Don't know, but it sounds directly related to the deck, rather than the engine. ??

"Also if you remove the dipstick when it is running you get a oil mist bath shooting out of filler hole"

Normal.

I think you need to determine if it is running and running strong on both cylinders. Remove one plug wire at a time and see what the results are.

Walt Conner

tmajor, the deck is not the problem but thanks for the idea
walt2002, you were correct, one cylinder is dead as a post. I get good blue spark at the plug but the cylinder does not have the intake,compression,power,and exhaust strokes,it has all comp or exhaust. When I dive into this project shouldI do both heads at the same time and where do I stop?
This is a Briggs model 40H777 type 0242 code031126yg, I added all the specs because someone may know something unusual about this engine
again thanks Bob

First thing I'd do is remove the valve cover from the dead cylinder and see if something is obviously wrong.
Go from there-

bill kaupan,thanks for the info. I removed thevalve cover on the dead cylinder and found a bent alum pushrod, not bent bad but will replace it. Where in the world did the other one go? I do not see any passages big enough for a 6inch long piece of alum to hide.While engine runs I do not hear anything out of the ordinary,do not see any marks or scuffs.I not only like to fix things I also am courious as to why things happen. Any input or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I wish I had a laptop on my workbench because all you guys would make any job very easy. Thanks for all the info. Bob

turnkey, it sounds like you had the problem well isolated before you submitted your post. You were back with an assessment in 19 minutes!

Walt, why did you head for the "engine", with so little to go on?

tmajor,I have never seen a configuration like this before and did not want to jump without a clue as what to do.Do you have any ideas on the missing p/r?

Part of the oil in the sump. ??

Here is a little tid-bit, which they use on aircraft recip. engines from time to time. It will only work with OHV engines.

Here is a link that might be useful: staking a valve

Wait a minute! This engine is notorious for the diode in the kill wire system connecting the two coils going bad causing this.

Before you get carried away, disconnect the kill wire from each ignition coil and try the engine. Be aware that you will need to kill the engine in an alternate way.

Walt Conner

Walt, that isn't going to bring the push rod back ... is it?

Well I missed the post where he said the push rod was bent, sorry.

While you are at it, with a bent push rod in this engine, might want to check the height of the valve guide on that cylinder. They sometimes come loose and come out far enough that the valve keeper hits the top of the valve guide bending the push rod.

Walt Conner

I thought you had just gotten tangled up in our underwear, and that was an answer to a different one of these riddles.

Gentelmen, good news. Two new pushrods and adjustments of same I am once again cutting grass.I think I finally found a site where everyone knows what they are talking about, will be lurking. Thanks again, Bob

Did you find the missing pushrod?

Since no one here knows anything, we won't tell him that
the pushrod is floating around in the bottom pan/sump,
getting ready to ruin his engine.
Personally, he is likely a troll, just bored and wanting to start some poop.

Fish

Fish, I took his last post to mean the opposite ... I thought he said we were all wizards and knew everything. Plus, a "thank you"!

So, this is what takes place while I am mowing. Put @ 4 hours on the repair and the missing pushrod did not float up the oil filler spout or into any vital parts. When and if I have problems I am going to let you all know about it. Hopefully it will wait to appear after this season when I plan on overhauling the twin v. I really looked for a passage that a poshrod could go and found no space big enough to accomadate it. If anyone has an idea share it with me and the others that seem to be interested. THANKS AGAIN, Bob

Sorry. I misread his post, thought he said he found
"another" forum, and that they knew what they were talking
about. Sorry, I get "sensitive this time of the month.

The push rod is in the oil pan, just waiting to get lodged
in a cam gear or something, and destroying a $1200 engine.
Also going back into it, you will find that the rocker arm studs are not tight, and it will soon happen again,
until you use loctite. You need to dismantle the engine
and repair it correctly.

Fish