BF Model R Governor

The engines are about identical. I can tell you that there is a link from the uppermost arm on the governor housing back to the carburetor. The lower lever hooks to the throttle cable from the lever on the steering post. It uses a fairly heavy governor spring.

The I&T manuals I have consulted don't have a good illustration of the governor assembly.

It might be a good idea to remove the governor assembly and make sure it looks like it is O.K. There was probably a reason that it was bypassed.

Also, these governors (At least the governor used on V models-the R may be somewhat different) are very particular about end play of the main shaft.

I'm guessing that you mean outside the housing the top end of the spring hooks onto the lever that works the link to the carburetor and the lower end of the spring hooks to the lever that is operated by the cable from the hand throttle on the steering post.

All of my experience is on the governor used in the V models, they use laminated flyweights, not ball bearings.
We have a BG (1 row version of the BF) but the governor has never given trouble. On the V I worked on, there was no internal spring like there is inside of most governors. That external spring is the only spring there is in these governors. It pulls against the pressure created by the flyweights or balls inside the housing.