oldtimer: The .003 end play sounds ok/good. My Mb290 has a lot more....but I put the engine back in my leaf blower and ran the puddin out of it. It really screams now after several hours on it. Sometimes wide open for 10 or more min. It starts a little harder now, but not bad. When I had it on a test stand with prop on it, I could start it with 1 flip 15 times in a row. I may check end play...to see how that is now. Compression is still real good. You would have to do hundreds of flights to match time I have on that blower. I even use it to blow snow off my deck in winter. Regadds Capt,n[:-]