injury, damage, or loss that might occur as a result of improper application, improper use of tools or equipment, or from the information contained in this video, is solely the responsibility of the user.

[@CleverFix]

If you enjoyed the video, please *give it a thumbs up* 👍. Your support helps me create more content and is greatly appreciated . If you have any questions , comments , or suggestions for future videos, feel free to leave them below. I love hearing from you and look forward to your feedback !

[@montellwilliams811]

Say , I had the same problem with the pulling rope and I did the same thing that you did step by step - but I still have the same problem 🥺 " help "

[@CleverFix]

​@@montellwilliams811 Were the valve adjusted correctly? If they were ok then there shouldn't be any movement and the feeler gauge would fit in almost perfectly. Did you get it fixed yet?

[@tcap7917]

@@montellwilliams811 check your flywheel key

[@benewell4162]

How can I find the correct gap? My engine is different from the one in the video. I have a 159cc Briggs.

[@ddb2222]

I don’t understand engines at all. But this was the same problem I was experiencing and while I was skeptical this would fix the problem, your instructions were simple enough to follow for me to give it a try. I borrowed a couple of tools needed from my neighbor and got to it. After about 30 minutes, I had my cord pulling and starting like a breeze. Thanks so much for your clear instructions.

[@CleverFix]

Wow, that's great! And not only will the cord pull easier, the engine will run much better too! When the timing is off, the engine runs louder and overheats. Glad it worked out for you, and thanks for the comment!

[@ddb2222]

@@CleverFix the top half of my handle on the pull rope had even broke off in my hand so I knew I needed to at least try to find the problem. Thanks again. 😉

[@TheStrafendestroy]

Finally someone who actually understands the engine

[@bonniebon7335]

It was so bad, it throw my shoulder out and my rotator cuff will never be the same. We changed the key which was slightly damaged, but the cord is still tuff to pull. I’ll check this out as my husband is absolutely putrid over working on the lawnmowers for decades. Thank you for this clear instructions. If that doesn’t help too much, I’ll replaced the blades and work on anything wrong there, I guess.

[@CleverFix]

Blade won't cause a hard to pull problem, unless it's touching something.. grass buildup underneath can sometimes cause that. Hope you figure it out.

[@patriciafrisch2569]

Your video was just what I needed, I can’t find a link tree for you! I’d love to send a few dollars for a cuppa coffee or a cold beer. Drained the oil fuel, dried out the carburetor bowl, changed the drowning spark plug, cleaned the air filter and cover, and then of course the big piece. Gapping the intake and the exhaust. Started on the first pull and I can’t wait to find someone in town sharpen the blade. Thanks a million!!!!

[@CleverFix]

Awesome, I'm glad the video helped, and thanks for the comment! All I have is the KZbin SuperThanks button for now. It's always great when it starts on the first pull!! .. If you have a Dremel you can sharpe the blade yourself, there are a few videos on KZbin showing how to do it.

[@adlabyrinth]

Excellent presentation! This worked perfectly to fix the difficult to pull starter rope.

[@CleverFix]

That's great, glad it worked! I've had a few people who don't believe the procedure in the video can fix a hard to pull cord, so comments like yours are really helpful. Thanks for the comment!

[@jciamretired9767]

Clear explanation and easy to understand compared to many OHV video I have watched so far. Thank you for the video.

[@carolinacoins]

I have a Troy-Bilt Pony tiller with a Briggs 7 hp OHV Intek. I could not pull the cord hard enough to start the engine even using both hands. It would yank the cord out of my hands every time. I followed your procedure and found the exhaust valve lash to be more than .035". My engine model calls for .004 intake and .008 exhaust. After I made the proper adjustment, it starts with minimal effort. I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@CleverFix]

Thanks for sharing! That's a nice engine, I'm glad you were able to fix it. 0.035" was a lot!

[@missinglrd2151]

My electric start cub cadet was suffering with this. Changed the battery and also broke the pull cord. Your video helped me to fix my issue. Thank you!

[@CleverFix]

Great to hear!! I have a Cub Cadet self-propelled also, one of the best mowers out there!

[@bthor76]

I want to thank you for providing me with the gift of knowledge. I had the exact problem that you described; pull then stop. I thought perhaps the flywheel brake was engaging midway through the pull. I couldn’t have been more off base. Your video was aptly titled and your narration was concise and to the point making the watching of it a pleasurable experience. It pulls easy now. You’ve done well my friend. I am now one of your many subscribers. Many thanks.

[@CleverFix]

Wonderful! Glad you got it fixed.

