I'm 99% sure it's an 8HP. The freeze plug on the block is stamped with E8RERE which from the serial decoder things I've found mean its a 1994 8HP. Looking at the paint on the engine where it meets the lower housing I didn't see any signs of the powerhead having been removed before.
I don't know of any other #s on the block, I can look though.
So I put the OEM nozzle well in the carb, no change. Tried using both the carb I got with the engine, and the one I bought off eBay, swapping the nozzle in between. No big changes between the two. Towards the end of my testing it was running like absolute garbage. Wouldn't idle at all, could barely keep it running at speed. I've probably fouled out the plugs.
Pulled the cylinder head off. Don't see any signs of damaged skirts, although I haven't split the crankcase and looked at the skirts themselves.. Felt the cylinder walls, there is absolutely nothing I can feel with my fingertips in terms of scoring. The scratching I do see on the walls seems pretty normal for the age of this engine and the crosshatching overall looks good. Nothing stuck out to me as a sign of worn skirts. Threw it in the garage and I've been using my little 4HP Yamaha instead, lol. It runs like a champ.
I'm stumped. I feel like it could very well still be a carb issue. When I pulled the head off, you could just see how much fuel was everywhere in the cylinders. Maybe I've got two garbage carbs.
Ya'll got any more ideas?? What else could cause the rich fuel mixture other than a bad carb?
Here's a video of what the cylinders look like.