Log splitter dies

I don't think so; it's about 15 years old, but I'll check.

Roger

Thinking about this, Briggs aluminum block engines occasionally will have a valve seat come loose in the block when they got good and warmed up. The seat will then go up and down with the valve until the engine dies, and then when the aluminum block cools enough, it will hold the seat, and the engine can be started. I think it can happen to either the exhaust or the intake seat.

Below are some threads about loose Briggs valve seats. There is no "official" repair, but I have fixed several by "staking" the seat in place by making a series of centerpunch pricks in the aluminum block around the periphery of the seat. Saome of the threads below mention LocTite or JB Weld along with the staking with a punch, but I can't imagine either can do much good at the temperature the block operates at.

The seat should be re-ground, and the tappet clearance checked, and corrected, as needed, after staking down the seat.

Link

Link

http://forum.doityourself.com/archive/index.php/t-227413.html

Good luck finding the gremlins.

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.
It's a fairly new tank & cap: the original tank was damaged beyond repair at the filler opening. You got me on the points and condensor in that I don't remember when I serviced them last. I will look into that.
Roger