RE: Homelite engine mystery
Since your engine starts easily and runs well as is, converting it to EI in your case would not nescessarily be a good thing as the weight you will lose due to the conversion would have to be compensated for by additional ballast weight up front to retain the desired balance. However if you are able to shift stuff around without adding any more weight to keep the balance it would certaintly be an advantage to do so.
Karol