Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Richard
I agree it might be a hung valve.
A few years ago I installed a running engine toward the end of a season, put it in storage for the winter, went to fire it up the following spring and had backfires coming through the carb.
After some fumbling around a friend and I used a borescope and discovered a valve was stuck open. It was bad enough to where a pushrod was bent. After removing the heads (because if I'm rebuilding one, might as well rebuild both) I was met with the surprise of a valve that needed to be pounded out of the guide.
No idea why or how it happened but I went from a running engine to a head rebuild just like that.
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This is why I am really surprised that there are those who either don't do any kind of oil change in the off season (regardless of hours of use) or wait till spring to change out the oil.
IF any contaminants suspended in the oil - especially moisture get into some of these areas it can cause corrosion siting there for prolonged periods of time and when you're dealing with very tight clearances it doesn't take much to cause something to bind or seize. That is where potentially catastrophic damage can occur in mere seconds.
Also a reason not to skimp on cheap fluids and filters. In the long run it's just not worth it.