1440 for the blower

[Dirty Steve]

I got a little crazy and picked up a 1440 for the 451 blower, which the seller would NOT separate. It was a long drive from my house and I probably have too much in this project already, at least according to my wife. It came with the spring assist for the blower, the forked cast lift piece, tire chains, deck had been replaced with a very nice 42 or 44 inch deck, the original roached GT46 inch deck, and a pretty nice 3 bag grass catcher. Everything but the blower will be for sale eventually. Bought it with a miss in the engine. PO said it was a burnt valve. I am no engine guy. I had complete tunnel vision on the blower. The tractor drove on the trailer, always a good sign. So the engine journey begins.

[Dirty Steve]

Found the miss under the right valve cover, it was a bent push rod. Tins are packed pretty bad. Must have gotten hot. Found the exhaust valve guide pushed up out of the head. So I jumped down the rabbit hole to pull the engine, pull the head, and fix it right. Not sure what "right" is..... Dealer said complete kit with new head, gaskets, valves is $225. Did not want to spend that much. Need this running and gone. Way out of my comfort zone. Open to suggestions and tales of experience with this issue.

[darkminion_17]

I would just get a used head and push rod from me and move it down the road.

[Mike McKown]

I had one like this. I smacked the top of the valve stem with a hammer and the retainer drove the guide back down. Straightened the push rod and put it back together. Ran great until I shut it off and started it up a week or so later. Same thing. So I did it again and got the same results.

The engine is now in my shop awaiting on a head change off a engine that had a broken rod.

Not a good idea to spend $225 on an old engine like that.

[jaynjeep]

1440's are great little tractors! I'd do like Lew said.. Put a used head and a pushrod on it and go with it!

Good luck... looks like you got a nice blower!

[zippy1]

Congrats on the thrower Steve
I'd go with the Master of Lew plan. If he likes you, he'll treat you right

[Oak]

For less than $150 you could get a brand new complete head and push rods and just bolt it on. I guess it would be cheaper to find a used one but how would you know it is any good? Looks like a pretty nice Cyclops.

[Dirty Steve]

Thank you all for the advice. I spent a snowy, cold as he!!, windy April day working on the Briggs engine. I knew there had to be reason/s why this engine was soooo cruded up. The seal under the PTO has issues. The fill tube seal is roached. And there is no doubt the crank seal under the fly wheel has to be gone also. My local NAPA store sells a product called Triple Blessing which is a potent acid cleanser. I went to town on this engine today. I had it completely ready to pull yesterday. I picked it out this morning, set in a wheel barrow, and trucked it to my basement door. The old coal boiler had the basement at 76 degrees. Spent the day degreasing the "good" side of the engine. Pulled the PTO and cleaned up that side. I hope that seal is replaceable? I did not pull the fly wheel. Then cleaned on the jug below the bad head. It is definitely cylinder ONE. I don't have a clue what I am doing but I did not spend any extra cash yet. I am taking the members suggestions to weigh my options. Seems there are Briggs parts available from sources other than my dealer for cheaper. I don't consider the clean up done yet. I had to walk away to spend some time pulling kids on sleds and making snow angels.

[Dirty Steve]

Some of the after pictures. Wish I could have power washed it all but temp never made it above 30 and the dang wind blew 15-30 mph all freakin day.

[zippy1]

Yeah a preasure washer would have made short work of it.
BUT I'm sticking with the suggestion of going with the parts from Lew, "thinking" it'll be money saved for something else... Your ball, your choice.