[@moodymac7297]

You are a very good teacher.

[@CleverFix]

Thank you! 😃

[@bahaboy62]

Excellent presentation.👍🏻A methodical step by step for the Everyman and woman.WITH NO TECHNO MUSIC !. You have a new subscriber sir.

[@CleverFix]

Thank you, I'm glad it was easy to follow, and thanks for watching. It's appreciated.

[@eclectic3618]

Just got a 45Colt 410 version Cool video

[@Zahidlatif-Urduadab]

Thank you for this Video. A life saver. Just fixed my Cub Cadet Lawnmower. Great explanation

[@CleverFix]

Awesome, glad you got it fixed.

[@mjg263]

Well I wish I saw this yesterday, I broke the tip of my T10 Torx driver off when I was adjusting mine! In my case they were too tight, causing rough running and popping through the carb. Great video, thanks!

[@CleverFix]

Yep, I broke mine too.. Glad it helped!

[@kingb3694]

Great video! Clear and concise .

[@CleverFix]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anthonycolley1808]

Saved me alot of money! I appreciate you!

[@CleverFix]

Great to hear! Thanks for the comment.

[@hseboston9436]

@cleverfix this is a current issue for us. I'm a very small women can never pull the cord as strong as my husband or sons. Praying this is the fix! Will report back.

[@CleverFix]

This will only help if there's something wrong with it and it's unusually hard. In my case, extremely hard, to the point that it was snapping out of my hand. Some engines are just hard to pull due to their design, so in that case you may want to look at another lawnmower, or one with electric start. If your husband can pull it easily, then the valves are probably ok. Thanks for watching!

[@philliphall5198]

This needs to be done once a year under normal use, the mower will last a long time with oil change and this simple service

[@birdiebuddy144]

Excellent! Thank You So Much

[@CleverFix]

Thanks, Glad it was helpful!

[@tedbrewer5917]

After using My walk behind weed trimmer for 30 minutes and killing it, it would be so hard to pull the rope, the weed eater pulled and went off the ground. After checking the valves, they had such a wide gap it was hard to believe it would run. The gap was over .068. It was supposed to be .006-.008. Works great now

[@creativeground2245]

That’s helped me. Thank you

[@CleverFix]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the feedback.

[@ahmedm6041]

Great video thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@CleverFix]

You're welcome, Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@AChi__]

Excellent stuff 👍🏽

[@DrunkmansTattoo]

Thanks! I have the exact same lawnmower.

[@CleverFix]

You're welcome. They're notorious for this problem, even if they're not very old.

[@benhuynh632]

Lam.Tot Well.Done

[@timcarden5317]

Thanks for sharing. Maybe this will fix what's wrong with mine

[@CleverFix]

It's a common problem on the 550EX, especially if it has had moderate use.

[@knockknockleby5791]

Awesome explanation

[@CleverFix]

Thanks!

[@PhilHoffman-d8e]

My mower is hard to get started, but once the engine is warm the cord pulls quite easily and it restarts. Do you think the steps in this video will solve that problem, or might it be something else?

[@gregorypiercesr.794]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@waltercardenas7354]

Outstanding video

[@CleverFix]

Thank you so much 😀

[@matthopkins1107]

So if you can barely spin your crankshaft it’s time for a new mower I assume?

[@CleverFix]

No, the valves were mis-adjusted, the mower will work fine once adjusted, if that's the problem. The crank will not turn easily when the valves open and close at the wrong time.

[@bonniebon7335]

My shoulder thanks you

[@pipedreams57]

Loose valve clearance causes the cam lobe for the compression release not to engage fully, thus..........hard to pull the rope due to high compression. I would locate top dead center much different than you before making any adjustment.

[@CleverFix]

Using a dowel through the spark plug hole, or watching the pushrod push the rocker, should give the exact same position. If it doesn't, then there's something wrong with the engine. The crankshaft is linked to the camshaft pushing the rods.

[@nickkraft7507]

Thank you

[@CleverFix]

You're welcome 👍

[@uhtred7108]

I have the same engine, it's about 2 years old and knocking on startup and when you kill the engine as well as when its under load cutting through thick grass. Could improper adjustment of this make a knocking sound?

[@CleverFix]

If the cord is easy to pull , then it's unlikely... but valve timing is very import for proper combustion, and knocking is usually a sign of improper combustion. One possibility is that the gas flows through without burning up completely due to improper timing, then it goes into the muffler where it explodes which is heard as a knock sound.. When it's really bad it's a "backfire" that you typically typically hear from motorcycles. I'd check the spark plug gap and I'd try to start it without the air filter on just for a few seconds to see if that helps at all, in case the filter is clogged.. it shouldn't be clogged in just 2 years usually.

