Ok, some success to report. I got it started this morning and it ran. Had it hanging down from its stand into a garbage can full fo water (no prop, obviously). The carb needle adjustment is REALLY fine. A 1/8 turn either way will start to kill the engine. But the sweet spot ran strong. But there wasn’t much water coming out of the hole on the side of the shaft so I shut it down. It was getting more than warm.
I’ve now taken apart the pump. The plunger seems to be in very good condition, no hole and not any bad scoring. I”m lucky. It moves freely. I’ve taken out the plugs to inspect the two valves. Do they operate simply by gravity to close? I’ve blown air into the lower line attached to the pump (now disconnected, of course) and it seems that the line is open and I can hear/feel air coming out of the discharge port on the end of the line that’s on the power shaft. Is there supposed to be a screen over the open part of the pump that has one of the check valves in it? Mine has one that has been soldered in. I’ve cleaned that well since whoever soldered it was a little to aggressive with the solder and covered up probably 20% of the screen holes. Maybe that was my problem.
