I bought a Generac C4000, model 09423-0 today... Briggs and Stratton 8 hp. I bought it, knowing it didn't run for $15 from an online auction.

To start, it was covered in chicken poop. Spent a half hour pressure washing it when I got it home.

So I pulled the starter cord and it came to a stop. Removed the shroud and turned the starter drive with a wrench, same thing. I thought the magneto was maybe too close to the mag pickup, so I removed that too, same thing.

I'm planning to pull the head of it tomorrow, but I'm thinking there won't be much to see until I split the crankcase.

Any ideas?

 

Probably a stuck valve. Not too bad to free up usually, just use some penetrating oil and a brass hammer to move the valve until it moves freely. It'll probably smoke afterwards though.

 

You might try ckal704.
He has been very helpful to me about B&S in the past.

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: ckal704

 

Remove the spark plug and spray some penetrating oil in the cylinder.

You'll need the magneto for the engine to run. When you put it back on, use a business card as a shim. That should give you the proper gap.

 

Once it is running you will most likely not be able to get power (A/C) out of the gen. If infact this is true (b/c it sat for so long) with the GenSet running...turn ON the power to the outlets and plug in a electric drill, then spin the colloar of the drill (like you are tightening up a bit). Keep spinning it as fast as you can untill it takes off. Once you have done this and the field is "ecxited" again, just run your GenSet atleast every 6 months....this will ensure the field wont fail when you need it. Congrats on the find!

 

it turns a bit and then stops? how about the other direction? yanking the head to check for a stuck valve liked jared said would be the easiest to check. if they look fine you can watch the piston too to see if it doesn't have a busted rod...

 

No suggestions beyond what was posted already. Stuck valve is best case. Broken rod worst, but you'll often see deformation/crack in the side of the block if the thing throws a rod.
If it is a stuck valve, and you free it, I'd pull both and put a small dollop of valve guide lubricant on each stem before re-installation.

 

compression test first thing,,,, if values move check there gap,,,id poor thimble full of gas down cyclinder see if it fires setting small engines usually need carbs cleaned

 

Humm, covered in chicken ****, power washed the hell out of it, could it be you got some water in the cylinder and now the thing is hydro locking, did you pull the plug and tried to spin it?

 

Wasn't hydrolocked. Plug out, cowl and starter cable removed, barred over with a wrench, it still hits something.

Haven't gotten into it yet, too many other projects around the house.

 

Fantastic idea! I have always just used a D-Cell but it doesn't always work, I gotta try this!

 

I heard about this once and thought it would work in theory but until I actually did it once, I was skeptical. but trust me, it DOES work.....I proved it.....it is very cool to watch that drill come to life and take off.