Need Some Briggs & Stratton (Vanguard 14hp) Advice...

[babsher]

Hey Guys,

Got the lawn mowed today before the rain hit but even though I ended up with the best looking cut I've had so far this year my 14hp Vanguard started puffing oil smoke every now and again while mowing. I stopped, removed the side covers and found that there was a lot of oil on both covers and it appeared to be coming from somewhere near the crankshaft and drive pulley assembly. I thought it might be a loose oil filter but it was tight, so that means the oil is coming from somewhere else...

After checking the parts diagrams today I assume the oil could be coming from a failed crankcase cover gasket or outer oil seal but I couldn't get a good idea of where the oil was coming from exactly due to the shrouds, grass and crud. I removed the hood, grill, shrouds, and other sundry stuff so I could get a better idea of what needs to be fixed but I didn't have time to degrease the engine and wash everything.

All that being stated I just wanted to ask what you guys think might be suspect so I'll know where to focus my efforts, and I also wanted to ask if this would be a hard fix, which if it's either of the parts mentioned earlier I think I can handle it!

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[tkhoffman]

I'm new here and this is not Cub Specific. Check you oil level. Carbureted Engines and Ethanol Gas do not play well together. Alcohol vs rubber needle seals and Fuel pump parts... parts lose all the time. My thinking is that possibly you are getting some gas getting past the Needle valve and running down the Cylinder walls and into you crankcase. An overfull crankcase will push oil out of seals and possibly up out the breather tube. I've seen it. I own teh 782 I just got for this exact reason.