Requires removing the valve cover, and knowledge of how to use basic hand tools, and a feeler gauge set ,plenty of videos how to do it on the internet.
Well. I would consider it a big job and requiring possessing or developing significant skills.
I have viewed some of those videos of doing this kind of thing, and regard them as a cautionary tale I would prefer to avoid, myself. If I decided to do it, I might find an old mower to take apart and put back together for practice and to see if it would work when I got done with it.
One of the characteristics of being a DIYER should be expecting to have to do a task over two of three times until you figure out how to do the task competently. If I were to tear an engine apart when I hadn't done that kind of thing before, tearing apart another engine for practice and reassembling it and getting it to work might be an example of that.
I am, obviously, no Xpert on this kind of task.
Looking at this kind of repair would also lead me towards looking at other possible problems before diving into something complex like this.
For example, I already suggested checking the starting voltage at the starter to see is there might be a bad electrical connection causing the problem. I'd hate to undertake a complex repair only to discover that it didn't fix the problem, which was in fact something simpler which I had overlooked.
That is, in fact a common experience of mine as a DIYer.
The Xpert is distinguished by accurately diagnosing the problem first and then making one effective repair (most of the time, anyway). The DIYer is distinguished too often by a lot of guessing and supposing which leads to a lot of ineffective repairs.
I suggest that the smart move is to spend a lot of your time identifying possible causes of the problem and devising ways to test those guesses to see whether or not they are the actual problem.
Testing the voltage at the starter when cranking would be an example of that. A poor electrical connection could be causing poor voltage, and this can be tested relatively easily with a voltmeter. You could also measure the amps when cranking, which would give you an idea of how hard the starter is cranking, which might give you an idea of whether you have an engine problem that must be dealt with.
If you find that the cranking voltage drops way down you can look further to see what is causing that. If you have modest cranking amps, that suggests that the engine is OK. If the engine cranking amps are high, that might suggest an engine problem.
You could try those cranking tests with the spark plug removed and with it installed which might help you determine whether you have high cranking amps.
There are probably other possible problems which can be tested in similar ways, and I'd try all of those before tearing down an engine for the first time. If that's the only thing left on your list as a problem, then have at it and good luck!
I'm a humble DIYer. But I'd concentrate on finding things you can test before replacing parts or tearing down the engine. Guessing and supposing is not a scientific way to identify problems. Guessing at possible problems and then devising ways to test your theory to determine whether it's the actual problem -----that's the ticket I suggest!
