when you say PCV valve under flywheel, is it faulty or just getting overwhelmed with oil somehow? Do you mean the flywheel has to come off to get to it?
Oil looks ok on white paper serviette and not sludgy. See pics.
I discovered I've got a bottle of sae 30 oil. Should I tip this oil out and put that in?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!