blue smoke, oil burn smell

[okfine]

I have a craftsman 917 series 16hp ohv briggs engine. When I start the mower it has blue smoke and an oil burning smell for about a minute or two. It then clears up. I have installed a new head gasket (old one looked good). torqued bolts to correct setting. Cleaned carb and new float valve. No indication of loss of oil on dipstick. I think a small amount of oil is getting to muffler area, but nothing obvious. Does anyone have any thoughts? Is it possible to redo the muffler? Just looking for ideas

Thanks

 

[ILENGINE]

Make sure that the oil doesn't smell like gas. Other than that, it may be just a little bit of oil seeping past the rings when it sits between mowings. Then burns the oil off after startup.

 

[okfine]

Yes I had that issue before I rebuilt the carb, it seems like if I could keep it from getting to the muffler I would not have an issue