I have a Toro Titan Z that quit starting unless I manually rotate the engine off compression and then it starts fine. Numerous YouTube videos led me to a broken camshaft compression release lever failure as a probable cause. The Toro site says I have a B&S 44K777-0123-E1 and to go to the B&S website for parts. I look up the camshaft and order it from Amazon (OEM Part). I just opened the engine up and pulled the camshaft and it does not have a compression release lever at all. No broken pieces in the crankcase either. The new camshaft came in with the lever as expected. What is going on? Do some of the B&S engines release compression a different way? Do I somehow have a different engine? I bought this mower used, so I guess it's possible. The cam I pulled out is stamped 589. The new one is stamped 901. Any ideas?
 
update: the engine model number on the valve cover is a 44N677-0031-G1 which call for the the same camshaft that I ordered - 797242.

I'm seeing the same new part as correct with the compression release.
 
I'm not aware of ANY of the larger engines not having a compression release.
As noted and with the possible different engine #'s, someone could have been in there.
 
With that said, if the engine cranked fine, then got hard, what you describe IS lack 
of a de-compression release.
 
I'd put the new cam in and you should be good to go...
 
Please post back the ending..
 
 
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