check your fuel to be sure that it has not aged poorly. Ethanol can cause issues when it sits. So can gasoline dripping into cylinder, be sure the oil is not being diluted with gasoline. It may not be the MMO that improved things but rather clean oil. I did a scientific study many years ago. Took some carbon chunks off the intake valves of a the CJ7 I had at the time. Soaked each piece, about half the size of a marble in different fluids for a week. Water - zero effect, Acetone - zero effect, MMO - zero effect, GM Upper cylinder cleaner (No longer available except old stock on ebay etc) softened it to like toothpaste in a few hours and completely dissolved it in about 3 or 4 days, Berryman's B-12 - some softening, Traditional Berrymans carb dip - dissolved it about the same as the GM product but different chemical. So based on that I would say it is not the MMO cleaning up your engine.
Really should not throw used rings back in a cylinder. It is a bush type fix. Should be new rings and a Sunnen hone to break the glaze and cross hatch the cylinder. It will also straighten out the cylinder a small amount. The way to test a guide is to pull the keepers and retainers off, then push the valve so it is open may 3/8". Rock the head. Should be minimal movement. If you get say .006 to .008" movement then the guide is worn. Replacing them on an engine of this kind is a real rabbit hole. Also, each guide made will be slightly different where the center line is. So when guides are replaced, the valve seats have to be touched up too. Normally the guides have about .003" to .004" clearance for oil, and half of that is what each side of the stem sees. If the valve rocks .008" then the clearance around the valve is .004", which is so much it will let oil burn and keep the valve from properly seating.
here is a video of a small mower head being properly rebuilt. You won't find many shops that have the ability to do this. They were doing this one for a neighbor. Normally you just buy a new head except valve in block engines. Then find a machine shop that builds go cart racing engines.