Low Compression Crisis! This Easy Fix Could Save The Day! + A Shop Update! Spring Is Coming!

Will your mower not start? Does it feel like it has no compression or is your pull rope assembly breaking over and over again from kickback? Check out this super easy repair on a Briggs and Stratton OHV engine. We see this problem all the time and your won't believe how easy it is to repair!
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My name is Bre. I took two years of small engine repair at the local college. When I left school, I fell into a wonderful job at a local small engine shop where I worked the counter for a couple years. In 2010 my husband and I opened up our own small engine shop in central Arkansas where I am able to work alongside my family and best friends. We see over 2,000 pieces of small engine equipment every year, and answer 1,000's of small engine questions. We specialize in brands such as Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Echo and Shindaiwa, but work everyday on MANY other brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, Honda, Craftsman, Remington, Red Max, Troy Bilt, Scag, Bad Boy, Hustler, World Lawn, Poulan, Mantis, Etc.. Hopefully, my experience I share, will save you Time, Money and Frustration in the future!
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
Although very informative, these videos are for entertainment purposes. Please use all possible safety precautions when repairing and operating your small engine equipment.

[@Chickanic]

Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B

[@lbeliel4128]

You don’t need to apologize for turning trash into treasure. We all (at least most of us) understand the cost to customers for repairs. Your labor time is free to you and not to your customers. You’re in the business to make money unless of course, you don’t need to eat, pay bills…etc.

[@Aussiekym]

I do it all the time. I can't believe how people carry on. It all goid for us because we are learning

[@mikehrdlicka8635]

2 days ago I bought 3 toros 1 awd Husqvarna and another from my guy. Paid $ 140sounds like a lot. Can get it all back sale of one. Rest profit after some parts.

[@TheWabbit]

Nothing wrong with what you're doing, anyone with common sense knows your labor is subjective when fixing things for yourself or to sell and parts are at costs.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

It's incumbant on all of us to turn trash to treasure. Waste-not, want-not, right?!?

[@haneyoakie14]

@@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 it is environmentally friendly to save the equipment from a landfill by making it run again. Today’s mowers are “disposable”. That is a shame.

[@TheOnlySgtRock]

As a homeowner, I learn stuff from you all the time. Thank you.

[@jimhill6586]

The ultimate recycler. Fixing what could end up in a landfill. Then preventing someone from buying an electric idiot machine.

[@RDAmidwest]

Sweet! 😮 Lesson: Do not beat the snot out of your mower. 😊

[@kbjerke]

You seem to regularly come up with the perfect fix for the most obscure problems!! I learn something from every one of your videos, Bre! And spring *does* seem to be coming! Our local Groundhog said so, too! Best wishes to you!! ❤

[@diverm2371]

Dam the valve cover... really. Dam schooled again, starting to think your AMAZING.

[@billburkart9087]

Forget the groundhog I say first sight of some daisy dukes says it's going to be spring soon.

[@tjansson8481]

"Could you tell me what the issue is?" I busted out laughing because I had just removed the flywheel from a Kohler K321 and found one of the magnets was loose. Thankfully it was only one and not all six like on the Exmark. The compressed dust basically held it in placed. Bre, your vids always bring a chuckle. Thanks. We too in northern NJ are finally enjoying a warmish sunny day with no rain.

[@d.t.4523]

Thank you, now take a coffee break.

[@larkinoo]

Bree, You is a small enjin' genius if ever I sawd one !!!

[@colinweir5807]

Another fix where it's all in the small detail. 🐯

[@steven.h0629]

I'm happy you're no longer play whack a Mole with the spammers. Your disclaimer is perfect. 👍😎✊

[@roberta.brokaw3829]

Now that is a new one to me - I was helping a neighbor with the same problem and the shop told him was going to need new rocker arms. Glad we didn't go that route. Easy peasy fix. Stay safe.

[@badbob]

Wow, I never would have figured that one out. Learned something again. You the small engine Queen. Thanks again.

[@Randy245850]

Love ya Bri!!

