8 hours labor takes 2 weeks,
you must have the same disease I have.
I think its called oldassitis and sets in somewhere between age 35 and 40. 
Eliminated the key switch and hotwired the engine. Fired right up and run..... on one and a half cylinders.
Switched the spark plugs. Then it ran on the opposite cylinder.
With one new plug it runs perfect on both cylinders.
The air filter was installed wrong and could have been breathing dirt. Couldn't tell for sure. With your add from 1982 above I'm guessing this is somewhere in there close. If its a 1982 machine the air filter is a 1986 model. Looks pretty bad. Oil looks like someone just opened a can of black paint and poured it in. Muffler outlet is black like its been run rich - which how could it not trying to breathe through that air filter.
One side of the engine is slightly oily, not built up to where it can't breathe but needs a good cleaning. Engine doesn't smoke as best I could tell. As the oily cylinder came up to temp. with its new plug it was burning that oil off. After that I didn't see any smoke.
860 feet to the mailbox one way. Aired the front tire up real tight and me and Poochie headed out fully planning to be walking back up the hill. By the time I got to the highway it was doing so good I pulled out on the road and retrieved todays postal delivery. Back up the hill we came just a scootin' along. Rode it around about 20 minutes. had to re-air the front tire twice in that time. Steers terrible hard if the front tire is not pumped up like a basketball. Back tires are brand new. Still running on the gas that was in it when I bought it. Guess the diaphragm pump is working OK because the tank is lower than the carb.
There was an extra starter laying on it when I bought it so I figured the starter was out. Its dry for sure - sounds bad but spins the twin right over. Really need to pull the engine and give it a good servicing. Drive belt seems lose to me but works fine. It'll spin out on gravel if I hit the throttle too hard. Variable belt drive is OK but I wish it had a three speed tranny instead of just F-N-R.
Very pleased with my purchase. Now I can say I have a "side by side"
and didn't have to drop $10,000 to get one.
Counting gas to the auction and back [58 miles each way] and purchase price I'm still under $100 in investment.
Edited by Gtractor, September 20, 2016 - 01:53 PM.