sbwhart--Yuckkkk.--I may have one or two "Snotty" grandchildren (after all, it is winter in Canada) but I wouldn't want to put a name like that on my engine.--Especially now that it is running so well.
When I was ultimately successful in a half hour horizontal run with only the methylated spirits for heat I noticed one thing and commented on it in the video. The engine would speed up and then slow down as it ran. It never quit, but the speed changes were interesting. Now after running the engine another 3 or 4 half hour runs, it is running much faster and not intermittently slowing down. I am assuming there were different "high friction" points in the linkages and bearings, that were not readily apparent to me, but were significant to this one flea power engine. The more it runs, the more these "high interference spots" get worn down until they disappear.