4 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

I've spent most of this year trying to coax 2 stroke garden mechinery back into life, then carb rebuilds or replacement to get them all tip-top before they were needed yet they have all let me down the first time I tried to use them.

 

 

Gummed up carbs?  If so I've found a decent shot of injector cleaner sometimes works.

53 minutes ago, skomaz said:

 

Gummed up carbs?  If so I've found a decent shot of injector cleaner sometimes works.

Stale fuel or plug?

Yes and no, if you leave fuel in too long you get varnish forming in the guaze filter, if you run it dry the diaphragms stiffen up which the ethanol does anyway.

 

Repair kits dont always work, I have one which still will not prime, its venting to the venturi from the pressure feed to the needle valve chamber, the only remaining possibility is the welch plug over the progression gallery but this has never been disturbed for over 20 years and doesn't usually have a sealant, everything else gets gummed up but that seemingly is now leaking. New carbs are incredibly shonky, never run properly and need constant adjustment.

Back on topic. @dimrod As indicated i would, I posted in a few youtube failed balance shaft repairs, in the comments, asking about the balance shaft plastic shell.

 

Finally got this, it is written from the perspective of the gen 2, not the gen 3, so mentions two balance shaft tubes but I haven't checked that aspect is the case for accuracy. I guess it must be and the set up is now different for the intake on gen 3. 

 

Roland M replying on YouTube.

 

The plastic pipe prevents oil from foaming due to the rotation of the balance shafts. You should not try to run the engine without it installed. As per the VAG TechConnect article... "Of particular interest is that each balance shaft, while riding in bearings pressed into the block, is also encased in a plastic pipe. This innovative design serves as a shield for engine oil returning from the cylinder head to help reduce or eliminate the churning and foaming that would result if the oil flowed directly onto the balance shafts, which, as noted above, spin at twice engine speed."

 

Found the original article. Link posted below. Again, for correct interpretation, please bear in mind the overall article is of the gen 2, so not identical in all respects to the gen 3. 

 

https://automotivetechinfo.com/2015/09/a-look-inside-the-2-0l-tsi-engine-with-its-chain-driven-cams-balance-shafts-vvt/