Did you ever get it figured out?

Yes sir I did!

Following the advice provided on this thread I turned the crank with a break over bar and the engine turned free in both directions.
That pretty well only left the starter, so I replaced it and it starts and runs great now.
Thanks to all for the technical knowledge you provided.

Starters going out kinda common.....other things suggested not so much....keep it simple

Yes sir you are correct about keeping things simple.
Although it’s not how I make my living, I’m ( at least) a fair mechanic but it seems I always try to make things harder than they really are.


In most things in life one should always try to keep the “Occam’s Razor” theory in mind.