Why a new head? What issues should I be looking for?
I pulled the head and looked inside. I see no signs of contact between valves and piston, cylinder walls look okay, nothing except a little oil in the bottom of the cylinder. I cleaned up the piston using a little Brakleen and will get to the head once the day cools to anything under 100F.
Photos are attached.
I was given this mower a few years ago. I forget why the previous owner quit using it, but when I got it it needed tires, drive and mower belts, a couple of pulleys and a gas tank. And a battery. The engine was packed with dirt and grass and it took me a while to wash it all out. I can see a motor like this overheating with all the cooling fins clogged. After using the mower a bit the ring gear broke and I managed to find one on the Internet. Sears did not carry it.
With the damaged push rods the 90 psi compression I was getting sounds pretty good actually. Maybe once the valves can open and close I'll get better numbers.
One thing though, it seems I should have been able to get the motor run, if poorly, on one cylinder. Or at least give me a puff or two once I squirted starter fluid in it.
Mike
P.S. What is a good source for parts for this mower?