My neighbour's lawnmower stopped working last fall. He mentioned that if just stopped working while mowing. He brought it over. I checked the plug, drained the gas, put in new gas. Gave it a shot of starting fluid and it made a few popping sounds and and shot out bit of a flame. It definitely had very little compression. I decided to pull the valve cover. It had four bolts and I knew the valve cover is sealed sealed at the factory with black sealant. I also removed the top cover complete with the recoil assembly.
So suddenly it became a task to get the valve cover off. I removed the bolts and it was totally stuck onto the motor. I got out a hobby knife and to get more access, I pulled off the carb housing and carb, loosened the muffler cover and removed the spark plug. Using the knife I did my best to slice the seal. After that I used a large screwdriver aimed at the top corner and bottom corner and gave it a few love taps with a rubber mallet. It started coming off and then I tore the cover off by hand.
What I found is that the timing belt was still on and in good condition, but after turning the mover crank I noticed the intake valve ( closest to the intake port that the carb is bolted to), was not moving. It was stuck in the open position.
I had heard of someone on the internet with the same situation and got it loose with carb cleaner. I could see the valve stem through the intake port so I sprayed it with carb cleaner and sprayed the valve seal from the outside with liquid wrench. I then tapped on the valve a bit and after letting it sit for half an hour I gently pried on the retainer and adjacent first coil of the coil spring and it popped free. I gave it more carb cleaner inside the port and and liquid wrench on the valve seat area. I then rotated it more and both valves were working good.
I ordered a new valve cover off Amazon because the new ones have a built in guide to help keep the belt from coming off. This is explained on you tube. I'll wait for the part, use Permatex Ultra back that I have and get it back together. Stay tuned. I hope this will be useful for other GCV owners. Now for the pics.
So suddenly it became a task to get the valve cover off. I removed the bolts and it was totally stuck onto the motor. I got out a hobby knife and to get more access, I pulled off the carb housing and carb, loosened the muffler cover and removed the spark plug. Using the knife I did my best to slice the seal. After that I used a large screwdriver aimed at the top corner and bottom corner and gave it a few love taps with a rubber mallet. It started coming off and then I tore the cover off by hand.
What I found is that the timing belt was still on and in good condition, but after turning the mover crank I noticed the intake valve ( closest to the intake port that the carb is bolted to), was not moving. It was stuck in the open position.
I had heard of someone on the internet with the same situation and got it loose with carb cleaner. I could see the valve stem through the intake port so I sprayed it with carb cleaner and sprayed the valve seal from the outside with liquid wrench. I then tapped on the valve a bit and after letting it sit for half an hour I gently pried on the retainer and adjacent first coil of the coil spring and it popped free. I gave it more carb cleaner inside the port and and liquid wrench on the valve seat area. I then rotated it more and both valves were working good.
I ordered a new valve cover off Amazon because the new ones have a built in guide to help keep the belt from coming off. This is explained on you tube. I'll wait for the part, use Permatex Ultra back that I have and get it back together. Stay tuned. I hope this will be useful for other GCV owners. Now for the pics.
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