So here is the next chapter in the process of evaluating my 1976 Briggs 5 hp engine.
Since I was getting a 0 psi compression reading (I got 30 psi the day before), I thought that I had to remove the head to evaluate further. I found the head bolts to be just snug....not real tight at all. I also noticed that the head was just floating on the block without being "stuck" like I figured it would be. The head gasket looked new and clean, the piston and valves were good looking with the exception of being really wet and having some "sludge" on them. The inside of the head also had a bunch of sludge on it.
I used some brake parts cleaner to spray everything down well and wiped it all out. I even used a small pick to scrape some of it off. None of the stuff was hard, as it was all wet and like a sludge rather than hard dry carbon. All of the valves moved up and down and the piston wall was smooth.
I cleaned it all up well and did the valve test where you put the engine at TDC and push the valve down and try to spin it. Neither of them moved at all, so seemed to be seated tightly.
I decided to put everything back together and snugged all bolts then went back and tightened them in a star pattern a little bit tighter (didn't use a torque wrench since I am still diagnosing) .
Now, I need some input from the pros on what I have found and what is possibly wrong, then what I need to do next.
Since I was getting a 0 psi compression reading (I got 30 psi the day before), I thought that I had to remove the head to evaluate further. I found the head bolts to be just snug....not real tight at all. I also noticed that the head was just floating on the block without being "stuck" like I figured it would be. The head gasket looked new and clean, the piston and valves were good looking with the exception of being really wet and having some "sludge" on them. The inside of the head also had a bunch of sludge on it.
I used some brake parts cleaner to spray everything down well and wiped it all out. I even used a small pick to scrape some of it off. None of the stuff was hard, as it was all wet and like a sludge rather than hard dry carbon. All of the valves moved up and down and the piston wall was smooth.
I cleaned it all up well and did the valve test where you put the engine at TDC and push the valve down and try to spin it. Neither of them moved at all, so seemed to be seated tightly.
I decided to put everything back together and snugged all bolts then went back and tightened them in a star pattern a little bit tighter (didn't use a torque wrench since I am still diagnosing) .
Now, I need some input from the pros on what I have found and what is possibly wrong, then what I need to do next.