Noted... :)
True dat.
"There you go with them negative waves again, Moriarity...!!" :)
My money is on corrosion in the cabling/connections causing poor motor performance... although all good suggestions and must be looked at.
He added a smiley... :) It's called "levity". Try it sometime.
I believe you're correct on the breather identification... I think the newer models had the breather moved to the valve covers... As for the...