Riding Mower Smoking! QUICK FIX + Cylinder Leak Down Test (Briggs)

[@scottp2462]

Excellent tip on the rusty flywheel and coil. Air cooled Kawasaki twins occasionally have weak coils leading to weak spark. If you pull the plugs and they are sooty and smell like gas check the coil.

[@haitzyice]

Dude thank you so much. - - I was at my Witts end trying to figure out why my Craftsman LT1000 was blowing black smoke and backfiring. - - Equipped with the Briggs & Stratton intek 18 OHV. Before I watched your Clip - I did everything from fresh oil change w/ filter, new spark plug, new air filter, new gas filter, new intake gasket …all things that could lead to rich condition and black smoke. Even adjusted the valves - none helped IT WAS THE END OF YOUR CLIP - Where you showed the rusty magneto when it clicked with me suddenly. I definitely noticed mine was rusty when I was adjusting my valves. The rusty magneto = poor spark = not burning all of the fuel. BOOM! You’re the man. 🙏🏼 Thank you Sir.

[@MowerMike]

I forgot I even said that lol. Glad it helped it is like a puzzle and nothing is better than when you figure it out. I have some videos on cleaning the magnetic and testing spark if you need anymore.

[@luvkountry]

Great learning video for the you tubers that like to fix things themselves. Love your instruction on the leak down test. Noticed you are missing one key piece of equipment at your location. " No Beer Fridge"...A cold brew and a toast to a great video is in order. Thank you for sharing your talent.

[@MowerMike]

Haha best advice I have ever gotten on a video. The beer fridge is there I just keep it it if the shot. A lot of my buddies have kids that watch me so I “try” and keep it pretty clean.

[@keitheades9471]

I didn't believe it when I watched this video the first time about the rotor being rusty causing smoking. After every ave of fixing n't I noticed mine was about as rusty as the one on video. Took wire brush to rotor an stators, started it up with no smoke and actually runs better. Thanks for the tip

[@MowerMike]

Excellent, it is worth the frustration to feel the feeling when ya finally figure it out!

[@ScottysVise]

Dude excellent tip on loosening the rocker arms to keep the valves closed. I couldnt figure out how to use the leakdown tester without the piston moving/valves opening. Found an exhaust leak and confirmed by spraying soapy water into exhaust port, and sure enough, the little bastard was bubbling. 😂

[@MowerMike]

Excellent, yep it took me a minute to figure that one out .

[@chuckgilbert2035]

For me the key word is black smoke. That is unburn fuel every time. So next is why. For me I have a lab scope that I can use to see coil ramping and KV signal. (master auto tech) To be honest that rust on the flywheel may have been hard for me to figure. Good job. Next time I see firing problems on my scope I will look at cleaning the flywheel and then check again.

[@philliphall5198]

I enjoy doing the test and looking in to cylinders, troubleshooting is the most rewarding thing 😊😊😊

[@MowerMike]

Right! Is like solving a puzzle.

[@mrbrown6421]

Oh My God... You removed the engine before checking spark? ! Thanks for the lesson.

[@MowerMike]

Haha yep and made a goofy KZbin video! Stay tuned I am rebuilding this same engine and will be posting a new video soon.

[@AffectionateSheep-cg9pg]

Yes I understand what you say...my question is can I use diesel oil engine

[@MowerMike]

You can use anything you want. Personally I wouldn’t use diesel oil in a gas motor.

[@luv2bottom]

Perhaps I can get an answer. My carburetor was flooding the engine to the point gas was in the oil & oil & gas was leaking out of the carburetor. Replaced the carburetor because the float was stuck, changed oil & fires up (sounds like new)but now there’s white smoke coming from the muffler & oil. What could be wrong?

[@MowerMike]

I suggest running it for a while and see if it goes away. It may just have left over stuff to burn off.

