K241: Starting at the carb
 

I am just starting to tear into the 108 I got last year. It has been sitting for a couple years and I was told it ran but was hard to start and the previous PO was using starting fluid to start it every time.

So, starting with the carb; #26 Carter. The carb to head bolts were finger tight, the throttle shaft clamp is coverd in JB weld, the float setting was pretty far off.

I starting making a list of parts I will need. Should be about $55 to rebuild, rebush and replace the throttle shaft with the "upgrade style" shaft from Brian Miller. Any problems using this different shaft? My float is good and the housing looks fine.

Is there anything else I should look into while I'm in there? I'm also going to replace the filters, points, condenser and I may pull the head to check out the valves and cylinder wall and see if it's ever been rebuilt. What do I need to check in the compression release system?

Going strictly by memory (dangerous thing in my case) regarding compression release. Not much to check if it is working (starter able to turn the engine over fine). All my experiences were on the 12HP engines. I believe the earlier compression release systems could be bent to get more valve lift. The later ones had been hardened and will break if you try to adjust them. I figured that applied to everyone but me, so despite the service manual saying not to, I tried, it broke. :bash: Nothing really lost as it wasn't working anyway. Before you attempt to mess with the compression release, read up on it in the service manual. Hopefully yours doesn't need any work. Would be nice to know if anyone could fix a broken compression release instead of changing the cam.

So I pulled the cylinder head off. It looks as if someone has been in there recently. The combustion chamber had been cleaned and the head gasket looks to be new. The engine turns freely by hand. The cylinder walls look polished, no cross hatch left and not really any ridge at the top of the wall. I couln't find any markings on the pistion to indicate an oversize, just a capital "A" stamped in. At this point im thinking of buttoning everything back up rebuilding the carb and seeing how it will run.

Go for it. :beerchug: