I have an older mower, Sears Craftsman 19" with a Briggs&Stratton 4-cycle I picked up free from the local nursery as a way to teach my 8-year old son about engines. We gave it a good cleaning of the valve seats, new spark plug wire and spark plug gap adjustment got it to start like a race horse and run like a top. Here's my problem: there is a little rectangular can on the side of the engine block with a hole stuffed with some sort of fiber. The can is held into the engine with two screws. When removed, the valve stems and springs can be seen. I assume this can somehow lets excess pressure and gases escape while keeping oil in. But after running for 30 secs-1 min. oil starts spitting from the hole and becoming acrid blue-white smoke after hitting the exhaust. I stuffed it up a bit more with some steel wool, but oil still leaks out and due to thye amount of blue smoke coming from the exhaust still, I assume there is oil burning inside. Do I need an overhaul (new rings, seals, etc.) or is there something else that can be done? The little silver plate on the rear of the engine says Model 500.900.568 Serial 224377 and the plate on the mower itself says Model 131.81190. I can't match any of these numbers except the last 3 on the Model# kinda match up with the last 3 of the B&S ID guide (568 would mean vertical shaft, plain bearings, and side pull starter, respectively) Thanks for your help.

I have a Honda HRX217TDA with a GCV190 engine, which is less than two years old. When I restart the engine after refueling/mowing, I push the throttle forward from idle and the engine won't accelerate. It will start immediately in the any throttle position, but it only idles. It doesn't seem to do this when cold. Any suggestions?