In lieu of my nightly insomnia thread, here is the latest report on my Earthquakes:
One of my earthquakes is a 45cc, I got it another from a customer, and I did a "straight shot" muffler mod. Basically, I milled out the back of the muffler, so that the exhaust passes straight through from port to exit(I slotted the cover and put it back over the outside to keep debris out). I also found a Tillotson that would fit the Earthquake minimal trouble(slight bend of the throttle, and a trim and slight reroute of the choke). I think the Tillotson came off a Husqvarna 55 because it was marked "55" with permanent marker, a dealer guy said it may have come off a Pioneer 55. Either way, the throttle and choke were on the same side as the Earthquake.
I had a friend bring me another Earthquake he acquired from the local scrap yard for $25. It was not locked up but it had its share of problems. He purchased a new piston and rings(the 45's I've seen have 2 rings) and we split his. He wanted to know if I wanted to try to port it for old times sake. I had said, "No" rather emphatically and he requested I reconsider a few times. So before I put it back together, we had a BS session about how to port it. He wanted it to have an enlarged kidney(D) shaped exhaust port and he wanted the intake to have a rounded section in the middle and enlarged on the ends. We finally compromised on maintaining the stock shape and opening up the intake side, and then opening up the exhaust to a more oval shape. I matched the muffler to match the new exhaust port, his muffler is now just a back plate that attaches to the exhaust port with an outer cover.
He wanted the Tillotson off my mod'd Earthquake. I obliged. Mine has his Walbro carb. I know a carb shouldn't make any difference, but it does. It REALLY does, the saw feels like it has more power, more top end, and it feels smoother with the Tillotson.
The ported saw will now keep up with a modified Homelite Super XL Auto 57cc. It also kept up with a ported Stihl 032AV.
If anyone sees the 58cc complete shortblock anywhere reasonable- please let me know. I'd like to get one and port it. The assemblies I've seen though do not come with a crank. If I can get a whole shortblock for $75 or so, I'm on it like white on rice and I will give porting a 58cc a try.