New toy. 24hp Briggs with 48 inch deck if it runs.

[oil pan 4]

Hopefully it's not a pile of crap.
The intake is dirty, I think the air filter got so dirty it sucked in the seal, no foam prefilter. it leaks oil like crazy. There's no oil in it. Idk why.
After I dumped in half quart of reclaim oil, nothing. Dumped in a quart.

A quart got it just on the tip of the dip stick. All my reclaim oil, got it just to the bottom of full mark.
Battery is super dead.
This one might be a lost cause. It's always the newest nicest looking ones that are in the worst shape.
Compressed air and shopvac for the air filter to make it somewhat serviceable. I have at least one new air filters that will fit this mower in my mower supplies but I'm not opening it for this pile.
Front tires are wasted, tire slime won't save them.
So far all it will cost me is some gas to see if it will fire off. If it fires and runs long enough to warm up I'll dump the oil and cut open the filter to see if there's any forbidden glitter. I checked the oil filter for tightness and got almost a quarter turn on it, hopefully all the oil is from a loose filter. Possibly a leaky oil drain, it's got that new style plastic extended drain line, they like to leak but not this bad.
At the very least I have another 48'' deck to build my next zombie mower.

 

[JavierH19]

Do these have a low oil switch? if it does then it likely wasn't ran low it just leaked out.

 

[cptbarkey]

how does the dipstick o-ring look? had to replace the one on my 20hp Craftsman B&S

 

[FowVay]

Look inside of the hood, there may be a list of maintenance items along with their part numbers. I recently diagnosed and repaired one of the 24HP Intek engines for a friend. His battery wouldn't charge and it needed a voltage regulator. I was surprised to see the parts list for oil filter, air filter, oil quantity (64 ounces), etc.

Intek engines have a bad reputation but I think they're fun to play with.

 

[fantastic]

Tarly video's show the crank seal would be the main leaking point on these. Otherwise, if it's not leaking then it's burning it...not good obviously.

Look inside of the hood, there may be a list of maintenance items along with their part numbers. I recently diagnosed and repaired one of the 24HP Intek engines for a friend. His battery wouldn't charge and it needed a voltage regulator. I was surprised to see the parts list for oil filter, air filter, oil quantity (64 ounces), etc.

Intek engines have a bad reputation but I think they're fun to play with.

I think the Briggs engines did deserve some bashing. The 64 hour 24 HP "ELS" one I have was missing a push rod that these engines were known to suck inside the engine. I knew something wasn't right since it was down on power (fixed now). Otherwise I can't complain at 190 hard hours now.

 

[oil pan 4]

Do these have a low oil switch? if it does then it likely wasn't ran low it just leaked out.

Im hoping it does have a low oil switch.

how does the dipstick o-ring look? had to replace the one on my 20hp Craftsman B&S

Its got a dipstick o-ring, I'm thinking that's probably not where the heavy leaking is coming from. But I'll keep an eye on it.

Look inside of the hood, there may be a list of maintenance items along with their part numbers. I recently diagnosed and repaired one of the 24HP Intek engines for a friend. His battery wouldn't charge and it needed a voltage regulator. I was surprised to see the parts list for oil filter, air filter, oil quantity (64 ounces), etc.

Intek engines have a bad reputation but I think they're fun to play with.

I believe it. Seems like it took at least 2 quarts. Filled it to the low mark, got it to fire, has bad gas in it. Topped it off with what little clearance 10w-30 I have.
Blades turn. Might try to cut some grass with it tomorrow.

 

[Lubener]

That's the worst one I have heard. I have had no issues with my 2008 Craftsman 24 hp Intek which I have used to cut 2 acres every week. One valve adjustment about ten years ago and annual oil changes and a filter change every two oil changes is all I have done to the engine. I sharpen blades every spring.

 

[FowVay]

Back in my youth I had a Yazoo mower with a 8 HP Briggs. It was my first riding mower and a hand-me-down from my grandfather.

I wore that thing completely out and finally sent it to the scrap heap when a dislodged discharge chute filled the engine with grass clippings and caused a severe overheat condition.

I tried to stake the valve seat in place to prevent it from coming loose but I was unsuccessful. I honed some mechanic skills on that old mower but life went on and I moved up to a John Deere and never looked back.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

From the pic, it looks like it was just never maintained, to say the least. Just gas and go type of person. That's the way my neighbor treats his rider. Every Saturday morning, just gas and go. Never seen him open the hood........Best of Luck

 

[oil pan 4]

Looks like the oil is leaking from the plastic drain extension, and probably from the filter. Glad I used reclaim oil because most of not all the oil will dump out when I replace the drain.
It's a Craftsman FS5500.

 

[cptbarkey]

Looks like the oil is leaking from the plastic drain extension, and probably from the filter. Glad I used reclaim oil because most of not all the oil will dump out when I replace the drain.
It's a Craftsman FS5500.

Pretty typical, I replace them habitually with these

Upgraded Engine Drain Port Oil Changing Hose, 3/8" NPT, 18" Length, High-Temperature 300°F, Replaces STAN1438 1723165SM 116-4924（3/8 NPT male threads fit NPT female threads with around 0.58"(15mm)ID.） https://a.co/d/8NU8ZOk

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Thanks cptbarkey ! Just ordered one for my " Toy Built" rider. Briggs gave me a stupid plastic " ramp" to slip in there to get the oil past the frame. Leaks likes a sieve when you spin the plug out. Friggin oil gets in all around the bottom of the frame under the engine. What a waste. Spend more $$$ in rags moppin up the mess than what the oil costs me ! Scamazon had a 10 % off coupon to go with it to boot !

 

[oil pan 4]

Pretty typical, I replace habitually with these

Ah so it is 3/8npt just like it's always been.
This one leaks terribly compared to others I've seen.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Yep, 3/8". Saw a pic of it before I bought it. Looks pretty sturdy to me.

 

[MaximumMini]

Same 24HP V-Twin engine in my 2021 JD lawn tractor.
Working on it now. Surging badly.
One of the push rods had jumped out of the rocker and was bent. Must've gotten very loose.
Amazingly, it ran pretty good on one cylinder and I was surprised to find that bent rod.
MUCH more power after correcting the problem (of course).

That valve seat coming out is unusual. I'd guess it was badly overheated at some point.
I've seen Briggs and Stratton engines go for decades of abuse and never drop a valve seat.