[Dirty Steve]

Thank you all for the advice. I spent a snowy, cold as he!!, windy April day working on the Briggs engine. I knew there had to be reason/s why this engine was soooo cruded up. The seal under the PTO has issues. The fill tube seal is roached. And there is no doubt the crank seal under the fly wheel has to be gone also. My local NAPA store sells a product called Triple Blessing which is a potent acid cleanser. I went to town on this engine today. I had it completely ready to pull yesterday. I picked it out this morning, set in a wheel barrow, and trucked it to my basement door. The old coal boiler had the basement at 76 degrees. Spent the day degreasing the "good" side of the engine. Pulled the PTO and cleaned up that side. I hope that seal is replaceable? I did not pull the fly wheel. Then cleaned on the jug below the bad head. It is definitely cylinder ONE. I don't have a clue what I am doing but I did not spend any extra cash yet. I am taking the members suggestions to weigh my options. Seems there are Briggs parts available from sources other than my dealer for cheaper. I don't consider the clean up done yet. I had to walk away to spend some time pulling kids on sleds and making snow angels.