I can not get the engine to run. I totally disassembled the engine, cleaned it, reassembled it, replaced the plug, cleaned the needle valve and basically got it factory after having let it set up for a year. All the gaskets look good and everything is ready to go. I put my thumb over the carb and primed it, looks good. The only time I got it started it reversed and ran backwards until I stopped it by pinching the fuel line. It will turn over and sounds like it wants to fire but just wont give. The compression is very good as well. Any thoughts???

Sounds like cold weather. Either warm it up, use some lighter fluid for primer, or wait until it gets warmer ouside.

Jim

It sounds to me as though it's just a little over primed. Maybe the main needle is now open more than what you've been used to when priming? If you have to stop it again by pinching the fuel line then try giving another start without any prime. Chances are it'll start up on the first flick.

That may be the problem as I took the entire needle apart and cleaned it before reassembly. I need to close the carb before I prime it by plugging with my thumb to get the fuel to draw in, is that supposed to be the case? Also, the spring loaded screw on the carb is the low end adj. correct? its been so long since Ive used this engine and my others have the low end in the control arm. Being a man I threw the manual away as well... thanks for the input.

Andrew,
Correct about the low end screw, and priming it with your finger over the carb. Remember it is an air-bleed type adjustment, so to enrich the low end you would screw in the low end screw. Once you get the engine to fire, try to get it in the upper power band so you can set the high end adjustment. While you do this, allow the engine to reach operating temperature before backing it down to idle and attempting to adjust the low end screw. Hope this helps.

Sounds like you put the liner in backwards and have the intake and exhaust ports reversed.

I agree. Take a look. The exhaust port has to open first and then the intake port. Ask me how I know.

Interesting... I think I had better stay out of the inside of that thing! Ill give that a look in the next few days. Work is really getting in the way of my hobbyin', I should probably just quit... working that is

I don't have an LA but don't the liners on these have a locating pin? Apart from the fact that there are 3 non symmetrical and different shaped ports it would take a genius to put the liner in wrong

But having re-read that you totally dismantled the engine...did you put the rod back on the right way round? There's a chamfer on one end of the rod bush and it has to go on first so the chamfer is against the crank web.

umm. Im not familiar with all those terms (parts) Im embarrassed to say. Im gonna check out the exploded view and try to figure it out. I may have done that, are those symptoms in line with that type of mistaken reassembly?

Andrew...no need to be embarassed. I haven't got the faintest clue about electronics whereas you might be a wiz at them

If you look at the liner you'll see 3 ports (in an LA) and the middle port is the exhaust which should be exactly centred in the opening in the crankcase where the muffler bolts on. At the top of the liner (which you can't see unless you've got the head off) there should be a small notch and there'll be a tiny little pin sitting in that notch, this will be at the rear of the engine. That's to make sure the liner is in the right way.

The exploded view won't be any help though in showing which way round the con rod goes because the difference is so tiny, but important. At the bottom end of the con rod there's a brass bush which is it's bearing surface on the crankshaft. One end of that bush looks like someone's used a bigger drill to knock off the sharp edge so it's got an angle to it. If you've put the rod on the right way then you can't see that chamfer by looking in the back of the engine. Another clue is that there's most likely a little hole drilled near the bottom of the conrod but off to one side a bit. That's there to pick up oil from the fuel as it spins around. So looking from the back of the engine, that hole should be off to the left hand side.

Downunder- Thank you for the explanation, it all rings a bell in my head as I noticed those things while I was cleaning it out. I'll check that tonight and hopefully I can get the thing running again. Thanks again for the time, Andrew