Man, you hit the jackpot!! There are actually videos out there on installing the Beaver Blade! The only gaskets I can think of that are at risk are the ones where the carb mounts to the engine and to the gas tank. You said the oil looks good but I'd still change it. I just read up on this because I've had a bottle of chain oil kicking around, and even unopened a bottle of oil will degrade over time, so I ended up buying fresh for my new-to-me chain saw. The only other thing I can think of that would dry out might be the seal on the output shaft, so keep an eye on both the underside of the mower for leakage and on the oil level to start out with. Have you looked at the air filter? I bet you have. The old sponge ones tended to disintegrate. I'm trying to think if there are any other gaskets on those things. The head gasket is torqued into place, and is not exposed to any elements, so is only replaced when you take the head off. Have you cleaned out the gas tank of any old gas & swished some new around? I guess there are no hoses to dry rot. You said that it turns easily without the plug in it, so if there were no scraping or clanking noises, I doubt that the engine has internal issues. This is exciting! I can't wait until Wednesday!!
Just checked out a video. Some parts missing---a brake assembly and a rod. Probably out there somewhere in the garage. Looks like a lot of work to install. Wednesday at the earliest (June 15-20). USPS tracking leaves a lot to be desired. It's too hot anyway. Are you getting any of this heat yet?
I have a similar setup for my weedeater and have yet to use it for the same reason (looks like work.) Technically you're not supposed not use blades on my model...you're only supposed to use them on the model with the wide bicycle handlebars so you can maintain leverage. I think that's more of a lawyer's spec than it is a technical one. All the mechanical parts fit. I'm inside all day. Humiture is near or over 100° through Thursday...the humidity is adding 10° to the air temp. I could get outside early, but it's 80° by 8AM, and none of my stump removal work is shaded. When we moved to Virginia from Indiana, we had no air conditioning. I used to sleep on the roof. I don't remember when we got window units, which from my adult perspective introduced a fire hazard in that old house that probably outweighed the benefit. Wiring was retrofitted in the place, and was ragged cloth covered stuff.
Humidity here is higher in the morning. It almost makes up for the lower temps. One probably needs to get up at the crack of dawn. And the grass is all wet with dew. You need boots. At least the wind is blowing a little today. Blowing hot air. This new 2-ton AC is running continuously and not keeping up, upstairs today. That's what I was afraid of.
I've managed to not get a ding in the Ranger for 10 months, until tonight, and it's a doozy. In an empty parking lot with only 2 other moving cars. It's not been a good week (long story), and this is just one more thing. I don't even want to think about it. But I guess I have to. Could have been worse. The other guy: It was the 3rd guy's fault. And he's long gone.
That sucks. I had that happen to the first new vehicle I ever bought (Chevy S-10 pickup) within the first week of ownership...and it was self-inflicted by me being a smart aleck. Very similar damage, except to the driver's side. At least you're OK. You have value...the vehicle is just an object. Now that it's happened, you can stop parking at the end of the lot.
The carb came today. The shaft that turns the little butterfly valve and links to the throttle is plastic. That part arrived broken. Someone just threw the whole thing in its thin cardboard shelf box into a plastic bag for shipping and that lever sticks up prominently. The box was crushed. No other place on the internet had that carb with a metal shaft like the original, so it wasn't from lack of searching. Out of 370 reviews, 5 others arrived like that, and one said it broke off while attaching it. Two of them were able to use the shaft from their old carburetor. I don't see how. Will think about it. I took a gamble and lost. I think I might try removing the corrosion from the old one tonight. Maybe they will send a new one and not ask for the old one back. Then I can use the old top and the new bowl and float.
I should have mentioned one of the reviewers said he used superglue. I can't believe that would hold up. Maybe I should try it.
I wanna see you taking down some big stuff! Mine can even do the cattails in the ditch. I was amazed at what that can do. Mine came with an electric start but the batteries need to be replaced every year (two glued together, Who knew?) so I make my kid pull start it instead. I got it off of craigslist for a great price. Hope it never dies Cuz a new one will be waaaaayyy to expensive. I'll probably have to get another cow.