Briggs and Stratton V-Twin Running on One Cylinder – Fixes

Briggs and Stratton company makes some of the best small engines in the world. The company is based in North America and has continued to build a strong reputation for over a century. When many people see the Briggs and Stratton badge, they see quality, reliability, and value for money. But like every engine out there, the Briggs and Stratton V-twin engine we are discussing today has its fair share of issues.

In this article, we look at the Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine. As the name suggests, this engine runs on two cylinders. However, the engine can develop problems which can cause it to run on a single cylinder. Here, we will investigate what causes the engine to run on a single cylinder instead of both. We will explore the different fixes for the said issues and arm you with the correct information whenever you find yourself faced with the above problem.

Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine

The Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine offers greater power and versatility. The engine comes in handy when you want to mow large tracks of land. The engine also becomes handy when you want to use lightweight attachments regularly. The engine has proven to be the perfect companion when you want to mow or till your piece of land. It will haul hay and enable you to perform many functions without needing other machines or equipment.

The Briggs and Stratton V-twin engines are of different categories. You can get the Professional series V-Twin, whose horsepower ranges from 22 to 27 at 3,600 RPM, or the Commercial V-Twin, with a gross horsepower of 27 at 3,600 RPM. You can also get a 24HP Briggs and Stratton Itek V-twin engine. Indeed, a V-Twin engine with the popular Briggs and Stratton badge is quite common.

Briggs and Stratton V-Twin running on one cylinder

The Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine is meant to work with two cylinders. When one cylinder fails, there will be issues with the engine and the machine's performance. Many owners and operators of V-Twin engines from Briggs and Stratton have come forward on different online forums to share their experiences.

Symptoms to look out for:

• The first thing you will note when the engine is down to one cylinder is a knocking sound coming from the engine.
• For other operators, the engine power drops drastically.
• Starting the engine becomes problematic.
• When the engine finally starts running, it sounds like it will die, and you have to push the throttle to keep it running. It becomes almost impossible for the engine to idle on a single cylinder.
• The cylinder that will be running will generally be hot, while the faulty one will not.

What causes Briggs and Stratton V-twin to run on one cylinder?

Let us take a look at the different factors that can cause your V-twin engine to run on one cylinder and the possible fixes;

1) Faulty spark plug

A spark plug is responsible for the spark that lights the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber at the right time. The spark plug carries electrical energy that comes from the ignition coil. When the timing is right, a high-voltage spark is transmitted by the coil through the spark plug to jump the gap in the plug.

When the spark plug is new, the effectiveness of the high voltage through the spark plug is quite high. However, as time goes by and with the continued usage of the plug, the gap increases, and the pointed titanium or other high-value metal between the gap becomes blunt. This, in effect, makes the spark plug less effective, which can then cause the chamber to misfire.

Fix

The solution to having a faulty spark plug is simply to replace it. Depending on your chosen brand, a pack of four spark plugs will cost you between $20 and $50. You will need a ratchet and a socket to do the job.

2) Loose valve seat

A valve seat is technically a seat for the air intake valve. A valve seat is the area where the valve seals against the head cylinder. The valve seat is that part of the intake that makes contact with the valve and whose airtightness guarantees efficient combustion in the chamber. When a valve is seated, the valve seat prevents the compressed air in the combustion chamber from leaking into the manifold.

A loose valve seat will leak and fail to seal properly. When this happens, the compressed air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber will leak into the exhaust intake. A leakage means that there will be numerous misfires, and in the end, the affected cylinder will not deliver.

Fix

The answer to a loose valve seat is to replace the valve. However, there are experts out there who successfully repair a loose valve seat. The first thing to do is clean the exhaust intake. You should then insert back the valve, and if it's not sitting right on the manifold, hit it with a hammer until it sits in the valve manifold nicely and square.

Once the valve is flat and square in the manifold, use a center punch and a hammer to push the metal around the valve seat. Using a center punch makes the valve seat fit in the manifold as required. In many instances, this fix has been seen to solve the loose valve seat once and for all.

3) Bad coil

An ignition coil plays a crucial role in the firing of the engine. It provides the necessary voltage to the spark plug. A malfunctioning coil causes your V-twin engine to misfire, especially when under load or accelerating. It may fail when you continue operating your engine while a particular coil is faulty.

Fix

The answer to a faulty coil in your Briggs and Stratton V-twin engine is to replace it. The price of a new coil is around ten bucks, and if you buy the coil and accompanying spark plug, the price is around $15.

4) Push rod coming off

The Briggs and Stratton V-twin engine is an OHC, and the push rods found here work like in any other OHC engine. The pushrod in this engine acts as a portal for transferring oil through the valve lifter and onto the head.

For many Briggs and Stratton V-Twin owners facing this problem, the issue has been pointed to a faulty push rod. The push rod will be bent rather than straight, making it fail to function. The problem is usually caused by a defective valve guide that is found inside the valve spring. The faulty valve guide will be sticking out of the head more than it should be. This causes the rocker arm to be extremely loose, which then causes the push rod to fall off and be pressed by the rocker arm at some point, bending it.

Fix

A faulty push rod can be replaced. However, you will need some expertise in using the feeler gauge. Moreover, there are other tools like a 7mm socket, 5/8" wrench, and 5/32" plug wrench that you must have in your garage. If there is more damage to the head assembly, you will need to purchase a new one from Briggs and Stratton.

5) Blocked carburetor jet

Like most engines from this manufacturer, the Briggs and Stratton V-Twin are equipped with a carb. A carb jet injects fuel into the combustion chamber, and there should be no blockage whatsoever. However, due to usage and age, deposits can form in the jet, leading to an ineffective fuel system and a dead cylinder.

Fix

The most common solution to this problem is to clean the carburetor without necessarily removing it from the engine. In the market, you will find the Briggs and Stratton carburetor cleaner, which comes in handy when cleaning the inside and the outside of the carb.

However, the best approach to dealing with this problem is to ensure you take good care of the engine. Regular maintenance of the engine, avoiding usage of stale fuel, and getting rid of fouled spark plug plays a crucial role in preventing this problem. Adding system cleaners or stabilizers to the fuel and performing annual tune-ups to the engine as recommended in the operator's manual helps prevent this and other issues.

6) Faulty valve guide

A faulty valve guide is another cause for your V-Twin engine running on a single cylinder. The valve's stem moves up and down inside the valve guide. When the guide is pushed out of the head, as is commonly seen with Briggs and Stratton V-twin engines, the rocker's arm is unable to push the valve. This then makes it impossible for the valve to function.

Fix

The answer to this problem is to replace the head assembly. However, when you take the engine to a Briggs and Stratton mechanic, the faulty valve guide can be repaired.

Conclusion

The Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine is a very popular engine. However, the above problem is quite common; unfortunately, the root cause is not one. This means that you have to know the various possible reasons why your engine might end up running on only one cylinder. In the article, we have covered the most common causes of this problem.