OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Old flathead stuck on compression stroke

This could also be a starter solenoid or wiring issue. if you use a thick screwdriver and short the terminals on the solenoid, will it crank? other thing you can do is jump from a good battery straight to the starter motor lug, see if it cranks then. failing that i would as suggested try another starter motor or pull yours apart and have a look at the commutator/brushes. if it still has a problem i would be checking the valve clearance (unlikely to be really wide on an L head though) as that will give you big compression