Chainsaw Repair

Sorry no pictures uploaded yet.  Soon.

Last night i pulled the carb support plate off.  This gives good access to the fuel line where it enters the tank.  So, it doesn't look like i'll have to remove the tank to install the new line.  The old line is very ****  near the carb.

I realized that i needed to lift the cylinder up to get the partition wall intake off of the cylinder.  I did that, and it appears to be in good condition. The clamp was still tight and the rubber hasnt degraded.  It doesnt look like this was the problem, but i will replace it anyway (since i ordered it).

My parts will take a bit to get to me, since some of them are not in stock.

So, i lifted the cylinder, but left the piston in, because i don't own a ring compressor.  Since i am so close, should i just order up a ring and a ring compressor and replace the ring too?  Is there anything difficult about installing a new ring? Any reason i shouldn't?

Also, when i lifted up the cylinder, i found that the rubber line from the old decompression valve had a huge split right at the bottom.  This was a huge air leak.  Could this be the entire problem?  What kind of running problems would this cause?

So, i was thinking of how i should plug the hole in the lower nipple for that decompression fitting.  It's a small hole in a fitting.  Should i fill it with epoxy?  Thoughts?