Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Briggs 16.5 hp, Husky lawn tractor, compression release, battery terminals

Question
Hey, I have a 16.5 briggs, it will crank for a second or two and quits. It just gets the starter and battery terminals hot. I installed a new battery, solenoid and checked out interlocks and harness. everything appears ok. It will spin fine without a plug in it. but with it has a real hard time.I heard about compression release? I'm not sure what that is but it makes sense..Any ideas? Bruce

Answer
Bruce,

    Compression release is when your exhaust Valve stays open to relieve the pressure of the Compression cycle of fuel Normally your engine would correct this on its own Without a plug the engine will crank over just fine But when there is no where for the pressure to go except out the exhaust thats when your plug fires burning the fuel and air as the piston comes back up expelling the spent fuel.
Hot Terminals and starter.... That Is a very Good Indication Of  Extreme Volatage Draw Kind Of like when you Have something plugged in that draws too much power.
It May Be the starter itself drawing too deep a cycle from your battery itself As starters age the internals Get conseation On them when you turn the key the juice arcs and evaporates some of the water but your engine does the rest of the drying with heat and alot of time the internals will slowly corrode Which this sounds like and will draw too Much from the battery which will make the terminals hot.
If i had to take a shot in the dark here this sounds like the starters inner rotors are worn down to the point its straining to get the juice to turn this engine over anymore.