Guy came over today and helped get the engine running and with the muffler and exhaust leak fixed it still has a knock to it. how does one determine if its a rod knocking or possibly something easier to fix like a piston knock? I assume I can tell by pulling the engine apart and checking the pistons for signs of wrist pin wear or maybe even if a piston skirt is damaged. any help will be appreciated

hey boom talked to some folks and i think its a rod

Doug, a simple way to determine if it does have rod knock is to pull one sparkplug wire at a time on the running engine. If the knock goes away when the wire is pulled from the cylinder, then you have found the offending rod. Hope that helps...

mark this one for me I must have drained the oil the first time I ran it a year ago and never changed the filter and added oil.
I changed the filter and added oil and started her up and the knock is gone but I do have some valve train noise that I will take care of tomorrow


thanks david

you started the engine with no oil in it? lol
I'll bet more than the rods were knocking

yea I didnt have but probably about a paint can cap full of oil in her

Based on this tip Doug would have pulled all the wires ... .

Wow...I guess you don't have much to take to the recycle then...