Got a 10-10 auto at auction recently. The saw I really want is the right-side-recoil 10-10 from the mid sixties. But I haven't come across one yet, so this one will do for now. This will be my first attempt to revive a vintage saw. The air filter is intact, surprisingly clean in the air box, throttle & choke linkages are good. Motor turns but is way too stiff, even with the plug out. Squirted WD down its throat, which helped a little bit, but still feels too stiff to me. What could be going on there? Rust on the crank & bearings? Or on the rings? Varnish in the crankcase from evaporated gas? Maybe just immerse the entire saw in gasoline for a week or two?
The tanks are clean, only a drop or two of oil in the tank. Gas tank is clean and dry, but I spotted a few spots where the paint is flaking off. How to deal with that? It's not my intent to do a full restoration here, just want to get it running for now so I can use it for eventual sell or trade toward a right-side-recoil saw.
Maybe just vacuum it out and keep a lot of fuel filters on hand? Try to remove all the interior paint chemically? I really don't want to take the tank apart for fear it might be difficult to get it to seal back up again. Hard to tell just looking in the tank, but appears to be a cork gasket. Would be a challenge to make one.
Aluminum id tag inside the air box says "Mod 600002 U, s/n 10-60070"
ALSO would appreciate any thoughts on comparative value. Assuming saws of equal condition, would the right-side-recoil saw be worth any more, or less, or about the same, as compared to the left-side-recoil saw?