UGGH!! Flywheel key. What makes me so mad is that it did this two years ago. I can't remember why I found it so quickly then. I think I was looking at the stator and noticed the keyways didn't line up. I never thought it would shear again so quickly so I never even looked. The good news is my carb has never been cleaner I got new plugs and adjusted the valves. Thanks OPT for the mental kick in the butt!!

 

The 500 engine was the only one that I had that sheared flywheel keys! Can't ever remember another engine doing this all the years I worked on em! A kick in the butt is good for you every now and then according to my wife! OPT

 

It's running again, as good as ever except for one thing. It is smoking from where the first section of exhaust pipe joins the second. This is about 6 inches from the exhaust manifold. I thought I spilled oil on it or forgot to tighten the cam cover but that is not the case. It is not smoking form the tailpipe just at this joint. It smells like oil. Any ideas? It's not that big of a deal I'll just park farther away from my deer stand, or maybe park at my buddy's stand.

 

There is an exhaust asbestos seal at the joint that could be worn,but still as you say shouldn't be smoking unless its blow by on the rings or valve guide seals. White oily smoke or is it dark?? OPT

 

Its hard to tell. I think it is white smoke.

 

Just get a new exhaust seal and drive the snot out of it for awhile!! May clear up like some I've got a hold of before that actually stopped smoking! Plus since it had been sitting up valve guide seals can get a little dry plus may take a little driving around to stop it. PLUS I FORGOT,check your oil tank to see if it may have a little gas smell to it or the level is a little high! May have something to do with the smoking if it does! OPT

 

Funny, I am having another problem and was googling it when I came across this old thread. The problem that time was a sheared flywheel key. 40 cents and 10 minutes to fix.