really hard cold start

[panasonic]

As I said before , it seems that cover dealt with the idle and off idle ports not the main jet where the choke would suck fuel out of for start up,

but then that motor would never have idled properly if those passages under that plate were plugged up

Yes I agree.

[dray0151]

The true test will come when you get it in the water under load, that will force the engine to perform or not.