[@general5104]

I JUST LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. One thing I see you doing is you let your power driver screwdriver starting your screws. I'm an old machinist. I learned a long time ago to HAND START all screws bolts and nuts, to verify they don't cross-thread. You are a VERY ASTUTE mechanic. You have very few flaws. I learn something from you every video I watch of yours. Please learn that from me. MUSTIE 1 has a channel like yours, but you're prettier. I watch you sometimes and him sometimes. THANK YOU AGAIN !!!

[@hardnaaklife]

Had a similar situation with the valve cover on my Honda HRN mower. Bumped the rail on my trailer. Barely pushed in, but enough to open the intake valve and cause all kinds of backfiring. Popped it back out and it's been a good as new!

[@PaulHenreid]

That sigh of relief at minute ten is not acting, been there and that was real. My rickety Tecumseh has low (under 24psi) compression and is needing another deep dive. Probably a German chickanic. Thanks

[@billygarner8318]

You got it going on girl!

[@rozco1978]

I picked up a snapper with a 700 series B&S for free because the owner said it had no compression. The mower was in really good shape, and i thought well maybe I'll just swap the engine and have a nice mower to use. Took it home. Sure enough, it had 0 compression. Took of the plastic intake and found that inside a part of the intake broke free and was stuck between the intake valve and seat. Ordered a new intake and removed the broken piece. And it's up and running like new. I know with the Honda 160 valve covers, you can order a 190 non stamped cover that won't dent in. Just remember you have to order longer bolts with the heavy-duty cover. Good video

[@scarsstitches6387]

That was great information ! Thank you !

[@markwhite6782]

Worked on my mowers and others for years and never heard of that one. That's great info Chickanic.

[@jrpritchard1622]

Thanks Bre thats a awesome tip on the valve cover be safe have a great weekend

[@DaivG]

When your shop is fully open, it would be a great place to host a week or two small engine repair workshop where you register and invite locals to come in and teach them the troubleshooting workflow and process using all your stockpile. You invest in your community by teaching them some skills, they (potentially) help you reduce the amount of dead inventory and convert it to sellable goods. And potentially you hire some discovered talent to expand your business.

[@4Truth4All]

Sweet fix!

[@elwynsmith5092]

WOW-amazing T H A N K S ! !

[@gillgetter3004]

Somehow my sub got erased? Back on now!! What a great tip for us DIY people. Looked at mine it’s not dented but is scratched. That’s a easy doable job at home👍😊

[@xenaguy01]

10:00 In a million years, I wouldn't have thought of that.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Bre, Guess with all those mowers to repair before Spring, you have job security. 😄 I noticed that dent in the valve cover right away, but didn't think it would interfere with the rockers. Nice easy repair.

[@Chickanic]

I thought I wouldn't be so busy when we closed our storefront, but we are busier now. LOL! I'm sure once we get everything built and organized it will be better, but everything's just a little too chaotic for me right now. I HAVE to get these parts organized. Digging through boxes every time is getting time consuming.

[@tomsmith3045]

I guessed a stuck valve! But not a jammed up rocker. Close...and cool fix/find. Glad the new place is coming together, congrats!

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

I've epoxied flywheel magnets back into place before, it works a treat!

[@michelecrown2426]

I do hope you are going to show us the building of the loft and doing the yard work.

[@bentullett6068]

Another interesting issue with those Briggs engines was the early production ones had a fault with the carburettor sucking in too much air. This was due to the carburettor design being made for both primers in the airfilter housing or externally behind the carburettor. Briggs and Stratton however on some of the carburettors without the primer behind the carburettor forgot to seal up the hole where that primer fed onto and this did cause running issues.

[@56PapaBear56]

An easy fix, thanks for sharing, and about the turning trash into treasure, I used to bring home mowers left on the curb for trash pickup, most times they just needed a new plug and a service and they were good to go, I would sell them to my neighbors.

[@Chickanic]

It's crazy what people will throw away.

[@dbeelee8564]

Might feeling for rocker hitting the valve cover help? It's unlikely to hear the hitting, but feeling the cover might help diagnose the problem. Will need someone pulling the cord if it's bad enough not to start. Any marks on the inside of cover matching rubbing marks on the valve train?

