Yesterday I swung by the recycling center and there
was a complete 5hp Coleman pressure washer sitting
in the metals bin. I wrestled it out and into the
back of my car, took it home, and cancel all plans
for the rest of the day.

I filled the tank half full with gas and tried to
start it. No gas getting to plug. Pulled and dis-
assembled the carb - looked fine. I put my hand over
the intake port and cranked - pressure coming out
during compression stroke.

Pulled off the head, everything looks good, pulled
off valve spring cover - ahh haa, no clearance on
intake valve, keeper on exhaust valve is off.

First the intake valve, take it out and grind down
the stem tip until I have about 15 thou clearance,
put it back on.

Now the exhaust. I take the valve out and the stem
look terrible. It's necked down nearly 1/8" where
it rubs against the guide and the shoulder where the
keeper lives is all chewed up.

I grind the worn areas down to clean metal, fire up
the oxy-ace torch and blob braze over it. I chuck
it in the lathe and do my best to true it up. Nothing
I'd be proud to show to a real machinist, but better
than before. I grind about .015 off the tip of the
stem, like the intake valve so I have some clearance.
I put the valve back in and button up the valve spring
cover.

I make a new head gasket from gasket material, spray
both sides with copper permatex, torque it to 25 ft/lbs
and put the rest of the engine back together.

Now we have some compression. With just a little bit
of tweeking around, it starts and runs great. I hook
up the water, fiddle with the nozzle and I have a working
pressure washer. I pressure-wash the pressure washer.

What I learned:

Gas engines really want to run.

I get unbelievably compulsed to fix things, especially
free things.

What I'd like to know:

Where did the valve clearance go?