I didn't look up your model number but I assume the mower has a gas shut off valve, it so, try shutting the gas off 30 seconds before you stop the engine then see it will restart in the time interval it is failing now. MIGHT be the float valve is leaking and flooding the engine (air cleaner) when it sits for a period then evaporates if set a long time. Walt Conner

It looks to be the same breather they've had for a while from the pic anyways. I think the drawing leaves something to be desired. My guess is that the inner breather piece is just stuck there at the gasket surface. You could have a defective breather body I suppose. Verify ref # 307 seal is in place before going further. Other causes of the breather pushing oil are :too much or wrong oil, over speed, worn/broken oil ring, air leak in the crankcase -like a missing dipstick seal (common, btw), wrong operating angle etc. Was the unit tipped perchance?

Well - I have the same mower and occasionally it will be hard starting when hot. I noticed after the last oil & air filter change it was alot better. And the spark plug has one summer on it. Try those 3 and see what happens. I don't ever prime when this happens. I just yank a few more times and she fires up eventually. Of course I am 6' 4" and close to 3 bills, so my "yank" is harder than the average owner. Also - my Intek has always had a stumble for about 1-2 minutes after a hot restart. The longer it sits the worse it is - which tends to back up the idea of some sort of vapor lock or air in the fuel line. It still operates fine - it is more like a small misfire that clears out. Jim

Update, What an idiot I am, screw 21 at the base of the bowl is the bowl fuel drainage, please disregard my earlier post. I did try the method of shutting off the fuel supply for 10 seconds before turning iginition off. It still behaved the same way, only starts on slow speed. I may just live with it since I have for years. I don't want to risk messing with the carb since there's a chance something else can go wrong as indicated below. I recently changed the mower belt, not hard to do. While I was at it I thought I'd change the primary belt which was still in good condition. Big mistake changing the primary belt. After I finished I was checking it out while still jacked up, no matter what I did as soon as I put it in gear it stalled. After spending countless hours rechecking my work I gave up. I lowered the mower from the jack and was prepared to push the 357 pound machine into the shed. Before doing so I started the engine and put it in gear, everything worked again. It appears by having it jacked up caused the problem. Moral of the experience, if it ain't broke don't fix it.