Man, I don't even want to comment when I see all the precautions you guys suggest, 'cause I am just one practical country boy, hillbilly,if you will (a compliment,thank you=someone with smarts and common sense). I agree, all those things said are ok. I even prime new engines. But I have to tell you, my suggestion is simple, hook a battery to it. If it turns over, dump some gas in it. Put one of those light up things that tell if you have spark on a plug wire, and let er rip. It is either going to run or not. Once she fires off,look for oil pressure, it only takes a second or two for pressure, if none, shut er down and investigate. Sitting a long, long time? Pull the drain plug. If oil doesn't come fly'n out, pull the pan,cause it has turned to molasses thick sludge and I have seen that kill a motor more than once. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. I have gotten a lot, and I mean a LOT of antique engines, from tractors and cars, you name it, unstuck, resurrected, whatever. The oil in the cylinder is not bad idea, but I would crank it dry to try and blow all that crap out of the cylinder first before caking it up with sticky oil almost insuring it will get down around the rings. Course if its stuck(which you never mention) you gotta put something in the cylinders. In that case use 50/50 acetone and auto trans fluid. I admittedly am lazy and instead of pulling plugs and risk breaking off, I just pour it down carb...and I ain't talk'in gallons either that would give you a hydraulic lock and those "S" shaped rods. dump like a pint in,crank it over 2-3 X's, repeat. once it has run, heated up, then I might attempt to fight those plugs.
