Lost rpms rapidly. Engine idled only with Mikuni choke engaged. Limp back to landing for 2o minutes. This is what one side looks like. Won't know what I will need to replace. Valve stem is seized in position so don't thinks parts flew around in cylinder. With the valve guide screwed up like this does that mean new heads and if just one side can I just get one replaced or do they have to be matched pair? I never went beyond 3700 rpms under moderately heavy load.



And the parts

seems to me your lash was set wrong, too tight......Or when valve guide broke thats when it bent

I'm fairly certain now that what I thought was my engine zinging in perfect rhythm was actually the valve floating? Eventually the rod began moving laterally and out of the rocker. Dont know if this was the progression or if the valve stem retainer mechanism broke. If so I should have listened to BoatDr and beefed them up.

I'm sure the mechanics on here got some heads laying around, if not, if i remember correctly Cody has a set in his shop already done up, maybe give him a call....Looks to me like your gonna need a new set.

I have bent and broke countless push rods when I was running double wound springs and have never had that happen. Guess you just got bad luck. Must be the curse of voting for obama. LOL

You don't need to replace the other side because that side failed, sure be nervous about some little parts floating around inside though. Spend a day and inspect it all.

Cody don't you have a set of heads at te shop, i thought i saw some a while back

Given the failure here, am I correct in assuming that the debris paths would be out either valve port so that at least the crankcase should not have any debris? If so debris could have been sent to muffler and carb path so need to check both? Muffler does not have any particles jangling around so don't think it is affected. I recall hearing engine backfire. Is this result of debris entering carb or something else.

Addendum: all the broken parts you see in the above photo were found in the valve spring area. No debris was found in the cylinder

I assume in your case your crankcase is clean, you didn't have a piston failureand you didn't loose any lifters all your damage is in the head area. If any debris went out you would have seen it on top of your piston or in your exhaust from when the vlaves opened.....now that being said i would definitly change your oil and filter and check for shavings. (silverish looking)

Good luck on the repairs D.

best thing to do is run it get it good and hot, which means you stirr it up a little then immediatly drain it, filings if any will be mixed in with oil for the most part and it'll drain out. I mean your not going to get all of it out but you'll get it. thats what i know to do besides pulling the case, avoid that if possible, if you don't get anything significant out i would roll with it

Good job Guidry.

Bent a push rod and broke a rocker arm Friday,mine doesn't look nearly as bad as yours. Congrats!

1st off if you did vote for obama I hope your pos boat sinks.
2nd the weakest part of the 23 is the valvetrain common sense would tell you better springs and retainers is a must esp with a performance camshaft and higher rpm/load.
Although a talented person could prob tig the head and fix it. lord knows ive done alot worse to an alum head with nitrous it would be alot cheaper to just get another set of heads.

[quote="NHyde"]1st off if you did vote for obama I hope your pos boat sinks.
2nd the weakest part of the 23 is the valvetrain common sense would tell you better springs and retainers is a must esp with a performance camshaft and higher rpm/load.
Although a talented person could prob tig the head and fix it. lord knows ive done alot worse to an alum head with nitrous it would be alot cheaper to just get another set of heads.

1st off I did vote for President Obama and will again. Don't you know wood floats.
2nd I know and will upgrade. Thanks all-of-3rd-post-member-expert-rookie.

dguirdy flush ur engine before start up. also flush ur cooler and cooler lines. than put in oil and run a test. i would also compare ur lift between the two cylinders. confirm that ur cam is ok.

a long range dial indicator. set it up on ur lifter pocket.

i think berryman or b.g. makes a engine flush. you can pour it in or use a presureized solvent sprayer. its a metal can that u fill with cleaner and charge it with air for the block. and disconnect the cooler lines at the filter adapter and clean ur cooler out. hope this helps u.

No, pour it all in the crankcase!!!

This isnt my third post I forgot my username because I dont get on a forum everyday. Im no expert but we are talking about a lawnmower engine.

well what was your previous username? just curious

bwahahahaha!!!!!!!!

u will fit in fine.it wasn't captncameltoe was it.

No I think it was quackattack I Bought a boat from a guy on here a few years ago

We're gonna call u manualgateman. You can be autogatemans arch Nemesis.

Man am i glad I listened to Cody at SETX and put the better spring retainer on mine. Hope mine don't have any problems like this.

At least your push rods stayed in one piece.

Double wound springs was my problem and I have gotten rid of them since then.

Hodge sells a rev-kit that has the good retainers, shims and pushrods. I ran the setup on a hopped up 23 around 7 years ago with no problems.