109 Not running right and pink exhaust valve?

[specthompson]

Why could the top of the exhaust valve in my k241 be pink? This engine was running like a dream since march when i got it. But a couple days ago it lost power and wont run past idle. I pulled off the head and the exhaust valve is pink and there is a slight head gasket leak. The leak was there from the time i got it and ive since put a brand new gasket in march. Ive cleaned the carburetor 2 or 3 times since ive had it. That carburetor is spotless by the way. Not sure if i accidently put the wrong gas in it or something. I am going to put new oil in it soon because i left it out in the rain one day and i didnt put the tin can on my stack. The oil is very water free actually but id like to be sure. If anybody could help me that would be great since this is the only tractor i actually use. (its a 109 by the way)

[J-Mech]

What's the question? Other than can an exhaust valve be pink.....

Let's see. From here the exhaust valve looks blue to me......

How about some pics of this exhaust valve.

[specthompson]

My question is why is my tractor not running like it should? Like this just randomly happened a couple days ago. Ill get a pic in a few minutes

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by specthompson

My question is why is my tractor not running like it should?

Could be:

Bad points
Bad spark plug
Bad coil
Plugged carb
Plugged fuel line
Plugged fuel filter/sediment bowl
Blown head gasket
Scored piston
Scored rod
Sticky valve
...
....
.....

Your going to have to do a little leg work and narrow it down to at least a system. We can guess all day long. Get a new head gasket, change the oil and the fuel while your at it, and put it back together and start trouble shooting it. Find out if it is getting fuel, air and fire. You really can't ask such a general question. You didn't put diesel fuel or kerosene in it did you?

[specthompson]

I already said it will run but any higher than idle it will die. I already pulled off the head and looked around a bit. Everything is fine. Cylinder wall is perfect, no scoring in any way shape or form. Same goes for piston. Head gasket is brand new. Only thing that jumped out for me was that the exhaust valve is pink and so is my spark plug. I run 90 octane gas in it but im not sure if i accidently put 10% ethanol fuel in it. I can say right now it doesnt like anything but 90 octane at all

[J-Mech]

Quit running 90 octane. It's running too hot. The reason it likes 90 is it's running lean. Richen the carb up. Put a new plug in it too. Hope you didn't hurt the engine yet. You have a pretty bad "hot spot".

Pull the gasket off the head, and lets see some pic of the head without a gasket on it. Better check the plane on the head.

How would you know if the piston is scored? You didn't pull it out. You can't see if it's scored with it in the block.

[Merk]

First thing that you need to do is quit using champion sparkplug(s). Autolite plugs work great for me. You have other issues if you need to run 90 octane gas. Looking at the electrode on the spark plug tells me there is lean issue. My K241 in my 100 has .040 off the head and .005 off the top of the block and it runs on 87 octane fuel.

Carb isn't set right for one thing. I like to run the high speed as rich as the engine would let me do.

Another possible problem is the ignition timing may be off some.

Make sure head and top of the block is flat. Replace your head bolts with Kohler or a grade 8 bolt. Tap all the head bolt threads.

[Maxwelhse]

I might be the only one that sees it this way, but I don't see any evidence of a problem that would have been "sudden". Running fine one day, and running for crap the next, doesn't usually happen with the signs of the lean condition shown unless something flat out broke. About the only thing we can't clearly see is a crack in the piston or broken rings. I wouldn't expect it to idle too happily with either problem but I guess it could happen. I agree that it looks like it could used fattened up, but I don't see that as being your end solution. That's just my opinion, I'm not trying to start a P match.

The brand of the plug isn't your problem either. Condition? Possibly.

Like J said, clean it up, maybe post some more pictures without the carbon, and start at the beginning including proper carb adjustment and a new plug (I do like Autolites but my 149 has a Champion right now... no issues).

[specthompson]

Carb is set to factory settings. I thought you meant if the top of the piston had scores or marks in it. Im telling you guys, it was running VERY good then all of a sudden it tuns terrible. Also I cant get 87 octane fuel without ethanol in it around here in Illinois

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Maxwelhse

maybe post some more pictures without the carbon

Just for the record, when posting pic of a motor, make sure that you take pictures BEFORE decarboning. Those pics are the most important. Without the carbon trails, I would not have been able to see any problems. We need pics before cleaning, right after disassembly. I would prefer to see the pics of the head without a gasket stuck to it, but not cleaned at all.

Take Merk's advice. He is correct.