[@philliphall5198]

If they can fix them it’s fine with me, I’m not sorry I can fix them 😊😊😊 There’s plenty to do every where… Have a great weekend

[@markcdeyoung3118]

Ain't nothing like spinning That straw into gold baby 🤑

[@patrickarmstrong427]

I'm sure it's on the list, but you guys need a small table lift. Love the channel!

[@timdavis8154]

Great info on the valve cover. Thanks

[@rickthelian2215]

Nice replacement of the engines and yes that valve cover was squeezed in.😊

[@juliannewman2557]

I've had a few Kohler engines shed the flywheel magnets. Cleaned up and re epoxied they've gone on for years.

[@Chickanic]

We see it most on the Kohler.

[@shinaiandbogu]

I like the wire shelves setup in the background when you were starting the chainsaw. I love those shelves on wheels they save so much space. You shop is going to be so nice when you are finished!

[@happyfeet231259]

i saw it instantly, the cover of the overhead valves😜🤩😘

[@happyfeet231259]

actualy you could re bent it in to is original shape with a hammer and a piece of wood or brass😜

[@ToddLandholm-ch2ng]

Thanks for the heads up crazy.

[@joem807]

Omg! I learned something new again today! Thank you! Keep up the great work you are doing.

[@darrylhubbard931]

This Canadian digs you...

[@beeenn649]

On that zero turn, if possible, I would put the flywheel back on w/o the magnets and install a Delco Remmy starter generator. You'll never have to deal with it again.

[@Snowman-33]

Another win with that simple fix. I was glad to see you have your hair up in this video. Your last one I was distracted by you having your hair down. I've seen you do that before. I get concerned because I once worked with a woman that was scalped by machinery. Thanks for all you good work and help. Mark

[@dave-uf8ir]

Excellent tip why ty cheers 🥂 😊

[@bobbygaskins7505]

I think that the magnets on that engine flywheel have a North and South so they will have to be in the right order

[@dudekanic]

Great call on that. I dont know of any that aren't N/S N/S, but I haven't seen all of them.

[@boonecountygenerators3052]

It's hard to believe you didn't notice the smashed valve cover when you swapped out the engine. It's easier to believe you left it on there so you could make a video about it. Which is fine.🙂 I would like to see how you glue those magnets on the flywheel. Please make a video on that. Good luck with the new shop. It'll be awesome when it's done.

[@bobbynash282]

Thanks for the tip. Always great content with much needed help. Grass cutting season will soon be here. Someone will need this. Alabama is a big fan.

[@georgew.5639]

That’s an incredibly easy fix for a pair of stuck valves. They were stuck. But because of the valve cover. I like these videos where you explain an easy fix. 😊

[@tadeuszmichaelwlodarczyk3120]

Your one hell of a mechanic 💪💯. I'm from Melbourne AUSTRALIA 👍🤠

[@Gearoid35]

Bre you are a genius well done

[@matthewwearsch242]

I like the X mark zero turn that's a good brand for commercial work and the Toro Recycler is like brand new and it's more desirable with rear bagger.Keep up the good work 👍

[@13ChevyGSvette]

WOW, never would of thought the dented cover would cause this.. thanks s much..

[@markbernier8434]

Great ia about the loft. Whatever dead load (psf) is normal, go bigger. The weight builds up fast. Maybe not today, but tomorrow for certain.

[@johnme7049]

Love you Bree, Take care.

[@12namleht]

Where we are...Atlanta, Ga., the Overhead Valve Issue is a known problem. See 1/2 a dozen a week.

[@robertrabhudsonhornet5869]

Me I would just hammer it back out that's if I hit something but all my life i have never hit the valve cover on my mowers. But thanks for sharing this to all of us

[@frederickbooth7970]

Just goes to show that the old side valve in block engines were more able to handle obstacles & rough areas. No external valve covers to hit.

[@Vibe77Guy]

My 30x40 shop has 10' walls, and maybe a bit more pitch to the roof, but I built a 20x20 loft in the back corner and am moving a ton of stuff off of the shop floor. I have an electric chain hoist that has made getting stuff up and down a breeze. Actually thinking of putting one of the DIY elevator designs in place as well for a more permanent solution. At 67, I'm not exactly a spring chicken any longer.

