original dirt wrote:
Usually, the symptoms you describe can be attributed to two areas. Worn piston rings/excessive cylinder to piston clearance, or leaking crankshaft seals which would add another set of symptoms. Namely, increase smoke in the exhaust accompanied by a decrease in trans oil level and increased fouled spark plugs would indicate a leaking clutch side cank seal. Variable idle speed and slow rev-down along with unexplained dampness in the lower magneto area would indicate a leaking dry - side seal. Also easily checked by holding the mag flywheel in your hand and trying to detect movement in any direction but circular. Any detectable 'clic' of movement indicates bad crank bearings too.
OD
True those will make for a bad top end but the bottom will be even worse. He says the bottom is still strong. I've worked on several engines with those problems and most of them had melted from apparently running WOT to get forward locomotion with an absent bottom end.