Abstract: A general-purpose internal combustion engine comprises an engine unit, a recoil starter, a fuel tank disposed on the engine unit, a main air cleaner disposed on the engine unit and coupled with a precleaner, and a muffler disposed on the engine unit. The main air cleaner and the muffler are disposed laterally of the fuel tank in parallel relation to each other, the main air cleaner being located closely to the recoil starter, and the muffler being disposed remotely from the recoil starter. The precleaner has an air inlet member disposed remotely from the muffler and positioned without projecting out of a plane containing a side of the main air cleaner which is remote from the muffler. The precleaner has an air outlet and the main air cleaner has a case with an air inlet defined in a side thereof and a substantially cylindrical filter housed centrally in the case coaxially with the vertical axis thereof.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the decompression of an internal combustion engine for driving compressors, electric generators, and the like, the process including the steps of starting the engine with the decompression control engaged and the engine decompressed, partially activating the control when the engine reaches a first predetermined speed so that, as the speed is increased, the engine operates compressed, when the engine reaches normal operating speed, fully activating the control and, when the engine speed is decreased to a second predetermined speed below said normal operating speed but above said first predetermined speed, the control is reactivated for decompression operation of the engine until the engine stops.