First off, thank you for your prompt and detailed answer to my cry for help.
Oil level and sloping ground were easy to cross off the list.
I don't (yet) have a compression tester so I couldn't do that.
I took the head off and the, very thin, steel head gasket look fine.
The piston looks fine, no holes. I haven't yet taken it out so I don't know if the rings have been installed correctly.
When I took the breather assembly off I noted that it had been installed with the reed valve(?) at the bottom. Is that the correct way to install it? I thought that, if there was to be any level of oil in the chamber that valve should most likely be at the top.
Is this just wishful thinking from a poor soul who really doesn't want to completely pull the engine down?
I have (I hope) added photo's of head, gasket, piston top and breather assy as it was installed.
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Thanks again.
Rob.