J15 swallowed a screw

Just got a J15 RCOB commercial given to me, completely disassembled in a box. (Oh Boy!) engine swallowed a screw and bottom piston is a little dinged up but the rings are free. no scoring on the cylinder walls. I'm thinking about cleaning up the piston, honing the walls & giving it a try. I've heard that these models are almost bulletproof if the cyl.walls are good. Should I replace anything else other than new head gasket? Thanks!

Re: J15 swallowed a screw

id find out where the "swallowed" screw came from, and replace that. (dings in a piston can cause "hotspots" and maybe a bigger problem.)

Re: J15 swallowed a screw

Yes find out where it came from for sure. But, I would probably be willing to take a chance on it if your walls look good and the piston isn't badly damaged. Best of luck. Rick.

Re: J15 swallowed a screw

I'm with nwcove if the motor is already apart I would put in a new piston and even the connecting arm.
The connecting arm could be bent ever so slightly.

How is the head side it had to take a few hits too? I wouldn't worry as much on the head just check over the hits very carefully and if you can get a good used one "cheap" but unless it took a real beating I wouldn't worry to much about the head just make sure you don't have and burrs or mushrooming that is hanging into the combustion chamber (Hope that made sense) that could cause hot spots or preignition. Just check the head over real good and clean up the edges of the hits.

I would take a look at the reeds carefully for that cylinder too.
The screw had to pass through them on its way to the piston.