The simple answer is no but don't need to drop crankcase either. Explained below.
First you need check your valve clearances as most these side valve uses a bump or ramp ACR grind on the camshaft; though, a few uses a swing arm version. When swing version fails most times it causes too compression at start-up. If the valve clearance are too tight then you would need to pull the cylinder head. This is because in order to increase the valve clearance you must remove the valve so the stem tip can be squarely filed down a few thousandths of an inch. Be careful when doing this as you can quickly over do it. It is also best to go ahead and do a valve grind job before final adjustment; just makes sense.
BTW if you work many engines that those swing out ACRs be careful as they can really jerk back a recoil rope violently hurting you. I have have learn to first pull slow on any engine that comes in to check excess start-up compression. I spent a month recouping from a badly sprained fingers a few times.
I would suggest to you to obtain a copy of the Briggs single cylinder L-head service manual. The single OHV are in a different manual actually a few different ones and which to use depends on which OHV engine. Drop me a PM with you email ad if you would like me to send you a PDF copy. It is about 11 megs.
