5 quick operation and Maintenance Qs

1--blowing out gaskets--Sounds like you might have the PCV/ breather system plugged. There should be a breather plumbed to the air filter bonnet, or at least an "open" free breather, as well as a PCV valve plumbed to the manifold / carb with 3/8 hose

2--adjusting valves-- Some claim "do it running" but I do not. I ALWAYS use the EOIC method, which works on any pushrod engine from a Briggs to a Pratt and Whitney. EOIC means

(get the engine warm, be prepared, and quickly remove valve cover) then turn the engine until......

The EXHAUST valve just starts to OPEN, you adjust the intake on that cylinder.

then you rotate until................

The INTAKE valve opens, starts to close, and is "nearly" CLOSED and you adjust the exhaust valve on that cylinder. I just go from one end of the head to the other. All you need is simple feeler gauges and wrenches

3 -- A good thurough diagnostic tune up. Inspect cap and rotor, inspect, check resistance or replace plug wires, run a simple "balance" test by shorting out each wire. Pull the dist. boots so you can get the wires in/ out easy, use insulated fuse pullers, and a grounded probe. Remove one wire at a time and slide your grounded probe into the dist. tower to short that spark. Alternatively, insert small nails down beside each plug wire in the cap. Just short each one in turn. Watch a tach, and or vacuum gauge, and listen on each cylinder. The tach/ vacuum should drop the same amount, and the engine should "sound and labor" the same on each

Get yourself a timing light, tach/ dwell meter, vacuum gauge, compression tester, a 12 v test lamp and a multimeter. You can buy most/ all of this stuff (multimeter) at Radio shack, all of it at Sears, parts stores, and find it on Craigslist or garage sales

4-- overheating -- sounds like something is plugged, restricting flow. stat, collapsing lower hose, plugged/ dirty radiator or even the block.

5-- forget that idea. You are likely NOT to gain anything, and could very well create a dangerous condition. Most fiberglas fans are worthless.