I was turning the water restrictor in to see if I could gain any RPM's and I did appear to start gaining them. After a good run, I took a break and then it wouldn't start.

The engine had flooded, so I pumped out the cylinders, and began checking my lines. A piece of bark had made its way through my cooling lines, and had wedged in the reduced hole in the water restrictor, which--I guess--caused the exiting water to back up into my cylinders. Glad I caught this quickly, could have been a disaster on a 1-week old rebuild.

I am now considering an inline water filter, but I have heard horror stories about these as well.

Later
TD