Anyone got a book or dvd they would recommend to learn a bit about these engines? Don't know squat about them and would like to make myself a little more familiar with them and hopefully be able to do repairs.

Podnah, it ain't nuthin but nuts and bolts.

Just buy a service manual and read it. There is a lot of books and dvd's on small engine repair, but you can learn a lot about how they work and troubleshooting just by reading the service manual for your particular engine (and much more specific info about the particular one you own). If you don't want to tear in to yours, go pick up a cheap blown lawnmower engine or somethin and tear it down. There aint much to em.

ya I might do that...could probably find a cheap one on cl. Is there much difference internally between a 5hp lawn mower engine and a 36hp briggs...other than the whole 1 vs 2 cylinder thing?

Yes and no. All the engines will be slightly different between brands and models. But at the end of the day a four stroke push rod motor is a four stroke push rod motor. You have a crank, pistons and rods. The cam rides on the crank, which moves the push rods up and down. Some have oil pumps, some have flippers that just throw oil around. Some have compression release mechanisms, some don't. Tearing down an old lawnmower engine is just gonna show you how simple the internals of these things are. Having a service manual for your particular engine will tell you the specifics for the one you own. There's just not much to the internals.

I was a little nervous the first time I tore one down. Once you finally do it, you will realize just how simple these things are. If you don't want to take a chance on yours, just get a crap block and tear it up. Put it back together...Have fun with it.

Yeah thank god for this site...Probally the only reason I did tear mine down cause I knew the guys on here could help me put it back together.. Lol NOW II'm a self proclaimed expert. ha ha ha ha