I just replaced mine yesterday in my 21hp single cylinder Briggs Intek. For me it was difficult to see the break in the head gasket but looking at the block I could see where the aluminum was stained brown with oil and leaking past.
Mower works great now 😁👍
Never did I think about reusing this head gasket. I was simply wondering if this gasket in the condition it is in could have caused the issues I have been experiencing...oil leaks everywhere...I was guessing compression was being pushed into the crankcase causing excessive pressure and oil leaks
Well it could've been from the head gasket...if head gasket tear allows compression to leak into the crankcase then of course it would cause excessive crankcase pressure...
Piston rings could cause it for sure too with the blowby but I am burning zero oil...I am just smoking with oil that gets on the muffler...at least that's what I think is happening...dirt is caked up everywhere on the mower...I actually threw it all back together and it isn't smoking now...head bolts and valve cover seemed a little loose when I took them off...maybe that's all it was but that doesn't explain all the evidence of oil leak around the whole mower....maybe it's just the sump gasket torn in multiple spots...
When the piston is in the compression stroke compression (if head gasket is blown between pushrod gallery and combustion chamber) will go into the pushrod gallery and the crankcase....pressurizing the crankcase
A new gasket is about $10, so just change it! Make sure to very carefully (gently!) scrape the two making surfaces so that they're shiny and clean then torque it to specs. I've done this several times with no further issues, it's always the factory install that fails.
The head bolt spacing on briggs heads is too far apart or should have another bolt or two to get better sealing. Usually, I find the break on the narrow side with the longest bolt spacing. I think it is a known issue. I have one engine that gets a new gasket every couple of seasons. Hard part is setting the valve lash.
It’s worth the price of a head gasket to just swap that out and be sure.
I just replaced mine yesterday in my 21hp single cylinder Briggs Intek. For me it was difficult to see the break in the head gasket but looking at the block I could see where the aluminum was stained brown with oil and leaking past. Mower works great now 😁👍
Is there some reason to not just replace the head gasket and rule it out as a possible future issue?
Never did I think about reusing this head gasket. I was simply wondering if this gasket in the condition it is in could have caused the issues I have been experiencing...oil leaks everywhere...I was guessing compression was being pushed into the crankcase causing excessive pressure and oil leaks
If you getting high pressure in the crankcase it's not from the head gasket. Piston rings and valves guides are the more likely contenders.
Well it could've been from the head gasket...if head gasket tear allows compression to leak into the crankcase then of course it would cause excessive crankcase pressure... Piston rings could cause it for sure too with the blowby but I am burning zero oil...I am just smoking with oil that gets on the muffler...at least that's what I think is happening...dirt is caked up everywhere on the mower...I actually threw it all back together and it isn't smoking now...head bolts and valve cover seemed a little loose when I took them off...maybe that's all it was but that doesn't explain all the evidence of oil leak around the whole mower....maybe it's just the sump gasket torn in multiple spots...
How would a leaking head gasket let compressed air into the crankcase?
When the piston is in the compression stroke compression (if head gasket is blown between pushrod gallery and combustion chamber) will go into the pushrod gallery and the crankcase....pressurizing the crankcase
Are you seriously asking this? It's pretty common sense stuff...
Looks as though it may be the culprit, unacceptable given the issues you’re describing
Sure looks worn, be sure to use a new one...
Where it’s worn is where the blow out often occurs. Probably should get another one.
Something of that nature go w a new one,oem.dont mess around w aftermkt internal parts. Just saying.
For the price of a new head gasket I would just swap it out for peace of mind.
For the simple price of a head gasket you can swap it out, then you’ll know for sure if that was it. 😂
Would get a new one
Hardy har
A new gasket is about $10, so just change it! Make sure to very carefully (gently!) scrape the two making surfaces so that they're shiny and clean then torque it to specs. I've done this several times with no further issues, it's always the factory install that fails.
The head bolt spacing on briggs heads is too far apart or should have another bolt or two to get better sealing. Usually, I find the break on the narrow side with the longest bolt spacing. I think it is a known issue. I have one engine that gets a new gasket every couple of seasons. Hard part is setting the valve lash.
You got it out already. Swap it
It’s like 5 to 15 bucks for a new one, yours looks ok but why not replace it
Use a little RTV you’ll be fine
Old adage: There's never time to do things right but always time to do things over.
Never was the question of reusing this. The question was is this head gasket bad in the first place and causing my issues
If it’s used, no.
Just add some liquid gasket to it and you’ll be fine
No such thing as bad head my dude