Not really Norm, unless you intentionally or wrecklessly scrape it against walls and rocks, they are fine. That's why the full cranks have spiked bolts on the head that protrude out and the Powertorque has that sloped guard. The Power Torque is designed for east west fitment from the outset and east west facilitates work on the head, be it access to the spark plug and plug hole or engine head work and de -coking the piston.
Maybe they found the barrel stuck out too far for east west mounting the 85cc engine on a 15.5" base and found north south better for these ends.
