My 16.5 OHV Briggs & Stratton is difficult to turn over when the spark plug is in place however it turns over easily with the spark plug. I checked the plug opening and I get both compression and exhaust when the crank is turned. Why won't it turn when the spark plug is in place?

Sherwood, November 2006

Because with the spark plug in you have full compression. take it out and you have no compression :-)

Lazza, August 2008

check the exhaust and intake valve clearence should be about oo4 exhaust 006 intake

DON, May 2007

Valve clearance is critical in those engines.
Adjusting the valve clearances should resolve your problem.

You can find instructions on how to do that on Briggs web site at this link:

http://faqs.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/faqs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3441&p_created=1101860144&p_sid=99hT3rmi&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTAxJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfbmwmcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1WYWx2ZSBBZGp1c3RtZW50&p_li=&p_topview=1

Big link, copy and paste it into your address bar. Scroll down that page to find "Adjusting Overhead Valves"

Rick, November 2006