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Went over to a chap having problems repairing a late 70's Moby (less than 300 recorded miles), took info & special tools etc. Did all the usual, fuel, carb, points, timing and the rest, which he had mostly already checked. Started, revved high but then revs drop and dies which is what it was doing all along. Noticed it had a cork cylinder base gasket..hmm they are usually thin paper. Looked at head joint and it looked like it had two fitted
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It's got a 4stroke, probably Honda, piston fitted which was correct diameter but of course had no transfer ports. So someone had drilled the skirts and filed slots to act as transfer ports, not at the correct level but just where there was enough meat to do so. Piston was too long and must have hit the plug so they had fitted real thick base joint and two head joints to give it clearance. Of course the holes through the oil ring groove acted as transfer ports in all directions, how did it run at all????? beats me
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