Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Spitting Oil out (Carb), repair man, excess oil

Question
I have a 5HP B&S engine on my lawn mower.  Last year my wife helped out and put oil into the mower.  She put it in the right spot except she over filled I think.  She got 1 mow out of it....now when started it spits oil out, what I think is called the carberator, (Silver colored housing with a dime shaped hole facing out towards the front). I've drained the oil and refilled but it wont stay on.  It just revs up now spits out white smoke and shuts off.  I am a novice repair man. What should i do? Thanks

Answer
Is the oil level correct now?  By over filling the oil some of the excess oil entered the valve breather located on the muffler side of the engine.  I would recommed removing the valve breather, it is held on by 2 screws, and cleaning it with parts cleaner, blowing it out with compressed air and let it dry.  

With the breather removed, you can spray parts cleaner through the long tube running from the valve breather to the carburetor.

You may also need to drain the carburetor bowl by removing the carburetor bowl nut located on the bottom of the carburetor.

Let me know if this helps.
Eric