I can give you a partial answer. These bigger engines will sometimes have an adjustment screw that you can adjust the high speed idle. It sounds like it is getting too much fuel when it is at higher rpm. You will have to play with it until it evens out. I wish I could tell you exactly how to do this. I have just never had the opportunity to work on one of these engines.
Wrong!!! There's no such thing as a high speed idle. You need to adjust your carburetor so it runs a little more rich (your currently to lean). Just take the spark plug out and have a look at it. If it's white and your engine is producing a light blue smoke from the exhaust it's to lean. If it's black and your engine is producing excess black smoke (your be able to smell the gas) from the exhaust it's to rich. When you have it adjusted just right the spark plug shoud have a nice brown color to it.
The recommended oil is 5w30 full synthetic oil.
Briggs and Stratton vanguard v-twin 20hp engine. I think it will work on all Briggs engines.
When you say the engine will turn over only when in choke, I assume you mean it runs while chokedand then dies when you let off the choke. Check the fuel filter,the air filter,makecarburetor adjustments if necessary and ultimately, checkthe throttle linkage.
The 20HP Mercury outboard with serial number 9137627 was made in 1979.
set the cylinder to tdc on valve overlap. remove the valve cover. you may leak a small amount of oil so have a container to catch it or a rag to wipe it up. loosen the outer nut, turn the inner screw in or out to the valve lash setting as checked with a feeler gauge. while holding the inner screw from moving, tighten the outer nut and recheck the setting. after it is set, turn the motor over a few times by hand if possible and check the setting again
1978
96
Depends on what engine you have.
That would be 20hp
your motor is a 1975 200 20hp you can get more info here: http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/site/573683/page/599300
50 to 1
Depends on what engine you have.