DescriptionThis video provides step-by-step instructions for replacing the camshaft on a Briggs & Stratton small engine. The most common reason for replacing this part is if the engine will not run at all.
All of the information in this video is applicable to the following brands: Briggs & Stratton
Step-By-Step Instructions1
To replace the camshaft on this briggs and stratton engine, you will need to uninstall the engine from the equipment it’s powering.
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If the engine is installed on this cub cadet chipper shredder…
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… you will need these tools to fully uninstall the engine.
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To replace the camshaft, you will need these additional tools.
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Before you begin this procedure, make sure the engine has cooled.
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We also recommend there be no fuel in the tank or oil in the engine.
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Use the half-inch wrench to secure the bolts and the half-inch socket to unthread the nuts securing the hopper assembly support plate to the impeller housing.
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Using the half-inch socket, unthread the six mounting nuts securing the front of the hopper assembly to the housing.
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With the nuts unthreaded, tilt the hopper assembly back and lift up to fully detach the assembly from the bolts.
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Remove the shredder plate.
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Next, unthread the two retaining knob screws securing the bottom of the discharge chute.
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Use the 7/16th inch wrench to secure the chute’s mounting bolt…
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… then use the 7/16th inch socket to fully unthread the nut.
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Slide out the bolt, detach the chute, and remove the two spacers.
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Use the needle-nose pliers to pull out the retaining pin securing the shredder screen pin and slide the pin out.
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Next, use the half-inch socket, the small flat-head screwdriver, and the needle-nose pliers to remove the upper mounting screws securing the outer flail housing.
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With the tow bar installed, tip the chipper shredder back and set a weight on the tow bar to hold it down.
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Now, using the half-inch socket and the half-inch wrench, remove the ten remaining nuts and bolts securing the outer housing to the inner housing.
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With all the nuts and bolts uninstalled, fully detach the outer flail housing and set the shredder screen aside.
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Use the two-by-four piece of wood to prevent the impeller from rotating.
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Use the 9/16th inch six-point socket with a half-inch driver to unthread the center mounting bolt securing the shredder blade and impeller – this will require some effort.
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Reposition the wood support to secure the impeller.
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Now use the 5/8th inch socket to thread the impeller removal tool into the center bolt screw hole.
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The bottom of the tool will then push against the bottom of the engine shaft to detach the impeller from the shaft.
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Once detached, unthread the impeller removal tool.
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Return the chipper shredder to its upright position.
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Now pull out the retaining pin securing the tow bar clevis pin.
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Slide out the clevis pin and remove the bar.
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Tip the chipper shredder back.
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Use the half-inch wrench and the half-inch socket to remove the nut and bolt securing the left rear corner of the engine base.
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Use the half-inch socket to unthread the three remaining mounting bolts securing the base.
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Return the chipper shredder to its upright position.
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Next, unthread the four mounting bolts securing the engine to the inner flail housing.
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With the bolts unthreaded, you can now fully remove the engine…
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… and set it on a sturdy surface with the crankshaft facing up.
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Use the 10mm socket to unthread the six mounting screws securing the crankcase cover
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You can use a flat-head screwdriver to help pry off the cover.
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With the piston in the “up” or the “top dead center” position, you can lift off the old camshaft.
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Before you install the new camshaft…
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… remove the timing gear washer so you can see the indent mark on the gear.
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Confirm the tappet valves are in place…
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… then insert the end of the new camshaft into the bearing in the crankcase and align the gear so the indent mark on the gear aligns with the indent mark on the timing gear when the gear teeth are int
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You may have to rotate the crankshaft to align the marks.
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Replace the timing gear washer.
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Confirm the crankcase gasket is intact, then realign the cover.
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Thread the mounting screws in a diagonal order.
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Using the 10mm socket on a torque wrench, torque the screws to 100 inch pounds.
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Before you reinstall the engine, you should confirm the valve push rods are properly seated and the gaps between the rocker arms and valves caps are accurate.
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With the engine upright, detach the breather tube from the rocker cover.
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Now use the 10mm socket to unthread the four mounting screws securing the rocker cover to the cylinder head.
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You will need to use the 3/8th inch universal joint adapter to unthread the top screw.
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With the four screws unthreaded, you can detach the cover.
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If loose, remove the rocker cover gasket.
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With the engine piston still in the “up” position, both rocker arms should be loose.
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Use the 5/8th inch wrench to secure the intake rocker arm adjuster nut and the 5/32nd inch allen wrench to loosen the set screw.
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Unthread the adjuster nut enough so you can rotate the rocker arm out of the way.
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Repeat for the exhaust rocker arm.
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Confirm both push rods are fully seated in the cylinder head… then realign the rocker arms and partially tighten the adjuster nuts.
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Now use the feeler gauge to set the appropriate gap between both rocker arms and their respective valve caps – the intake rocker arm gap should be between .004 and .006 thousandths of an inch…
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… the exhaust rocker arm gap should be between .009 and .011 thousandths of an inch.
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Tighten both rocker arm adjuster set screws then recheck the gaps.
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Reinstall the rocker cover by inserting the top mounting screw then slide the gasket, if applicable, over the screw.
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Align the cover and gasket on the cylinder head and thread the screw.
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Replace the remaining screws to fully secure the cover.
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The longer screw goes on the bottom.
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Insert the breather tube into the hole in the cover.
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Reinstall the engine by positioning it on the chipper shredder base with the crankshaft inserted through the hole in the inner flail housing.
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Confirm the washers are on the screws, then loosely thread the four screws to secure the engine to the flail housing.
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Tip the chipper shredder back…
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… then thread and tighten the three mounting bolts to secure the engine base to the base of the chipper shredder.
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Next, confirm the star washer is aligned on the left rear bolt then insert the bolt… slide on the round washer then thread and tighten the nut to secure the left rear corner of the engine base.
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Set the equipment upright…
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… then tighten the four screws securing the engine to the inner flail housing.
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Keeping the hitch plates tilted downward, reinsert the tow bar into the mounting bracket.
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Slide in the clevis pin and secure it with the retaining pin.
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With the tow bar reinstalled, tip the chipper shredder back and support it.
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Reinstall the impeller assembly by aligning it on the engine shaft.
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Secure it with the wood support, then rethread the center mounting bolt.
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Using the 9/16th inch six-point socket on a torque wrench, torque the center bolt to fifty foot pounds.
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Position the shredder screen mounting post in the hole in the inner flail housing then realign the outer housing.
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Thread and tighten the ten nuts and bolts to secure.
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Rethread the two upper mounting screws using the speed clips.
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Remove the weight and return the chipper shredder to its upright position.
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Slide the shredder screen pin through the impeller housing and screen.
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Insert the retaining pin to secure.
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Realign the discharge chute on the impeller housing and insert the spacers.
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Insert the mounting bolt…
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… then thread and tighten the nut.
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Fully position the chute then thread and tighten the retaining knob screws.
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Realign the shredder plate on the six impeller housing bolts.
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Reinstall the hopper assembly by aligning the support plate on the two upper mounting bolts first then rotate the assembly to align it on the impeller housing bolts.
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Thread and tighten all eight mounting nuts to secure – we recommend hand-threading the nuts first then using the socket to tighten once all the nuts are in place.
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Refill the fuel tank, add oil, and the engine should be ready for use.