Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized?

DanoHB · 07-21-2012, 06:44 PM

What a bummer. Riding in my cart with family today, and it makes a loud noise and starts sputtering, then I shut off and won't even try to turn over. The stater turns, but the drive to start the engine won't. i can't even pull the pull to start cord. I think the engine seized on me. Not sure why it happened. Has good oil. Was 106 degrees today, so wondering if that could have been the contributing factor. Or could it have been the oil pump?

Anyone had a similar issue in past? What did you do? Repair, rebuild, or replace. Cost varies a lot. I am in So Cal so anyone around Canyon Lake have a good shop to go to? Can I take to lawnmower shop for better price? Help?

pachanga90 · 07-21-2012, 08:42 PM

Pull it down,see how bad its' damaged,and rebuild it yourself.Get a manual from Briggs,They are written so that your kid could read the book and rebuild and tune it.A mower-shop will rob you more than likely,unless you go there in the off-season,when they will work on anything that will pay.Are you running Synthetic-Oil?Its' a must when you run them hard.At 106,it was cooking,probably leaned out and seized a piston.Hope this helps.

fstg21 · 07-21-2012, 10:34 PM

When/ if you rebuild it, richen up the mixture a bit next time. Without it my engines run super hot.

Get a cylinder head temp gauge.

Fits under the spark plug.

sho305 · 07-25-2012, 09:40 PM

There is no way of knowing until you open it up. Could be the cam broke in half or the magneto fell off, sure its likely it let go a rod/etc but you never know until you look. Once you know, you are in a way better place to figure out a solution. Its only a lawn engine, unless you do no mechanical work they are not very complex to work on.

fstg21 · 07-26-2012, 03:54 PM

Just pull the back cover and have a look. Remove the clutch, drain the oil, remove 10-12 small bolts and you can have a look.

Don't even need to pull the engine

littleboots · 08-25-2012, 01:14 PM

fstg21 you said to richen it up.. do you mean larger jet? what size jet are people running... sorry to jump in on this but it's valuable info.

07-21-2012, 06:44 PM	#1
DanoHB Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canyon Lake, CA Posts: 166	Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? What a bummer. Riding in my cart with family today, and it makes a loud noise and starts sputtering, then I shut off and won't even try to turn over. The stater turns, but the drive to start the engine won't. i can't even pull the pull to start cord. I think the engine seized on me. Not sure why it happened. Has good oil. Was 106 degrees today, so wondering if that could have been the contributing factor. Or could it have been the oil pump? Anyone had a similar issue in past? What did you do? Repair, rebuild, or replace. Cost varies a lot. I am in So Cal so anyone around Canyon Lake have a good shop to go to? Can I take to lawnmower shop for better price? Help?

07-21-2012, 08:42 PM	#2
pachanga90 I Refuse To Get Stuck!!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hilton,NY Posts: 5,427	Re: Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? Pull it down,see how bad its' damaged,and rebuild it yourself.Get a manual from Briggs,They are written so that your kid could read the book and rebuild and tune it.A mower-shop will rob you more than likely,unless you go there in the off-season,when they will work on anything that will pay.Are you running Synthetic-Oil?Its' a must when you run them hard.At 106,it was cooking,probably leaned out and seized a piston.Hope this helps.

07-21-2012, 10:34 PM	#3
fstg21 Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: ARIZONA Posts: 476	Re: Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? When/ if you rebuild it, richen up the mixture a bit next time. Without it my engines run super hot. Get a cylinder head temp gauge. Fits under the spark plug.

07-25-2012, 09:40 PM	#4
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? There is no way of knowing until you open it up. Could be the cam broke in half or the magneto fell off, sure its likely it let go a rod/etc but you never know until you look. Once you know, you are in a way better place to figure out a solution. Its only a lawn engine, unless you do no mechanical work they are not very complex to work on.

07-26-2012, 03:54 PM	#5
fstg21 Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: ARIZONA Posts: 476	Re: Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? Just pull the back cover and have a look. Remove the clutch, drain the oil, remove 10-12 small bolts and you can have a look. Don't even need to pull the engine

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08-25-2012, 01:14 PM	#6
littleboots Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 69	Re: Vanguard 18HP V-Twin seized? fstg21 you said to richen it up.. do you mean larger jet? what size jet are people running... sorry to jump in on this but it's valuable info.

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