The plug looks good. Actually it's prob the best looking plug I've had in a while. I tend to run somewhat rich and end up carboning the plug. This one has nice color, no carbon, very clean.
Carb looks good and intact. Nothing missing that pops out at me. Haven't found any missing bolts or anything yet.
RM and all,
I had my first engine operational failure this week. This is what happened:
After priming, I flipped the prop with my chicken stick and it bumped except it backfired throwing the prop. Hmmmmm it has never done THAT.....
I quickly shut it off; I tightened the prop and restarted with the stick except it backfired again and started backwards. Ignition immediately off stopping the engine. As I turned the prop slowly by hand, I realized that something had gone terribly wrong since the engine had no compression. I dissembled the plane and went home.
I took the engine apart and saw score marks in the steel liner. The piston's top also had some evidence of shrapnel. I removed the access screw to the piston pin retainer clip and found no clip. AHA!!
I think that when the engine kicked back throwing the prop, the retainer clip popped off. It got caught on the piston skirt scoring the liner and ruining the piston. Compression gone! We are in the market for a new piston and liner. It could have been much worse of course.
After some 130 hours of operation, I suppose it was due for something to go. Problem is that when something metallic let's go, the piston and ring probably are toast.