Did riding mower head gasket replacement - issue with starting

[M]

Video of my mower smoking (go to :40+, you'll see the smoking better)  https://youtu.be/xYDbcsENVjo?t=39s

This was my very first time to tear into an engine.

My riding mower started to smoke really bad, and common consensus online is that its the head gasket. Very common issue with this engine.

Took old one out, put in new head gasket and put it all back together.   I really struggled with finding the correct position of the rods and when to measure the valve gaps.

When I tried to start it, the motor would spin about 3/4 and then stop.  It will not start. Did I fuck up the rods and valve gaps, and need to redo it? Whats the trick in this area?

[M]

Here's a time lapse video I did:   https://youtu.be/sMHfV5j6PSU

[mr.mindless]

if you can't turn a motor over by hand, NEVER try to start it.

Are you certain the lifters and pushrods are fully seated? Most common cause, and how I bent a pushrod in my truck after having rockers off.

[M]

if you can't turn a motor over by hand, NEVER try to start it.

I was able to move it over by hand when I put in the push rods and rockers. Then when I tried to start it, I can't move it by hand. 

Are you certain the lifters and pushrods are fully seated?

No. How do I determine this?       Before I mounted/tightened the rockers, I spun the motor by hand and both pushrods moved freely.

[rejeep]

I was able to move it over by hand when I put in the push rods and rockers. Then when I tried to start it, I can't move it by hand. 

no bueno

[mr.mindless]

Take the rockers off. Reseat the pushrods in the tappets. Put the rockers back on.

They probably fell out when you rolled over the engine without rockers.


Tapatalking in traffic

[M4wdFab]

where is the quote where i say rebuilding motors is for the birds

[M]

Take the rockers off. Reseat the pushrods in the tappets. Put the rockers back on.

They probably fell out when you rolled over the engine without rockers.

I said the wrong thing.  I did test the motor when the rockers were on it and was able to spin it by hand.  It's 1:25 in the time lapse video when I was moving the cylinder to try to find 1/4 past the top stroke so that I can adjust rockers to spec.

[mr.mindless]

So it rolled over, then you adjusted and now you can’t?

Readjust.

Watch for one to move while the other doesn’t. Set lash on the one that is closed. Easy. Especially when you’re not dealing with trying to optimize work on a 6 or 8 cyl engine that’s a pain to turn over.


Tapatalking in traffic

[M]

Its alive! It started and ran good.  Played around with adjustments and it fired right up.  Can't wait for the rtv to cure and cut grass tmw.

When the spark plug was inside the motor, I couldn't turn by hand.  When I removed spark plug,I was able to turn by hand easily.  Took a few times putting spark plug in and out adjusting rocker gaps until I was able to turn it by hand. 

[JEEPWERX]

where is the quote where i say rebuilding motors is for the birds

I really enjoyed the challenge and the  work itself when I rebuilt my first 258 that's in my street jeep.
Very detail oriented project compared to building a house.
 

Glad to hear you got it running.

[mr.mindless]

o_O

it was hitting the plug?

Or was it too much compression for you to overcome however it was you were turning it?

[M]

too much compression

[mr.mindless]

How did you adjust the valves, then?

There should be a spec, probably .007-.010" for intake and .018-020" for exhaust. I'm worried that they were adjusted too far if you made a notable difference in compression.

[M]

I misread the lash feeler specs.  It was user error.