The Briggs easy spin camshaft compression release is a concept, not a group of parts making up a compression release mechanism. With Briggs easy spin, there is no actual mechanism. The easy spin camshaft essentially is made with a small "high spot" or "blip" on the camshaft base circle (opposite the large high part of the cam called the lobe). Whenever the tappet is in contact with the base circle of the cam, the valve for that tappet is closed. During the compression and power stroke, the intake tappet is riding on the base circle. The Briggs easy spin concept places a very small high point on the base circle corresponding to the compression stroke part of the 4 stroke cycle. When the intake tappet contacts this high spot or bump during the compression part of the cycle, the intake valve re-opens slightly letting just a little pressure escape back into the intake port and manifold. This is what causes the slight "puff" back to the carb on these engines. This concept only works because the very slow RPM during cranking operation allows ENOUGH TIME for the decompression to take place. Once the engine gets running, the high spot passes the tappet too fast for any appreciable decompression to happen. The higher the RPM, the LESS TIME the valve is open for decompression. At higher RPM there is not even enough decompression to slow the inertia of the induction stream entering the engine. It is a compression release system with no additional moving parts, based solely on the principle of Pressure and Time. At a given pressure, a specific volume of gas will flow through an opening in a specific duration of time. If you decrease the duration of time the volume of gas flow will decrease proportionate to the time. That's why at higher RPM the decompression is negligible. I wasn't trying to say that the lack of RPM was any way related to a compression release malfunction. I was simply stating that the spit back you see is normal for these Briggs engines with the easy spin cam. In an old engine like this one it can be difficult to read a spark plug's color to determine if the air/fuel mix is too rich or too lean because excessive crankcase blowby (in both directions) often puts engine lube oil into the combustion chamber and that makes it hard to know if it is only burning fuel (gasoline) or if it is also burning some oil. I would not be afraid to remove the spark plug and get the piston coming up on the compression stroke and fill the combustion chamber up with your favorite "rust bust" product and leave it set for a week like that, adding more if it leaks down. This will permit time for the solvent to work its way down through the rings and grooves. Now don't go pouring a whole can of the stuff in there, cause the idea is to just let the stuff find its way down through the rings and cut the carbon and corrosion. Oil is cheap, so drain the oil and put in fresh after you soak the rings. Fill the fuel tank with fresh fuel and add some Sea Foam gas treatment (solvent) to the fuel. Then you want to just run the engine. Run it, run it, run it. You may have to run a whole tank of gas through it to see if it is going to improve. If the problem is due to sticky or stuck rings it should show some improvement after a half tank or so of gas has been used. If it is due to the engine being wore slam out.....the spark plug will likely foul out or at least be sticky/gummy black after the running. Good luck.

I was also sad to hear of Bridge's closing the nursery. I really liked doing business with Dennis and found his roses to be very healthy and vigorous growing. I do hope some other nursery will pick up all of his roses he hybridyzed as there are still a few that I wanted. I did get lucky and got a single bush of Ricky Hendrick and I really like it alot. John

It's true! Good things come to those who are patient, and sometimes to those who aren't LOL!!! Brrejr sent a VERY generous package and my mailman (who knows me all too well) tracked me down at the pool and hand delivered it to me so they wouldn't sit in the heat waiting for me to come home. I am the lucky recipient of: Guardian Angel Pineapple Punch Blue Blazes Blue Arrow Blue Bunting Midwest Magic They are all having a drink in the kitchen and will be lounging there until the heat wave ends here. Thanks so much, I love them all! And thank you to Lelan for organizing. This is always a high point of the summer for me :-) Alexa

Sara, Please bring some onions! I planned on bringing some standard condiments (catsup, mustard, relish if we have it, etc.), as we are pretty close to the park and we can handle any perishables. A suggestion to all, if you have seeds for exchange, please bring them. With the expected turn-out, even your extra "common" seeds might find homes, and isn't that what it's all about? Well, that and the chance to show off my little prince and princess ;-) P.S. I have a row of leaf lettuce and arugula that we will never be able to use all of before it bolts, anyone interested in some green salad? If someone were to bring a selection of dressings...