Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Kohler oil consumption, blown head gasket, scraper ring

Question
My dad has a CV15S veritcle shaft engine in a Toro rider  started to use oil all of a sudden never used oil before  this a 10 year old machine  and may have run out but all would quiet down when refilled  now it smokes like crazy compression is 35 LB  took off valve cover and a cup of oil came out  found a piece of head gasket in cavity leading back to crankcase  looks like return hole back to crankcase is pluged pulled head  I see no scatches in cylinder walls crosshatch design is still there should I pull piston to check for broken ring or this was just because of blown head gasket / pluged oil return  ?  thanks  Jeff

Answer
Jeff,

   I suspect it is a worn ring but replace all the rings not just 1 Oil is finding its way past the scraper ring and the sponge ring if you have a damaged head gasket replace that as wellthe oil return should also be inspected for obstructions a flexible wire is perfect for that.