[@robloxmaster8089]

I have a Kohler command 17 on a Husqvarna cz4817 zero turn. It ran great for a while but now it runs for about 5 minutes and dies after it died I took off the air filter and white smoke slowly came out of the intake and was a little wet inside the intake.

[@MowerMike]

Hmmm that’s what she said!

[@robloxmaster8089]

@@MowerMike lol what

[@glennyj65]

A great and safe way to lock the engine is to turn the crank so the piston goes down to BDC. Then pack the spark plug hole with rope. Then turn over the engine until it locks up against the rope in the cylinder.

[@MowerMike]

Yep great trick thanks for the input

[@MrCool80Breeze]

Too much oil was in mines, thank you so much for this video 🙏🏿

[@MowerMike]

What a relief! Such an easy fix, it is pretty commen.

[@chuckgilbert2035]

Just wanted to share for readers that to much oil can be a stuck carb needle flooding the crankcase with gas. Oil thinned out from gas raising oil level. So use your nose and see if the oil smell like gas. A carb cleaning can also fix it. BLUE smoke in this case.

[@jameskennerly9748]

Thank you Sir for the information!

[@MowerMike]

Glad it helped

[@josuerivera9749]

very good video, look, I have a cub cadet 54” cuoler engine, someone bought it new on a suoplay tractor and they returned it because even after I bought it, I found out that it was emitting white smoke after a couple of hours, I returned it to the store, I bought it at a discount from the ones from The store drained the oil, fitted the spark plugs, cleaned the carburetor, turned on and shot white smoke again and turned off but then we tried several times to turn it on and it doesn't turn on anymore, it starts but it doesn't turn on, can you help me find out what the problem could be? ?? Thanks in advance 👍

[@MowerMike]

White smoke is oil burning. So could either be too much oil, worn out piston rings or a head gasket. Everything I know is in that video

[@rusted5408]

My craftsman B&S 21hp smokes a lot of blue smoke when warms up. Oil level is fine. Is it the rings? Is it worth fixing? Previous owner said it made noise while the oil was low but i hear no noise. Ill try a leak down test if i can.

[@MowerMike]

My guess would be the rings especially if the last owner ran it low on oil. I can’t tell ya what you consider worth fixing.

[@rusted5408]

@MowerMike thanks buddy. You k ow today I pulled the head and it looks like there was a little gap so I am hoping a new head gasket may seal it again. Not worth resurfacing the cylinder (the head I'd flat but it seems they over machined one spot on the mating surface) I saw a video showing someone had the same mower-engine with the exact same thing. Fingers crossed.

[@MrBluejames1]

THis is a great video and really helped a great deal!

[@MowerMike]

Excellent glad it helped out

[@SantiagoCampos-rz7oq]

What is happening if a have a really fine white smoke coming from oil check cap. When these are running is there suppose to be oil flopping from there

[@MowerMike]

Haha no. Means oil is blowing past the piston rings. Either it is overfilled or worn out piston ring or head gasket

[@SantiagoCampos-rz7oq]

Oil is coming from behind carb. From the tube that hooks to the carb and form the fuel pump hose

[@RedFox10200]

i had people that do that or just put it on the side of the road 1 day i found a push mower they said they could not get it running i looked at it and the carb choke was on back words had tap holding it the spring was pulled to keep it still it was a 5 min fix and now it works and sold it for 50

[@MowerMike]

Wow never heard of that one nice

[@dangatto8666]

My riding mower only blows billowing white smoke when under a load then stops on the flat. I don't think the oil level is too high.

[@MowerMike]

Probably worn out piston rings

[@michaelenglish2609]

My zero turn mower was smoking when I had cut the grass. It was blowing blue smoke then it had stopped , I let it run for few minutes so the oil can go down

[@MowerMike]

Sounds like she has some issues.

