My 461 wasn't running right the last day.
About half way through the day I could hear an unusual rattle every time the saw started to rev up or rev down. I put it down to the felling spikes coming loose, which the had done.
Then, later on, the saw would conk out as soon as I let the throttle off but run and cut fine at full throttle.
Today I took the air filter off and reset the low jet and it started and idled lean. The max flow filter was dirty on the inside and there were oily fines on the metal intake thing between the air filter and the carb. Maybe I didn't apply enough filter oil to the filter?
Anyway, upon removing the exhaust I discovered a large chunk of the piston gouged out between the two rings.
I lifted the cylinder and miraculously it was totally fine bar one small but deep gouge to the left of the exhaust port looking in from the exhaust port. There's also a tiny dent on the top of the piston but no matching dent on the cylinder so I doubt the bearings collapsed.
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What are my options? Buy a piston and chance the original cylinder? Or replace both?
I know a man who recently rushed his own 461 with a digger but apparently the engine and case are fine. He might sell it me for scrap.