[@mtwseneca]

I have a JD Kohler that had the same magnet issue. Then found out thru Teryl by chance, that the magnets are EITHER north or south polarity. I had glued them in with silicone and had one magnet wrong- it would only do 9 volts or so and was baffled- until I saw that vid. Mike

[@spencerjhog4429]

Nice fix! Can't wait for your diagnosis on valve guide sticking on a vertical shaft Kawasaki twin on a JD Z turn. Factory spec Turf Guard oil changed at spec intervals. Valves stick, bend pushrods!!! A couple taps with a plastic mallet valves are free, straighten pushrods, everything good for 5-6 hours, then valves stick again!! Went to Kawasaki Full Synthetic no more problems. Now I only run full synthetic in my personal JD280's.

[@100vg]

I'll have to check the valve cover. I have a Craftsman self-propelled push mower with a Briggs that feels like no compression. I have run it into crap at the tree line many times. Thanks for the tip! If not, hopefully it's just a valve adjustment.

[@REDLINERUNNER]

Great advice! There is one more issue that sometimes happen to cause "no compression"... Sometimes if engine didn't run for years one of valves get sticky and doesn't close all the way so compression escapes...

[@onceagain77]

It's good to see shops like your's and Taryl's expanding. With the way things are going these days, I think more people are going to consider repairing their older equipment. Rather than buying new or electric.

[@murphymmc]

I live about $10.00 worth of fuel from any parts house, I'd massage that valve cover to straight and call it good. Of course, there's online shopping, but it'd be fixed before the order was processed. Great tip, thanks.

[@diegovd7215]

Love the content, you rock lady! :)

[@frankstavalo5788]

We used to have to epoxy the magnets on the flywheels that were used on salt spreaders we never had any issues just clean them up and epoxy last for years.

[@user-en2if2rf8n]

Learned something new today thanks.

[@SpruceGoose-qx8zj]

Awesome fix lady😁😁😁

[@BobE.Dancho]

Good good and good.

[@inkydoug]

And with the flathead mowers the spark plug would bonk into obstructions and the wire would come off.

[@fartsackjack7081]

ill be so happy when i can get back to work ,,,,

[@AltonRowell-gb1lb]

Thanks for the tip. Now I know what to do when my wife won't me to mow the lond. I can say sorry hunny it won't start.

[@ronevans852]

That’s so cool would of thought. Well done.

[@billybrown1979]

good work on lawn mowers. hope you get the shop working better for ya'll. be bless SAVANNAH TN.

[@stevepelino5986]

Love these videos. Malto Bene !!!!

[@ToddAdams1234]

Bre, you’re just going to have to BE SURE to o let us true and loyal customers know when your shop opens and then drop clues that lets us find you (kinda like I did 😉). We’d just like to be able to see Echo the dog again! 😂

[@twocyclesmoke]

Found a cheap snapper with a Robin 2 cycle engine… had low compression. Piston wasn’t bad, probably had stuck rings. The guy said “You know it’s mixed gas right?” I said yeah, that’s why I took a 12 hour round trip. I soaked the piston & cylinder with 1/2 a bottle of marvel mystery oil for a day while the carb was soaking in gas oil mix. Cleaned the jets & reassembled it, started 3rd pull & ran it for over 3 hours on 16:1 mix with red armor & VP 101 race fuel… Big ol smoke show 🤣 eventually it cleared up. Started 1st pull the next day. I also found an old pre EPA Shindaiwa T-27 in like new condition not far making the trip even more worth it.

[@timothymilam732]

Sweet, just shows what a little common sense, and paying attention to the little things right in front of you

[@johnnycashbenham1192]

I'm just here to say i love my old exmark metro hp with kawasaki engine, still purrs like a kitten and makes me some cash. 👍 she's a sweetheart

[@ernestrosenkranz7642]

I sure like your videos, thanks I bought a 42" craftsman riding mower in about 1975 It was always a good mower It didn't have a brigs. engine. the main problem I had was with the anti backfire valve under the carb. caching on fire. I bought a new valve and put silicon around the wires. and it would last 3 or 4 year then catch fire again. it happened 3 times the last time the fire burned most of the plastic on the engine. I got a used engine and just replaced the plastic. and soldered the valve open. I still use this mower, not to move, but to haul my yard trailer and brush around. I t works good.