[@michaelenglish2609]

@@MowerMike I think she had too much oil in it , oil was everywhere round the engine and then it didn’t had no gas see I got Ariens zero turn mower you can’t tell if it gas in the lawnmower or not. So I had put gas in it she didn’t smoke too bad like it was before

[@jonathanhillman1710]

Toro zero turn. Only blows white smoke when cutting high grass on a hill at an angle turning. Thoughts?

[@MowerMike]

Piston rings are getting worn out. I would make sure it isn’t overfilled with oil. If that is good just run the piss out of it until it eventually loses compression/power

[@jonathanhillman1710]

But it only smokes for a min then stops. If it is flat it will not smoke.

[@jonathanhillman1710]

Also grass looks like it is smoking once cut. Oil level is good not over filled or low or loosing any.

[@MowerMike]

@@jonathanhillman1710 Damn never heard of that. Maybe it is cutting the grass so fast it is burning the tips! She must be a beast

[@jonathanhillman1710]

Kinda is . 50 inch deck with 3 new blades. Cutting on highest deck setting and thick grass. But the grass that is laying on the ground is smoking or steaming? Hitting the exhaust?

[@heavenbound78]

my mower is burning bluish smoke from the muffler, oil level is good, new carburetor as well. anyone any clue why blue smoke, valve clearance or head gasket. thanks for any help

[@MowerMike]

I would look around the head where it mates and see if you can see any oil leaking down.

[@j.p.pedersen5639]

Great Video...Thanks

[@MowerMike]

Sure thing

[@jimyoungblood1687]

If you pull out the push rods for the tested cylinder, do you still have to do Top dead center?

[@MowerMike]

Hmmm good question. If you pull out push rods then it should be stuck at TDC. That is probably a better way to run this test anyways.

[@jimyoungblood1687]

@@MowerMike If I pull out the push rods from the cylinder being tested, I shouldn't have to clamp the shaft either because the piston will only go to the bottom of the stroke with the pressure entering the cylinder... right?

[@MowerMike]

@@jimyoungblood1687 Sounds like a good theory to me

[@jimyoungblood1687]

@@MowerMike If the platinum engine continues to blow out head gaskets, what is your next trick? good stens gasket, correct torque, and shortly thereafter blowing blue smoke again.

[@MowerMike]

@@jimyoungblood1687Hmmm not sure. Maybe it isn’t the head gasket or maybe your head is wrapped and it isn’t get a good seal.

[@ryanwood1062]

I've got a 22hp twin John deer zero turn that wouldn't start. I pulled the head and 1 of the valve seats had pushed out partially so the exhaust valve wasn't closing. I hammered the seat back in as best I could, put it all back together and now it runs great but is smoking from that side that I "fixed" could this be because the valve isn't seating all the way? And is it a big issue? It's not smoking bad. I just don't want to tear anything up and would rather not replace the valves and everything

[@MowerMike]

Interesting. You can pull that head off and lap the valve. Google it is easy

[@ryanwood1062]

@@MowerMike awesome I'll give that a shot!

[@chuckgilbert2035]

@@ryanwood1062 I would remove the valve spring and use a center punch on the valve guide to ping it a little so it doesn't push back in again. The smoke can also be from oil leaking by the exhaust valve guide. So machine work or replace the head.

[@tymac3306]

Everyone needs a good prescrew

[@999benhonda]

You're telling me that the rear frame doesn't unbolt from the rest?

[@MowerMike]

Not sure see if yours has some bolts and start turning them left.

[@tymac3306]

I literally just bought 1% of a $100 from some guy that has a bunch of these.I think he's the guy like you ha ha ha

[@MowerMike]

I have no idea what you mean but sounds like a good buy

[@michaelhorstman2603]

Any ideas on a riding mower a John Deere LT133 that only smokes on startup also if I turn it off and restart it immediately it will backfire once. It scared the shit out of me as my buddy was the one starting and I was in direct path of the muffler 🤣🤦‍♂️ But once it clears out in about a minute it stops and won’t do it again if started later the same day. Only after it sits for a week.

