dh@. wrote:

Any cautions or advice that you'd be willing to share, I
would be grateful to learn about.

Read the section of the manual pertinent to what you are going to
do carefully. Then read it again. After you are confident that you
know what you are doing, proceed.

While you've got the power head off the housing and dissassembled
is a great time to rebuild it if you've got the cash. You'll be
replacing the gaskets anyway just to re-assemble it, so why not do
the at least the rings and bearings. If you've got more cash, you
can get the cylinders bored and honed, and put in all new pistons.

Look at your reed valves carefully to make sure that they are in good
shape. They vibrate very fast while the motor is running, and its
not uncommon for one to lose one of its fingers. This will cause a
rough running engine, as one cylinder will not be getting the proper
fuel charge.

Two strokes are simple beasts. Most often the problems people have
with them are due to plugged jets in the carburetors after they let
them sit over the winter without draining the carbs. Secondary
problems are broken reed valves. Another common problem is a stuck
piston due to incorrect fuel/oil mixture. They will take a lot of
abuse and still run.

Oh, and be careful with the needle bearings

Good luck,

Don W.