i started the same as you guys. i wondered if it was possible, then did some searching and came up with Norm's post. then i bugged him for a coupla weeks before trying it.
i think the hard starting and the fuel delivery problem comes from the intake port is pointing down after spinning the jug. it would make sense that it'd be harder to start since you're forcing the fuel to travel upwards, whereas on a conventional set-up the fuel just flows downhill.
skjjoe, i noticed your carb is offset sideways, but i can't see the intake in your pics.
on mine, i just cut the intake real short and grinded it down so the carb would slide on. the intake's less than an inch long.
i truly believe that the backwards motors run better than normal ones, or at least mine do. i've done two so far, and they're both a lot faster than a normal motor. i do the same porting, lapping, etc. to all my motors, regular or backwards, so they both get the same treatment, but the backwards ones run circles around the normals.
also, once i changed the petcock on the tank to a tecumseh one, the high speed bog disappeared.
