On a firm flat surface you should be able to shift from 2 to 3 after moving about ten feet from start. The higher the revs that you change at the more work the synchromesh has to do and so the longer it takes. The original gearbox oil spec is SAE 50 engine oil. People put thicker oil in them "because it is a big gearbox" and wonder why it won't steer or change gear. Actually a modern 15 - 40 universal plant/agricultural oil works really well and has caused no problems that I know of. The original oil heats up till it is painfully hot to the touch if you run enough which makes it much thinner than a modern SAE 40.
I don't think it is very wise to lock out the governor on a radial engine but the usual way to kill them is to let them idle. They will idle nicely at 500 rpm but at anything under 800 there is very little oil getting to the big end bearing. That is normally lubricated by oil pressure generated primarily by centrifugal force within the crank. Low rpm = very little oil.
It is an aero engine designed to be started, warmed up at 1000rpm and then flown at a continuous 2000+ rpm. Drive it flat out but don't idle it for longer than you need to get it into gear.
David
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