ORIGINAL: captinjohn
I believe the hole is there so enough air enters to allow engine to run untill you adjust the choke to keep engine running as it warms up. Just My guess. If you solder it...be sure the soldrer never comes loose. It may damage the engine! Capt,n
Even with the hole the engine will not run for more than a second or so with the choke closed, and I totally agree on the 'damage the engine' part Capt.
Karol