Re: mid 80's johhny rude 6hp....any known issues?
I have an early 80s Rude and it is a fabulous engine and I would not hesitate to get another one, that was the very end of when they still built them right, after that they started adding plastic peices and overall quality really bombed.
They are simple a stone and as reliable and you cna still get almost any part you need for it.
Of coarse you can run anything into the ground so check it out well, it you can't hear it run at least do a compession check and check the lower oil, compression should be around 100 and both cylinders within 10% and crack the bottom drain plug until oil comes out, it should be nice honey color, darker is okay and milky oil indicates a leaky seal, any amount of actual water is bad and consider walking if you find that.