Hi Bruce,

I use Stihl or Castrol Super 2-stroke at 25:1 ratio (40ml to a litre of 91 unleaded)

Air filter is clean and installed correctly.

I bought it second hand, have no idea of age but quite a few years old for sure. Removed head, the honing pattern inside cylinder is definitely not factory, looks like it's been done-up at some stage. Compression is good though. No way you could pull start it with the decompression valve removed and plugged.

I use it daily as a back-up mower for my mowing round.

I'm guessing rings. Plugs seem to have some carbon on it. What about air fuel ratio? Although filter is clean, it does smell rich.

Cheers cool