Yep, I started out fixing things with lawnmowers, remarkably simple and
robust machines. In your case I would have replaced the cylinder head
though, usually a mower shop will have a whole pile of scrapped stuff and
would be happy to sell you a good used part.

Thanks for the suggestion. This was a 6 or 6.5 HP Craftsman engine,
and I don't think they've been making that for more than a few years
(so they're still new), or selling that many. I don't think I could
find one in the time I had available. (winter was coming.)



Craftsman doesn't make engines, it's probably made by Tecumseh, which while
not as cross-compatible as Briggs & Stratton, it should still be easy to
find a head that will fit.