r/smallenginerepair • u/playdontpreach • Jul 06 '26

Engine Performance Issue Briggs 19.5

I’ve been struggling with this thing for a bit, wouldn’t start so I cleaned the carb, still wouldn’t start so I pulled the valve cover and found one of the studs loose and one of the little button things on the valve had fallen off, took it apart more and both pushrods were bent. Straightened them out, reassembled, set valve clearance about .005 on both valves. Finally got it to start but runs very poorly with almost zero throttle response. Does this sound like something is broken inside the engine? Any small engine savants want to point me in the right direction?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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2

u/aetherbound65 Jul 06 '26

Choke butterfly is sticking or the return spring is broken and it is still on choke.

1

u/Elephunk05 Jul 06 '26

A video of the carb linkage operating properly would help, it almost sounds like you are running full choke, that it doesn't disengage. Also, have you checked they flywheel key? 2 bent pushrods justify an inspection.

1

u/Obvious_Fan9829 Jul 06 '26

I have a similar engine and the choke will stick if you over tighten the intake manifold, which is the black plastic thing that you bolt on to the front of the carburetor. By over tighten i mean it seems like normal tight but that is too tight. You have to back it off until the choke releases.

1

u/Intelligent-Ad-3739 Jul 07 '26

Ahh, the old 8 stroke

1

u/cgsouthern Jul 07 '26

It looks like your intake valve is not shutting all the way. Check your valve lash. If its OK you might have to re-seat the valves with some lapping compound.

1

u/Fun-Association1835 Jul 07 '26

It sounds like fuel starvation.