Setting Valves: A Complete Guide on What To Know 

It's amazing how tricky this adjustment is. I've followed these instructions for several motors the last couple of years. But today, it just keeps failing on a B&S 21 hp single cylinder. I adjust it to 4 thous. Then tighten it, and check it again and it's 7 thous. So try again and again. Finally had to set it to 3 thous, to get it to be 4 thous after tightening. And the motor still won't spin without the sparkplug being out. Update: I was able to talk to Taryl, and he suspected the camshaft compression release inside the crankcase was broken. So I removed the engine, opened the case and sure enough, Taryl was right. Thanks again for the great advice.

The side of a Dr. Pepper can just happens to be .004 thick, in case you lost or don't have your feeler gauge set. ;)

After following the instructions from the manufacturer's site my engine was still hard to turn over. After watching this video I had a good laugh and an engine that turned over with more ease than it ever had on my third hand mower. Thanks a bunch!

"I don't care what the book says!!! " thats something my dad would've said. he could fix anything. about spewed my coffee at that part 😂

Took me a few tries to get my mowers valves set correctly, but it worked thanks to the info here. I really enjoy your videos. May not seem obvious, but your longer, more in depth videos teach that you've got to go slow, remain calm, and not start smashing things and cursing when you get frustrated working on an engine, no matter how frozen a bolt is, no matter how much skin you've scraped off your hand.

Lots of mowers have this problem and you showed just how easily it can be fixed. Thank you! Great quick tip at the end. Gotta get the buggers out.

Ya' know, some mechanics would have set the valves and charged you for a new starting motor. Taryl knows what he is doing!

Junior does a really good job with this video He's really professional on his presentation I had a riding lawn mower doing the same thing this video was what helped me fix it

BRILLIANT! How did I live so long without you?

Forget what the book says...Exactly. I reset the gaps your way and KaBOOM! Fired right up. Thanks Jr.

Taryl thanks for the info on the gas cap at the end of the video. My lawn tractor was skipping when it got hot. Less than 5 minutes. My gas cap was plugged but you could not tell by just looking at it. I sprayed carb cleaner in it and hit it with compressed air then put it back on tractor and it worked just like new! Thumbs up to you!

Great videos for learning how to fix small engines. They're funny, entertaining and very educational. Great job guys!

Dude I'm glad you are on the planet. You hooked me up. Adjusting the valves fixed the compression problem. No bell s no whistles jumped motor with cables . One & 1\2 revolution s I woke up the 🐈 cats! Thanks for the entertainment and knowledge!

I just watched this video a couple hours ago.. and pulled out my mower that was doing the same exact thing ... your info was spot on... my mower lives 😁🤘🤘🤘🤘

Just wanted to say thanks for your video of valve adjustment for hard start B&S. Your symptoms were exactly what I had. One turn and stop. I had fought starters, batteries and was at wit's end! Never had a clue that valve adjustment was that critical to a good start. I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but was able to follow your video easily and she fired right up...Thanks again, Keep up the good work.....

First time adjusting valves. Followed y’all’s steps and she fired up first time. Thanks guys!

I've seen the TDC valve adjustment method and this method (one at a time). I've found this method works perfectly, no need to find TDC, just have one fully closed and the other fully open

Thanks Taryl. Been checking solenoid and starter. Nothing wrong with them. Then I find this video with you showing the exact symptom I’ve been having and how to fix it. Ordered new gaskets before repairing and will do so when they arrive.

Thank you so much, I was having trouble trying to figure out what was going on and you explained it perfectly. Words can’t express how much I appreciate it. Thank you

You are hilarious!!! You also have a gift to teach. You explain things so well..... so that people can understand...... Even with them there teef's!! Lol.... Any chance of doing a vid on a v-twin Briggs valve adjustment? Or maybe just a comment on how it should be done? If so thanks in advance.... AND THERE'S YER DINNER!!!!!.. Your f'n hilarious man!

OMG, that was so ridiculous in a shamefully entertaining way and probably the most succinct and informative video I've seen on the subject. Good job!

This fixed my Pony that I've been trying to troubleshoot for 2 weeks! THANK YOU so MUCH!!!!!

Your Irish cousin here Dusty Rhodes here . Fixing up an od mtd yardman year "98" been neglected for years .... complete strip down ... grease replace and respray ...... set the valves to 4000 as you said Not finished yet but will post a video to you with before and after photos.... keep on rockin and keep on giving them dinners out big guy ..... 👍👍👍

OMG!!! This was it!!! This was the video!!! For the first time ever I attempted a head gasket replacement on my B&S 19HP OHV lawn tractor. Everything went well until the valve adjustments. So many of the videos did a piss poor job of explain gin Top Dead Center etc. and I could get it to run smooth. Then I found this video, opened it back up, made the adjustments and WHAMMO!!!! I'm running smooth as silk. Thank you!!! This couldn't have been easier.

