If the acid spits out with the engine running then could be over charging.
But it spit out when you tried to crank the engine I would say over full.
I have a briggs that acts like this.
I have adjusted the valves and still no change.
This is what I do.
Start with a good battery before you try to start it turn the engine by hand clockwise
It will get hard to turn them easy and right back to hard. When it gets hard the second time turn till it just starts to get easy. Now try and start it.
My battery is new with 420 CA and it will not crank the engine if I do not turn it by hand first