Briggs Misfire

[Ropi Jo]

Hello.

First post here. Won't be my last.

I'm in the UK. Lincolshire, near Skegness.

I have a very old and rusty MTD Yard Bug. Looks like a VW Beetle coloured like a ladybird. It's badged as a Lawn Flite 503. To be honest it's a wreck, left outside and neglected for ever. Picked it up for free a few years ago.

Anyway, it's been stripped and 'repaired' (mainly bodged) and now runs and drives. The variable CVT works and the previously siezed transaxle is running nice and smooth.

The mower deck has had the rot cut out and plated and treated and is currently being re-fitted. I wish I had taken pics of the deck before stripping 2 yrs ago as I'm really struggling to work out how the various bracketry goes back together. I've found various manuals online and none of them match my particular version of this machine.
But it's getting there and today it will run and cut grass... hopefully.

The main issue I have is with the Briggs engine. There's no identification on it but I've read in some manuals it's a 8HP single cylinder OHV.



The issue I've got, and need some advise on, is... it will run sweet for about 10 seconds, then there is a small audible tick, at which point the revs drop and the governer kicks in. This repeats in approx 5-10 second intervals. Always with the tick. I'm very hard of hearing but even I can hear the tick.

Innitially thought it may be an electrical arc from the plug lead, so replaced the plug and magneto with parts from the next project, but no difference.

I've set the valve clearances according to multiple instructions. Innitially the engine would not turn on the starter as the clearance on the inlet was too loose giving too much compression. Common apparently.

Also followed instruction for setting the governer which appears to be doing it's job.

The engine does smooth out a little when under load going forward and reverse, as is probably expected.

Will hopefully smooth out a littlemore when the mower deck is engaged. We'll see today.... maybe.

Appreciate your thoughts, even if it is "what do you expect from an ancient machine that's rusting away with 1000's of hours on it."


Thank you reading, even if you cannot give me any suggestions. Have a great day all.