On 21 May 2005 04:05:10 -0700, Pembroke_in_VT wrote:
I have a Craftsman 20 horse tractor that I bought new in 2004. It will
billow white smoke from the exhaust from time to time. It happens most
often when I am traversing an incline.

I have run it 3 times this season and changed the oil at the beginning
of the season and gave it fresh gas

The only time I saw an air cooled lawn tractor blow white smoke is when
the river flooded and it had been underwater (gray oil is a sign of
moisture).

White smoke that dissipates is steam (moisture or bad head gasket in water
cooled motor). Blue smoke that hangs around is oil. So maybe you really
mean blue smoke, which could happen if the engine is not designed to
operate at that angle or piston(s) start slapping the oil.