Nova is toast after 6tanks?

[HAGASAN]

Too much trying to get it started with a rich motor will cause more wear than when actually running at hot temp. Did you lose a plug filament in there by anychance? Also, it is common practice to partially disassemble a new motor to clean out any metal fragmants that could have been in it from the machining process from the factory. The marking on the rod could have come from the backplate of the pull starter. I have never seen that before, but i have never used a pull start motor besides some .15's. Something got in there to make those marks like that. It doesnt just happen from fuel. What kind of filter you using? Air and fuel filters.