"Was the slot on the Pilot Jet already damaged", I don't really understand the question. Do you mean the screwdriver slot on the jet? If so, I'm pretty sure that was caused by me as it is a bit awkward to get a screwdriver to it without taking other bits off and I used a smaller driver than I perhaps should have.
When I started investigating the rich running, that was probably the first place I started (should have been the air filter... lesson learnt) and immediately noticed it was different from my Scotty..... hence the initial question "should I be able to adjust the mixture" the answer to which, I think, is now probably no.
The previous owned died some years ago and the mower was stored in a very nice garage up in he mountains. It hadn't been started in about 5/6 years before I got it. I am guessing that no one was ever in the carby, it was all fairly dirty and I've cleaned everything up.
Thanks for sticking with this I do appreciate your help. I also noticed another thread with an engine made the day before mine... I will put some pictures on it
Once again, many thanks for your help
Alistair