[@MowerMike]

Your carb is filling with fuel as it sits and leading into the cylinder. So when it starts it goes with a bang and then burns off the excess fuel. Either get a new carb or fix the float stopper thing so it doesn’t leak.

[@SickofOhio]

Hey, I have the same issues but I don’t think it’s the carb (I don’t get the backfire) But after sitting for a week it smokes and spits oil for a minute or so If I start it up later that day or even a few days after, almost no smoke at all. Hmmm can’t figure it out

[@michaelhorstman2603]

@@SickofOhio probably the gasket above leaking a little oil in the muffler like mine.

[@izzyzoe9137]

I just got a Z225 john deere. It's been running fine than today I went to jump start it and it blew out so much smoke I couldn't see. I shut it off and there was oil that came out of the exhaust. Gas on the dip stick and oil had come out of the little black thing that the fuel line and two other lines go into. Any idea on what that maybe? How I can fix it? Or what I should do regarding gas in the oil? I would really appreciate your input

[@MowerMike]

Wow she is spewing everywhere. I suggest draining the oil seeing how much is in it and refilling it with the right amount and try again. Maybe water got in the oil or someone topped it off with too much oil.

[@bertgrau3934]

Or the carburetor could be leaking gas into the cylinder

[@chuckgilbert2035]

@@bertgrau3934 I agree, float needle sticking flooding engine with gas.

[@Victoria-px6nq]

Can the ride mower explode if you use it like that?

[@MowerMike]

Excellent question, I bet it could it you set it up right. But, no I don’t think the mower would blow up randomly running.

[@bertgrau3934]

​@@MowerMike I had an old 8 horsepower 30 inch cut, it was down on power so I tied a wire to the throttle and would pull it, it worked for a while like 3 times cutting my grass just under an acre. On the 3rd cut I went up a small hill started down the other side and bam! The rod came out the side of yhe block. True I was over reving it, I was surprised at how long it lasted. 😅

[@jibnerjuarez4288]

Mine is only doing this but at full rev And the oil is milky color

[@MowerMike]

Cut the yard at 3/4 speed ???! Haha good luck

[@philliphall5198]

Water in oil is milky and will damage the engine Change the oil asap 😮

[@darrelldundee5045]

Hey Mike I got a Kawasaki engine in my John Deere x475 that's blowing white smoke now I've already had to head gaskets replaced on it but the smoke still there could it be my rings gone bad

[@MowerMike]

Yep or the valves may not be seated. One or the other

[@darrelldundee5045]

@@MowerMike Mike one more question about the white smoke that comes out it smells just like antifreeze or coolant but when I loosen the cap on the radiator the smoking stops any thoughts on it

[@MowerMike]

@@darrelldundee5045 This is just a guess but when it is hot that coolant is pressurized and when you take the cap off it removes that pressure. So maybe the pressure in the coolant passages on the engine is causing it to leak through some cracks.

[@chuckgilbert2035]

guessing a head is cracked or warped. Someone changed the gasket they should have checked for the head being warped. A leak down test with the radiator cap off will show it is leaking combustion in the cooling system. kzbin.infofSdxMOSZuCc

[@sheltdog8463]

So if I remove the dipstick while it's running and it's blowing oil out I need to replace the piston rings?

[@MowerMike]

She has some issues but if it running I would just let it be. Maybe put a little filter where the oil dip stick goes.

[@sheltdog8463]

Runs like a champ just burns oil. Probaly 1/2 qt for every 2 acre's of grass cut. I'll just sell it if putting rings in it won't solve the problem. I've got a Scott's that runs just fine. Thanks for your input!

[@MowerMike]

@@sheltdog8463 I am the same way, I usually just junk them if the engine internals go bad. But I have a yard full of old mowers to play with lol. Good luck with ole Smokey, maybe try a thicker oil.