Just found this video and thanks you, it solved a problem I've battled for over 2 years!! Two batteries and one solenoid later...I found this! Add to that since I no longer had feeler gauges and wanted to try it right now, today, I folded a piece of aluminum foil over and measured it with my reloading micrometer at about .004. Needless to say, I just stood back and smiled/laughed when my Toro started right up!!! Just wanted to let you know this video is still helping people solve impossible problems!Thank YOU!

Taryl you are my go to guy......many thank yous for your videos.

Thank you. This was the last thing I was going to try before giving up and it worked right away. Awesome videos!

Hey Taryl , you gave a good tip at the end of that video!! My tractor was doing that for 2 years! I was so frustrated. When I was driving for a while ( engine warm) it alwAys stop when I was going up hill like the engine was starving for gas. I was ready to put a gas pump and the guy at the shop(after seeing him several time ) told me about the gas cap! That was the problem! The tractor is been working good since. Thanks again for your video!

Thank you for this video. I did my first valve job a couple of weeks ago and I used the manufacture specifications and it did not work but when I re adjusted them to 0.004 in now my mower runs great again!!

I love your videos Taryl. They are very entertaining and very informative for a wanna-be small engine mechanic like myself. Keep it up!

Encore! Thank you for this guided instructional video. Same scenario for myself, now she is in running condition. Same mower as well.

finally a utube video with real production great job

valve adjustment was the missing piece for my head gasket replacement. other videos left that out. thanks Taryl!

Excellent presentation, you showing how the engine won't crank with the valves out of adjustment described my problem perfectly. I'll check and set the valves tomorrow. Keep up the good work.....

Exactly what mines doing! New battery and same thing. Never would have thought about valve adjustment but makes sense

Had an oil leak at the cover that required a new gasket . After I saw this video I figured a valve adjustment would be a good idea since the cover was off . Now the mower starts right up as soon as the key is turned . Thanks for the video guys , so easy to understand .

It's a miracle! That starter is spinning like it hasn't spun for years. I adjusted the valves - set to .004 inches, I don't care what the book says! Taryl Fixes All!

Thanks for this. I thought compression release was broken so took sump off. Camshaft and release gizmo intact. Put it back together, set valves using Taryl's advice (not B&S setting) and it started right up. Wish I'd seen this earlier... would have saved a ton of work. Thanks Taryl and the crew.

November 11, 2022. Briggs 12.5 horse. Starter struggles, but won't crank the engine over. Typed "valve adjustment" in search bar for this channel, and there it is "How to set or adjust the valves on a riding mower = with Taryl Jr." I'm running to the hardware store to pick up a set of feeler gauges. and I'll be good to go. LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!

Entertaining and informative. Thanks and keep up the good work. I am in Vermont and I would ask my other brother Taryl to give me a hand with fixing my boat motor that doesn't start!

Love your channel. I followed this video and the engine manual on my Kohler Pro 25hp engine. Started great. Ran great for 3 minutes, then sort of lost power. Turned out the spark plug wire had fallen off. Also seemed very hot. Crimped it back on, then ran great for 4 minutes and sort of lost power again this time until it stalled. Now it cranks and goes "Phut Phut" and even sounds like it might be catching a little bit, but never actually catches and starts. Waited a couple hours for it to cool: same thing.

Y'all are the bomb thanks to y'all I'm able to keep my Husqvarna running keep up the great videos

Man,thanks so much,you make me laugh,and that's a great thing,also you make it so simple to learn! (I have watched this one a few times,makes me laugh every time!)

this is great. i was was a machine repairman for 40 years and lots of times i had to do that i don't care what the book says. and it worked better. i can count on one had the times i had to go back to fix the thing i just fixed.

Thanks these videos are fun and very informative. Also you are spot on on the vent hole. I had a rider do the same thing. Cleaned it up and then ran fine Keep making these please

Thanks for this vidya not only well done and informative but had a good laugh.

This fixed my mower, thanks sooooo much!!!

Tarly, thank you so much for your video. It helps me a lot for fixing my John Deere Mower.

Great great job! Best video I've watched for a long time!

Ha ha "there's yer dinner." hilarious and informative, what's not to love? Have to try this adjustment on our 20 yr old pony, hope it works. Thanks!

Hey Taryl i was just ready to tear my 12.5 Kroller down to repair that acr when i took off the starter cover and found out that the cheap chinese bendix I bought was going up to high and jamming the flywheel. I think i lucked out here. thanks love your channel

Taryl Apparel lmao. Hey that was a good video! Made it a whole lot easier to comprehend, straight, to the point, bit of comedy. Thanks!

First off, y'all are doing the most. Second, just subscribed. Why haven't I seen this video sooner? Third, great vid. Good job.

