mouse troubles and how to test carb behavior on K301, CC129

[ChristopherCT]

Hello Gang. Frustrating day here. I should have really cleaned out the 301 before today's attempted start bcz at both the front and rear of the engine mouse things happened. Much worse than previous years. I must try the dryer sheets method next winter...

After cleaning up the mouse, whose complete organ group was neatly separated from its elongated body, I proceeded to try to get the nest out of the flywheel area. This one was dense, and I got frustrated and tried to spin it out using the starter and an air compressor with a long air wand- stuck down almost touching the flywheel. No start. I finally got the nest completely out by hooking parts of it with a hooked gasket pick. I check spark- yes. I clean points. I change fuel filter and the very old hoses. I check the carb needle for flow through. No start. I notice that some head bolts are not very tight, so I open that up and give the mating surfaces a basic cleaning and put them back together with better torque. No start. Key then breaks off in ignition. Small screwdriver to the rescue.

This K301 ran fine when parked in November. So... the carb looks like an inexpensive non original one. Maybe I should change that after 5 years of use. Maybe it is not really sending fuel. Or maybe my spark is too small but it looks average to me. Maybe the points gap could be changed... Could the mouse nest and urine in the flwheel area have damaged something there? I "wants" to start, but wont even fire on spray. Thank you, helpful folks, for reading.