[@uhtred7108]

@@CleverFix Thanks for the response. I wouldn't say it's super easy to pull nor super difficult, but it has some resistance. The sound almost sounds like the blade hitting the deck, but it's not. I've replaced the blade adapter though because one of the nipples broke off when I took off the blade recently. I also changed the air filter. I have a feeler gauge coming in tomorrow and will try to get everything adjusted and see if it sounds any different.

[@erocker78]

Why did manufacturers go to this OHV design? It just seems like it requires more maintenance. I don't think we ever had to worry about adjusting valves before on the older design.

[@CleverFix]

Probably to cut back on the costs of the mower, and it wasn't designed properly, so It's not a reliable engine. I see many older mowers that never have a problem for their entire lifetime... even 15-20 years old.

[@boblynn1926]

i have the same symptoms wit my storm cat generator. where is the valve cover? it's a 2 cycle.

[@aguiasilva2749]

Thats very helpfull thank you appreciate for the video now I can fix my lawn mower

[@bthor76]

2 cycle engines do not have valves like a 4 cycle engine.

[@jennifercordova376]

Goodman

[@skaterjoepo]

just replaced the cord and now the cord won't retract back when i pull it out

[@tcap7917]

you did it wrong or broke the spring

[@sonnyc3826]

my lawnmower doesnt have lock bolts

[@CleverFix]

Check behind the valve, there could be a hex locknut there if you have a different type of engine. There are various locking mechanisms, depending on the engine.

[@jmc5341]

There is absolutely no chance you are gonna strip a torx screw with a driver with no handle especially. Its called torx for a reason they can handle a lot of Torque

[@CleverFix]

Not strip, break! The head just snaps off, quite easily, and yes I did break one. The torque there is too high for the tiny little head of the Torx adapter. If it was a thicker torx it would be fine, it's just too thin for that amount of pressure.

[@talgwatr]

Anybody;....my valves won't move when I spin the motor....aren't opening nor closing....only 1 season usage..m230 163cc RWD....is it possible my motor is locked-up/Fk'ed?????

[@CleverFix]

Did you get it figured out? Sounds like something broken in the motor .. but maybe the rods that push the valves just came out place?

[@talgwatr]

@@CleverFix NO, I kinda think the linch pin is messed up(no tool to check)..But, I have a new mower> I just have to take L...

[@benhuynh632]

Lam.Tot

[@ndhudecz]

WHY NOT SHOW PERSON PULL CORD..MUST HAD NOT WORKED.

[@CleverFix]

Worked fine, as you can see at the end the engine spins easily and started on second pull.. If your hard to pull engine starts on the second pull, then you don't really have that big of a problem.

[@JM-mx8dr]

Why did you not show the mower not starting at first. This really proves nothing. How do I know that the values needed adjusting? Should remake this video with some proof to your skills.

[@CleverFix]

"How do I know that the values needed adjusting? " There should be some symptoms, .. Mine was running very loud, it was using excessive gas, and the engine was radiating a lot of heat after a short period, more than normal.. It also didn't have as much power as usual, and would stall in taller grass. So, generally the mower will not run quite right, and if the timing is very far off, the cord will also be hard to pull. A hard to pull cord can have many causes though, so each case has to be diagnosed. The cord mechanism, something stuck under the mower, or problems with the engine itself can also be the cause. I'm just showing what I did in the video, I'm not trying to say that's the reason for every hard to pull cord..

[@CleverFix]

Also these Briggs engine models are much more likely to have this problem.. so if I had a 550EX with hard to pull cord, I would check the valves. If it was Honda, I'd look for some other cause first.

[@JM-mx8dr]

@@CleverFix all this talk means nothing if you do not show before and after. Anyone can make up stuff. Thought the video was to show facts not make up something that anyone can say or do. Maybe your videos will improve who knows.

[@CleverFix]

​@@JM-mx8dr "make up something that anyone can say or do" ... You think I "made up" that adjusting valves *can* fix a hard to pull cord? If so, then did these people also make that up in their videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIPOlmCpetaloNk and kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZjWo42imr2pha8

[@CleverFix]

@@JM-mx8dr Also keep in mind that any video can show anything. Before & after does not prove it's true. The mower or engine can be switched without filming it... To check facts, check Google and other videos to see what other people are saying.

[@JuanLopez-sx1er]

Thank you my Friend MARVELOUS Video God Bless 🙏🇺🇸