Lawn mower motor

[vossman]

Picked up non running mower with a decent Briggs and Stratton motor. Guy I got it from somehow overfilled the oil, I took about 36oz out of it and it probably needs about 18-20oz at the most.
The muffler was filled with oil, spark plug was nasty, oil pushed back through the carb and into the gas tank I think as the fuel was black and oily too.
So, I took the muffler, carb, linkage and gas tank off, cleaned them up. Looked inside the spark plug hole and the piston looked nasty dirty and oily.
Should I try to flush the piston area out with fuel or carb cleaner to clean out a bit of the oil before reassembling? I don't wanna take the head off if I don't have to. I don't have any oil in it now asi wanted to flush it.
Any advice is appreciated.

[2XS]

I wouldn't bother with cylinder at all it will burn off the first time you start it. I would clean up the carb make sure the passages aren't plugged. Put a new plug it push it outside and fire it off and get ready to fog with it for a while the oil will burn off in a big billowing cloud. Other then that just run it and enjoy.

[BPTactical]

Pull the plug and spin it over with the starter, that will blow the majority of the oil out.
Get two plugs in case the first one fouls.
Take a can of carb cleaner and blast out the carb, getting into as many of the orifices as you can.

[vossman]

Thanks guys. Got it running and it starts first pull. Little bit of smoke when it started but you told me that would happen. I think I might try tearing it completely down to see if I can rebuild it and get it to work again. I'm not very mechanical but I only have $7 into it so wtf, might as well try it.

[2XS]

It's good exercise that is where I started with most of mechanical abilities took small engines in high school now I basically work anything and everything. Except for mounting scope I let Burt do that for me.

[vossman]

It's good exercise that is where I started with most of mechanical abilities took small engines in high school now I basically work anything and everything. Except for mounting scope I let Burt do that for me.

"A mans got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry I believe.

[TEAMRICO]

I have kept my B&S mower from Sears running since 2004. I tell my son that is older then him.....and works harder!
Rebuilt the card and a new blade two weeks ago and she has started every year on the first pull or two.

[BPTactical]

I still have a large wheel Craftsman mower we bought new in '92. Had it serviced a couple of years ago, starts on third pull and it's a beast.

[theGinsue]

Got 2 large wheel mowers with busted wheels I need to get rid of myself. 1 needs a good tune-up too. The other ran until I busted the starting cable 2 yrs ago.

I had an "award" at work that was getting ready to expire last year and one of the few places I could redeem it was Sears. Got a new mid-grade mower for ~$15 out of pocket. Now I have these other 2 mowers that I need figure out what to do with them. Anyone have a need/desire for them? Pick up one or both locally and they're yours.

ETA: ** GONE **

[vossman]

I'll take em. When and where can I pick them up?