Nice sox cuz! looks like the High waters are back in style!! love it!!!

Thanks for sharing your talents and videos going to check my valves on my 18.5 briggs Doug

you need to let junior do more videos too taryl. yall as a tag team on camera would be lit!

Thank you taryl❤, I appreciate your knowledge and instructions

His advice has made me and save me thousands of dollars!!!!

Dude...that was awesome. Great video...funny and straight forward!

Thank you guys! Thanks to your easy to understand video my mower lives again! Thank you soo much!!

Nothing like laughing while learning. Love this shit! Thanks guys!🤙

Thank you , I did this and it fired right up

This was very helpful. Of course my set only went down to 6thou so carved one out of energy drink can. Way closer than it was. Mine were sloppy like 12 thou slid in and out easy. Thanks for the help

you guys are really knowledgable n funny thanks for the videos

Thanks for all your advice

You guys are FANtastic!

Love your videos Taryl. Very helpful.

I've done quite a BIT OF MECHANICAL WORK IN MY DAYS BUT HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATED BY VALVE ADJUSTMENTS FOR SOME STUPID REASON...UNTIL NOW. tHANKS!

Ohhhh Taryl, I just LOVE your sexy high-waters! LOL! Seriously though, I want to thank you for making these videos. I'm in the middle of fixing my crappy WalmarK RER. Didn't even get 2 full mowings out of it before one of the plastic pieces broke on top of the carburetor. Also, it NEVER started correctly so thinking it was the starter or solenoid (?) I kept jump starting it off my truck battery to get it started. I'm in the middle of adjusting the valves right now. Hopefully, after this, it will be good for a long while. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's so nice to have a good laugh when you're aggravated about having to fix something that's a brand new piece of crap from the start.

THANK YOU, I did it.. im so proud

Thanks for the information, videos very amusing

LOVE it!

Thank you so much. You guys are awasome

This is fun video. My old LT1000 thanks you!

i love this show.

Thanks I tried the manual it didn't work then I tried your way and set both to .004 and it worked like a charm on my 17.5 bns!

instructional with a little humor, nice!👍

Ya'll guys are awesome

Awesome videos! Thank you

Ya'll saved me, thanks!!!

Two thumbs up. YEAH!!

Outstanding!!

you're the man! thanks a lot

Taryl Jr. Is a whole lot less high strung. Good dude

Thanks buddy, saved my butt again!

seems your channel was always great

Better than expected!

Thanks for the refresher course. I love your humor...but the book says...

Always good

Taryl, Great video! Having trouble starting my 25 hp Kohler Courage Pro engine. I am in the process of adjusting the valves. At TDC on the compression stroke, the clearance on both valves is tighter than the spec (0.005 in.). I don't think the valves have ever been adjusted. I was expecting the clearance to be greater than the spec. Just wondering if you have seen this type of thing before. Thanks in advance for your reply.

This video rocks!

I got th e OHV130 engine, and there's no T20 locknut in the middle. It just looks like a regular bolt head. How do you adjust that? Loosen the nut at the back, and then turn the nut, then retighten the back nut?

You good sir are THE go to for all small engine repairs. I'm fighting my Briggs with the exact same issue. Gonna adjust the valves next. Can you make this adjustment with both valves closed, or does one need to be closed while you adjust the open one?

Thank you. This adjustment looks great for doing valves that are out of adjustment. What do you do if both valves/rockers are totally loose or have been removed and are being reinstalled? They may be really loose regardless of how much you turn the flywheel. What is the starting/reference point? Thank you.

Hahaha great video. I can adjust my Briggs now due to your video. Thank you.

"As long as it's still good, It should be Alright." Thanks guy, Going to attemp this now

got to say the comedy is good theme information better i have come across taryll on and off I think he has it as a teacher and a machanic so with no lingering that red button i will smash like seeing you guys

Thanx dudes, loved your vid, the only thing missing was cans of beer and a corn cob pipe

Gitter done Taryl & thank you for your wisdom. Also I have just started working on small engine to help us put food on our table, it is something I have always wanted to try. But my first couple are kicking my rear. I have a mans gas powered scooter, in the fender says Gucci, and the motor is a 2 cycle with no sticker or name the housing is orange. I cleaned the carb, cleaned the gas tank & pulled out a hunk of black the size of my palm, changed the fuel lines and I also changed the spark plug and tested for fire in which the coil is good. But still I get nothing when I try to start it, even spraying some starter in carb. I believe it might be electrical, but if I disconnected all wires from motor, a red & green and the two coming from the coil shouldn't it still start up? still leaving plug wire on. Any tips please I'm really in a jam.

Taryl, Thanks for sharing your knowledge with youtube viewers. I did all exactly on your video but still spins slow and stop then any other suggestion that why is not starting? Thanks in advance.