[@bertgrau3934]

​@@MowerMike I agree, I use about 20 Lucas oil Stableizer 20% Lucas and 80% oil I usually use synthetic 10W30 . That usually helps, if it doesn't, you probably need new rings. If you can find new rings, especially if it's a 1 cylinder, the rings are around $50. Not bad for fixing an old engine verse buying a new engine, or complete mower. That's assuming you can do the work yourself.

[@wilkey40]

More then likely cause is when someone over fills the motor with oil.

[@MowerMike]

Exactly

[@philliphall5198]

Or lots of gas in oil

[@rachelv5295]

If I overfilled my oil and ran it for a bit (white smoke was coming off the- what I believe is- the cylinder head at the very front of my engine- la115) did I cause damage? Do I just take oil out or do I need to do anything else?? It was running perfect until I did an oil change 😔

[@wilkey40]

@@rachelv5295 most times removing oil to correct level should stop the smoke

[@enkrypt3d]

I just got a 2008 JD 620i 4x4 Gator and it's smoking..... not sure what color the smoke is yet.

[@MowerMike]

???? Can you not see the smoke

[@enkrypt3d]

@@MowerMike it's white smoke. I bought it at auction sight unseen. I changed the oil and it's a little better but gas is going into the oil.

[@bertgrau3934]

​@@enkrypt3d Possible the carburetor float is stuck, or leaking gas into the cylinders check oil and see if it smells like gas. If it does, I would say that's your problem.

[@enkrypt3d]

@@bertgrau3934 i believe it's fuel injected so what would be the cause then? there is no carb :(

[@bertgrau3934]

@@enkrypt3d Could be a bad fuel injector. Injecting too much fuel, or excessive pressure forcing too much fuel into the combustion chamber. These are just guess, but I have seen the same thing on diesel engines. I drove and worked on big trucks for 44 years the only difference is the size. The principle are the same. I wish you well. There should be a way to measure the fuel pressure and check that with the minimum and maximum.

[@bigsonslawncare]

Cool learned something myself.

[@MowerMike]

Yep the leak down test is pretty cool.

[@darrelldundee5045]

@@MowerMike well it looks like it's a new engine I gotta get now.

[@deliastanley3921]

Hi! We ran over a chunk of wood. Instantly smelled something burning and the mower shut off. HELP!!

[@deliastanley3921]

John Deere zero turn

[@MowerMike]

I suggest looking under the mower. My guess is your bent a blade and it is jammed up against the deck causing the spindle to freeze and the belt is getting hot. Just spitballing

[@deliastanley3921]

@@MowerMike Thank You! Will have buy a Jack or something to help us lift it on one side to check. Appreciate your quick response 👍🏽

[@MowerMike]

@@deliastanley3921 Sure thing, the blades usually bend and make things seem worse than they are. Good luck

[@knighthawk86855]

Around me, and I work on a ton of mowers, the zero turns, go for big bucks, like one the other day, no engine, no deck, trans are shot, and the seat missing 800 bucks..... It's nuts around me, right outside Newark Delaware, and they sell that's what get me, but I have had a few in tip top shape I can't get above 1000 for em, so I don't bother, I sell em falling apart for top dollar, people around me are nuts... LMAO

[@MowerMike]

Ya prices for junk have gone up. I usually won’t give over $200 for a broke mower.

[@barbershop7277]

Mine only blows smoke, pretty thick, when started. What would cause that??

[@MowerMike]

When the pistons and what not will expand a bit as they heat up causing a better seal. Or you have too much oil in it and it is burning off. Just guesses here

[@barbershop7277]

@@MowerMike OK thanks

[@philliphall5198]

Or valve stem seal on some engines

[@999benhonda]

Oil levels can get high if the fuel solenoid/carb float doesn't work and gas fills the cylinder and ends up in the oil, thus raising the oil level.

