I have a Troybilt 17hp riding mower. What would allow gas to get into the crankcase?

Question

This mower has not been used in over a year. I had to take the carburetor bowl off and unstick the float. It still wouldnt crank and got to where it was hard to turn over, even with new battery. When I took the spark plug out, gas came out. I took the oil drain plug out and gas came out. What would cause gas to get into the crankcase?

Answer 1

The problem was the carb float. it was draining all the gas in the engine . to fix--
1 as you did drain all oil .
2 Take spark plugs out. let it air dry you should be able to turn it over ( crank the engine ) by hand. should be easy If not stop everything.
3 Take carb apart take float off and check it there is any gas in the float?
if so get a new float.
4 adjust the high level and the low level make
sure you get a new gasket and needle valve.
You should be good as new.
thank you
dave

Answer 2

In addition to draining the oil etc, you should remove the carburetor and soak it in a good parts cleaner. Make sure all passages are open and clean and reassemble with a repair kit. If the float valve is sticking there will be crud in other parts of the carb also.

Answer 3

It sounds like a broken piston ring. If the motor has set for a long time with out being turned over rings can stick and when you finally get the motor to turn over the ring can break. Pull the plug and turn the motor over, hold your thumb over the spark plug hole and see if you have compression.
Good luck!