Monty and all
thanks for the guidance re restrictors on the TN. I'll keep testing for the fun of it

I think the airflow is completely changed vs. the 6.5mm, not just about the idle gap and "simple" stuff like this. The air is accelerated more (same top opening, different bottom) and so on so forth. Very interesting fluid dynamics issues.
I can get 9:45 from the TN with the 6.5mm, 9901, 41030, 97T, Mugen carbon shoes, 13/46 and .9mm springs and a light throttle finger... I was trying to hit the magic 10mn mark
testing is fun
Thanks all,
Paul