[grubsie]

Think I discovered the cause tonight as I was finally able to get back to reassembling the lower end of the motor. I didn't notice it until I was assembling the clutch. One of the tabs on a friction was missing. Don't know how I didn't notice it when cleaning the parts. It looks like it just fell? broke off? I am wondering if it or many pieces of it found their way into the gear case and somehow got into that particular cylinder first before anywhere else because the other cylinder looks fine and that piston only has a few very fine scratches in it upon inspection when cleaning.

I sure hope this was the cause. I am definitely ordering new friction discs.