Flathead is back, and with more questions. Weather and other problems has kept me from enjoying the hobby, but I have been looking at my RYOBI collection and now I have more questions. I aquired another off of a "TRIMSALL". From all appearances, this is a early engine with a different back-plate and reed set-up. I cleaned it up, including the original carb which matches the other small carbs and put a 18X6 prop on it, and got it running. With a little adjusting, I got an honest 7800 rpm. The exhaust port apperared to be stock and all that, but I looked further comparing this block to newer blocks. I finally discovered that on the piston end of the exhaust port, the width is a full 1/8 inch wider. Not the top or bottom, but the sides. I assume that all the porting that has been done to date, has anyone ported the sides rather than the top. Next question "When you port do you carry the porting to the outside of the block so that the port is the same size to the outside next to the muffler, or is it bigger out next to the muffler. Thanks for any help you can give me. If the wind ever stops (50 mph+ today), I plan on putting a 26 carb on the older engine and see what happens. Will keep you posted.
Flathead.