[@MowerMike]

Good point

[@reasyska1493]

what if it’s gas that is getting into your oil making the oil level too high? therefore burning white smoke at the muffler. float & valve look good in the carb.

[@MowerMike]

Well that is no good. Sounds like you got a headgasket gone bad

[@chuckgilbert2035]

@@MowerMike leak down test should solve that question.

[@scottp2462]

Does your carb have a shutoff solenoid? If the carb is clean and float works yet still gas is getting into the oil try the solenoid first. They are notorious for flooding the crankcase with gas.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Burning oil = white smoke Burning gas = black smoke

[@MowerMike]

Thanks Mate

[@jayjudd6518]

Congratulations my John Deere 515R is dead with 15 hours on it so says the dealer. There looking 👀 for a motor meanwhile,nobody is cutting my grass and they don’t care. 5,000 dollars spent more than my car is worth. Warranty is not helping me out 😮😮

[@MowerMike]

Haha wow sorry to hear about that.

[@eyeswideopen866]

Agree with ZERO help and JD shop guys think they can pander to this gal. Problems noticed: loss of running speed- oil all over air filter. JD shop guys looked at it saw no problem with the speed ( really) and could not figure out oil on the air filter… they turned the mower off and white smoke from right side puffed out….. The JD solution for this less than 39 hour machine was come back about a month before warranty wears out and get a new drive belt and they pointed out all of the grease fittings ( as if I do not know that the bearing are sealed and just filling a empty cavity and has nothing to do with engine problem). So they send it home. Later in the day I pulled the plugs to look- one one left - good- one on right - baked oil coating that plug with a black burnt end ( that is the side that smoked). Sent pictures to the JD salesman “just for the record”. He showed it to the JD shop guys and their response was “she’s not going to go away”! SO NOW.. absolutely zero confidence anything will be done . Briggs-Stratton 24 HP engine 38.8 hours ….. PIECE OF JUNK FOR OVER $3K

[@michaelmcguire8028]

It sounds to me like you have a broken ring on that smoky cylinder.

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

Everytime I get one that smokes it needs a whole engine rebuild.

[@MowerMike]

That isn’t my experience, maybe you should subscribe and learn some new tricks.

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

@@MowerMike I will never subscribe to your primitive methods of repair.

[@MowerMike]

@@iwanaGoFast2010 Primitive! Haha I will take that as a compliment. Am def a BFH type guy.

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

@@MowerMike Showing people to break the axle out the differential like a caveman. I can take what you know about mowers and shove it up a bluejays as and still have room.

[@MowerMike]

@@iwanaGoFast2010 Very interesting choice of ass on that one, you must be Canadian. You definitely have a way with words. Please keep posting more witty comments, it only makes my channel better.

[@johnblue5457]

It's not turning the cylinder it turns the crankshaft

[@MowerMike]

Details Detail ;)

[@wpowerwagon]

Engine has a combustion system, Motor is electrical

[@MowerMike]

Lol thanks for the correction, I actually didn’t realize that

[@chuckgilbert2035]

Old school mechanic ? lol

[@Bigpoppi1469]

my mower smokes because it is a briggs and stratton 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MowerMike]

Haha weak!

[@philliphall5198]

I have not seen a 100.00 riding mower in 5 years Most wont 3/5 hundred and there’s nothing left to fix and they lie about it to

[@MowerMike]

They are still around in Texas, but yes most broke crap goes for 200-300. Just have to look at the person you are buying it from.

[@philliphall5198]

@@MowerMikeI’m in West Texas and most are just scrap out 😢😢😢

[@carrollbrown1201]

My tractor will not start

[@MowerMike]

Well atleast you know what the main problem is.

[@jasonkidd969]

To many lengthy commercials for me.

[@MowerMike]

Right! I guess people hang on through the commercials for all my witty jokes lol ya right

[@nolobede]

Walgreens bro. nicotine patch.

[@MowerMike]

Haha funny, I see what ya did there