What do you mean by the comment "sucking oil bad". How much oil per hour of operation are we talking about here. Is there a lot of smoke from the motor and what color of smoke is it. Lastly, why do you think a head gasket change will fix this?

Well I thought I posted a message to you yesterday but don't see it.

I have detailed instructions for adjusting valves plus more also I can send you a Service Manual IF you like. Address below, put in proper format and remind me, engine model number and what you want.

Walt Conner
wconner5 at frontier dot com

Hi, I am guessing a head gasket as I wondered if it could be pressurizing crank case via lifter / push rod area and pushing oil past rings, consumption is 1/2 a qt in 45 minutes,

all else, I can see the cylinder condition and guides?

success! gasket was bad, appeared to be blowing combustion gas into crank case, making oil look real dirty as well as using oil to push past ring. New gasket solved all issues.
I do Hope Briggs FIRED the engineer who left out a head bolt where it is needed! what a Piss poor design. Thank you Walt!

Engineer got a promotion and a hefty bonus. :^)

You comment "I do Hope Briggs FIRED the engineer who left out a head bolt where it is needed! what a Piss poor design" more deservedly directed at the cost analysis wonk who saved B&S from buying a few hundred thousand head bolts he/she decided weren't needed and who was probably promoted to upper level management.

By eliminating that head bolt B&S saved money and the additional profit from selling all those head gaskets was unexpected revenue.

What JAL said!