I had a trouble starting my engine more recently and then while 7 miles out it cut out. What I found was I just had a spark plug gasket I expect got flattened from so many times being removed an re-tightened, it started to loosen just ever so slightly and also I saw the carbon bit of dirty area near one side of the plug at the head. It would restart when the engine cooled off. I expect the contraction of the metal of the head was why it could restart. Now it has a new plug, and the special plug wrench that I can use to get a better grip, even if I do not remove the engine I can be sure to get it torqued right. The plug height was a slightly shorter one. A ratchet type wrench will not fit unless engine removed.
I was going to set the intake valve to not reflect the Easy-Spin starting technology of Briggs, as I don't like loosing compression with the intake valve still opened during the first portion of the compression stroke. I now think it is OK and I have another concern that dust entered the cylinder when the plug leaked and now oil is getting past the rings to the top of the piston. Just there is no smoky exhaust and it is running fine, I'll just see on the next few times out if it will be much further out in the future to hone and de-glaze, and put in new rings.
