Hello, ALL.

I have an older Snapper riding mower.  About 5 years ago, I replaced the
engine - -  a 12 HP Briggs.

Earlier this year, the thing started running rough.  In checking it out,
the crankcase was way overfull, and I found that gasoline had somehow
gotten into the crankcase,  fouling and greatly diluting the oil- at
least half the crankcase contents were gasoline, judging by the volume.
I changed the oil, and for awhile after that, it seemed OK, checking the
dipstick each time, the crankcase wasn't filling up with gas anymore.
But then, it happened again. Another PITA oil drain and refill, and
since then I've just been putting in enough gas for the days mowing job,
parking it in the shed, and letting the engine run until gas tank is dry
after each use.

I delayed checking into it, as I was getting our house here ready to
sell.  In the interim,  I finally got the house fixed up and listed,
and it sold within 2 weeks [:-D.  Now I have enough time to get after
the mower again, and need to get it fixed and sell the mower, since I
don't anymore want a yard big enough to need a 32" rider.

Has anyone here seen this particular problem?  I think it must be that
the carburetor float and valve assembly must have some trash in it, and
the valve isn't fully closing when the bowl is full of gas.

What I can't quite figure out is how so much gas may be getting down
into the crankcase.  It is a single banger,  vertical shaft.  Hard for
me to visualize if the gas is just dripping down thru the intake
valve and into the combustion cylinder, how _that_ much gas could be
seeping into the crankcase past the piston rings. I can't find the
engine's manual right now - - it is now somewhere out in the garage with
many other papers, files, and etc, and many of my computer "treasures".
This may be a setup where there is a rubber tube from the crankcase
breather over to the carb.  I dunno yet, since can't really see the carb
without removing the seat and the gas tank.

Any insight would be welcome.

- - -  JimH.



... Roadkill?! Heck, Jim, lets go back- that critter is still _alive_ -Bubba
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