Here are the best photos I can get after removing the exhaust cover. The pistons look lots better than the bore even though they are running at the worst part of the bore. Don’t appear badly scratched, not scored, rings push in and springback out easily. I don’t understand how the pistons appear ok – unless they have been replaced. There are some dings on the bearing races and the upper bearing race had a dimple where the bearing was misalligned with the oil connection and the crankcase was tightened (easily smoothed off.) So now sure that someone has been into the crankcase before me.
So I am left with two poor bores and good pistons/rings. I really like this old motor. I ran the motor a lot summer 2014. It did not start as well as it should and it did not always restart easily hot. The upper bearing leak got steadily worse and last summer the motor could not be used. When I took the motor apart this winter I found that the top bearing had an o-ring around it even though one was not supposed to be present.
Thrown into this is that I have the 54 Johnson 25 that has the same top seal leak and similar symptoms.
I can take advantage of Dan’s offer of assistance to bore and fit oversize pistons and rings or possibly someone closer to Maine has the experience. I’m also tempted to put it together and see what happens …
Anyone have any comments or ideas?
Thanks.