Link and synch is done correctly and compression is right up there? Besides the jet changes, several different cams were used to over the years.
I’ve found when these motors lose power, it’s usually from worn out rings. Something else I’ve noticed is the 5.5 and 6 horse motors like to score pistons more than other models do. Don’t know why but they do.
Well, I thought I had screwed up the powerhead rebuild, but it runs the same with another powerhead I purchased…But, it is important to note that I reused the head and intake from the original powerhead because I had already cleaned these pieces up and surfaced the head. I suppose it is possible that the old head is porous and leaks water, perhaps I screwed up the reed gaskets or one reed on each cylinder is stuck closed somehow, but that is a stretch. I replaced the worn out plastic cam follower, the carb butterfly is opening fully. The reed gasket mess up seems unlikely, this would affect low speed much more than high speed.
Again, sure wish I knew how this thing ran for the PO, that would answer many questions and rule out some stuff.
So, next I will try a different carb assembly, then pull the reeds back off. I suppose I should just pull the reeds off before changing the carb….
A few days later…. Like I said, I did resuse the head off the original powerhead that had taken a bath. I know I resurfaced the head, but perhaps it got distorted somehow if the engine went under while running… I will recheck compression and pull the head again if readings are off….
