Saw a YouTube video where someone used wd40 to free up a stuck valve so that's why I used it, mine were pretty free moving though but one of them looked like it could use some more lube, wd40 was close at hand so used that. Couldn't even see the valve stems so obviously need to take more apart but didn't have time or the right tools at hand. Dave it sounds like you're not convinced up my fix, the mower did start easier, could be due to other things though. Don't want to open her up just yet, always the prospect that I won't be able to get it back together.