[@larryniidji]

Great video. As usual.

[@michaelmaruzzelli2522]

Hey Bre. Love all your videos. Can you please do one on starting an engine with a drill instead of pulling the cord. . I’ve seen a few but would like you take on it. Thanks

[@rudolfmusic4403]

Beautyfull video❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@haneyoakie14]

8:00 no one had that concave valve cover problem on a Briggs Classic Flathead. I got a nice Honda for $20 that a guy gave up on and I learned from Steve Small Engine to check that cover. Cha Ching!

[@gordsmith7708]

Hi Bre cheers 🍻

[@majorlook]

Wow Brie thanks for the info

[@ns4wsm]

That’s good info Bre! Thanks

[@Scott_296]

God I ran one of those xmarks right out of high school working for a guy. That was a great mower. Anyways that's a great fix. So basic and who would think of that be a major problem

[@jaxflfreebird]

I love this channel. You have a sturdy, not bad at all looking blonde woman, mature -- not vain and silly. She's so smart. She's very real. She's a wife and a mom. She entertaining. The whole operation is entertaining. We see the husband jumped in and welded the frame on the Sears Riding Mower. The wife hadn't noticed the flaw yet. So, there aren't battling egos between the husband and wife. There is so much we could learn about BUT they have a business to get back together so we only see snippets. It's an inside look at a small engine shop and we get to look at s nice looking blonde instead of some dude. Who says a woman can't be mechanical. This lady sure has years and years of experience. And even though I'm a guy and a lot older than Chickanic, I still don't have a pimple of the can-do that she has. So, this is mostly just entertainment and I watch thinking, 1) If I had those parts, 2) if I knew what to do 3) If I had some small engines to play with. I brought two mowers home years ago. I had a nice commercial Toro. When I finally took it in the guy found the mower in his database. They had serviced it before. They told me the engine was blown. Otherwise it was a killer sturdy commercial self propelled mower. So, I donated that mower to their big parts dumpster. I also had a Honda and it wasn't worth the money to fix. On this channel I get to see somebody salvaging some of those parts. That Toro was so solid. I have one, my 3rd Toro commercial mower and it cost over $2,000. They doubled in price since I bought the second mower. Our money is becoming WORTHLESS and that is a REAL problem. Our Justice and Legal system is going the same way. Anyway, LOVE these videos, especially salvaging stuff. Also, Chickanic has COMMON SENSE. She has know how. She is down to earth and very matter of fact. She doesn't have dreamy ideas of a utopian society. She would be a very valuable person to know if the "shit ever hits the fan". She might not be a survivalist, but she's going to have a lot of common sense. So, her husband could do a lot worse. She sure isn't sitting at home keeping house trying not to break her nails.

[@jaxflfreebird]

So could she "Skin a buck and run a trot line"? Could this Country Girl Survive? She'd be a Mad Max female driving some strange vehicle down the road looking cool.

[@Chickanic]

Aw! You're too kind! Thanks for noticing! And between us, I'm a bit of a prepper. Just don't display it much, since that isn't what my channel is about. But if SHTF, I am the chick you want to run with. 😂 Thanks so much for your support!

[@jaxflfreebird]

@@Chickanic I can clearly see you are a common sense person who isn't going to be lost in the bullshit if this country falls apart. That seems to be the goal of much of the powers that be. It's pretty crazy and very depressing. Good luck to you and your family. I like what I see, good down home decent working people!!!

[@johnskitzis6540]

Always great info! Thank you!

[@charleshenderson1174]

Thanks beautiful

[@lupindeweir]

Good stuff. Happy Saturday!

[@skyepilotte11]

Nice diagnosis and repair...thx

[@kencurtis228]

TY for Sharing

[@tylerbarrett6652]

I hope you plan on recording the loft build. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would want to see that. Thanks for sharing these projects with us.

[@earlfreimuth5799]

Thank You for educating us down home owners 👍