any tips for my 1st top end rebuild

TAKE YOUR TIME

I'm not familiar with the PV setup on that, sorry.

I've always just used brake parts cleaner and paper towels to clean cylinders.

You can get liquid gasket remover that works decent. Or very carefully use a razor blade. I usually install my gaskets dry.

Make sure you check the ring end gap. It rarely needs adjusting, but it's certainly worth a look.

Definately do the head gasket. You are akready in there, why risk it? Also makes it much easier to get it all cleaned out.

Your manual tells you to replace the power valve every 15 hours? What brand of oil do you mix? All the motor parts get washed in as hot a soapy water as you can stand. What does not come clean goes to the parts washer, the clean stuff gets a wd-40 wipe down and the bore gets 2 stroke oil. After the parts washer it goes back in the soapy water. On assembly put 2 stroke oil on the piston, ring, and top end bearing. I put the exhaust valves in clean and dry.

In most cases, soap and warm water is the best way to go...I prefer Dawn dishsoap, it seems to work best to remove any oils or solvents. The problem with most cleaners and solvents, is that they most all leave an oily film behind. Small particles can adhere to it, especially dust and gasket residue.

Gaskets should be put on dry, do the head gasket too and use proper torques. Permatex Gasket Remover (spray) works well on tough gaskets but you have to be cautious about overspray, it can damage certain materials (don't get it on your skin, either). Other than that, I'd recommend a BRASS scraper....plastic works in rare instances but brass can scrape off the tougher ones, without damaging the mating surface. Sorry, I'm not really familiar with any PVs.

*BTW...caution with brake cleaners! They are safe on most materials but some will dissolve or weaken certain types of plastics, nylon, and teflon. Be careful around any composite parts.