Hoping for good turned bad!
A few years ago the maintenance guy at work was cutting the grass, then came in complaining the mower had quit. I ask the obvious "does it have compression?", to which he says yes, lots it just quit running.
I didnt think too much about it and about two hours later he shows up with a brand new mower and starts cutting the grass. "Can I have the old one ?" I ask. It is all yours I am told so I go and load it in my truck. I pulled it over and there is zero compression. I figure it is screwed.
When I got it home I pulled the head off and see the intake valve is hung open.....there is a small screw between the valve and seat. I removed the screw and noted it had vibrated out of the throttle plate. Put it back where it belonged and it is still running great to this day.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose, LOL.