Got the 149 home yesterday

Dave R · #1 01-13-2011, 06:35 PM

I got the 149 home yesterday. Left it on the trailer last night, it was darn cold in SW Missouri. About 6 this morning, but this afternoon was in the 40's.

So being of unsound mind I took off the carb and went to the lawn mower shop and got what i needed to rebuild it. Soaked it in acetone, and did the rebuild, put it back together, put a fuel filter inline and poured in some gas. Hooked up a jumper battery, turned the key and it tried to crank, but cranked over hard. Took several bumps to get past TDC on the piston.

I took the head off to see what was happening with the ACR, but I could see no action to move the valve up a bit to releave the compression. Do you guys think I might adjust the valves a little and be lucky and that fix it? or does it mean take the engine out to fix that problem.

Someone had been into the head recently, it was almost clean, with no carbon build up. I'm wondering if thats where forward progress stopped on getting it going with the PO. The young man I got it from traded for it.

Oh, I might add, the valves seem to work as they should when the engine would be running.

Tomorrow is a new day, not to be so cold as the last few have been.
I'll be awaiting an answer, (and I hope it is what I want to hear)

Dave in SW Missouri

MrGitrdone41 · #2 01-13-2011, 06:45 PM

Good luck with it.You will get it running. The might need ajusted.

_DX3_ · #3 01-13-2011, 07:26 PM

Congrats on getting the 149. That is the one left I want to get hopefully this year sometime. Keep us posted on how things go.

angry1 · #4 01-14-2011, 07:44 AM

Try adjusting the valves by the manual, you can adjust the valves to eliminate the acr valve lift by accident ask me how I know.

Dave R · #5 01-14-2011, 08:26 AM

Depending on todays temps I'll try adjusting the valves. Hopefully that will do the necessary, but we'll see. My workshop is just outside the storage shed door, so the temp has to get up a little before any works commences.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, and I'll keep you posted.
Dave in SWMissouri

Dave R · #6 01-14-2011, 03:02 PM

I adjusted the valves today, didn't fix anything. The ACR obviously isn't working, so I guess that means the engine comes out. I tried the jumper cables on my Jimmy and switching the key to start draws a high current from the jumper battery and alternator on the Jimmy. I may have the S/G checked before I take the engine completely out, but I could not see nor feel the exhaust valve move on the compression release stroke. With the head off the engine the S/G spun it like I thought it was suppose to. So, I guess it comes out.

Wasn't what I wanted to do, but I guess that's what I will do.

Dave R

cef2lion · #7 01-14-2011, 03:19 PM

Is it possible to pull the cam cover and have a look at the ACR prior to pulling the engine? I thought I read a past thread that it was possible.

I'm having a similar issue in my 125. It was starting ok. I replacing the old wiring harness. The posts on the SG were in bad shape so I rebuilt the SG. While doing this I noticed the SG pulley keyway was damaged and the key was missing. I got a new pulley and found out it was the wrong diameter. It was 2.5" instead of 3.0". The old pulley was 3.0". Local dealer is getting me the correct size pulley. With the 2.5" the engine did the same thing. It would just roll over and stop at TDC. New pulley should be in first of the week so I will know more then.

I have a new battery fully charged. I might have an ACR issue as well. I set my valves and did notice the exhaust valve lifting slightly on the compression stroke so I assumed ACR was working ok. My valves were on the tight side but are adjusted now.

Dave R · #8 01-14-2011, 07:42 PM

Cef2lion,
I would think your ACR is working ok if you can see the exhaust valve opening every so slightly. All is does it barely crack open to relieve some pressure. Mine does not move. I even tightened all the slack out of the tappet to valve stem, and it still did not move. I set it back to where the clearance was suppose to be, put it back together and decided I had to look inside sooner or later. Maybe tomorrow.

I, like you, am not sure how to see the weights and springs inside the engine. The service manual says its nearly fool proof and either a spring has broken or slipped off. I'm going to the lawn mower shop here in town and get the spring replacements before I go into it. If that is the problem I'll fix it on the spot. If not, well, we'll go from there.

_DX3_ · #9 01-14-2011, 08:54 PM

LOL had to reword this post. There is a cam cover to the lower right of the carb about 3 or 4 inches tall and an inch or so thick. You should be able to remove that cover and the weights and spring will be right there where you can see them. You may have to rotate the engine to make sure the spring is attached correctly.

You can see the rectangular opening in this picture:

Dave R · #10 01-14-2011, 08:57 PM

I'm going to take off the camshaft cover tomorrow and see if I can see the spring on the ACR. I do not have any compression release.
Dave