Re: fouling plugs
Fouling can be a very common result of low compression and thus unburnt fuel, caused by stuch rings. Hopefully decarbing the engine will remedy this.<br /><br /> Decarbing is a 2 part process. One preventative, done by using a fuel additive to prevent carbon build up. SeaFoam is such a fuel additive and can be found at most auto parts stores. It works as a fuel system cleaner and should be used as a preventative maintenance procedure.<br /><br />If your intent is REMOVE the existing carbon buildup from the cylinders, heads, and rings, then a spray decarb solvent product is needed. Buy at least 2 cans of decarb. Some people use one can per cylinder.<br /><br />Run engine at fast idle, with engine running<br />spray liberal amount into each carb,<br />spray some more, spray a larger amount into carbs until engine chokes out and stops,<br />remove spark plugs and spray decarb liberally into each cylinder, install the spark plugs, let it soak for 1 to 12 hours. <br />Start the engine and run at medium throttle, or if at the lake, run it at full throttle. It won't hurt to spray some more through the carbs. Run it for atleast 10 minutes to flush the crud out of your engine. Now remove and clean or replace the spark plugs. <br />-------------------------------------------------<br />This is listed as a maintenance procedure in the owners manual. Do it every 60 hours, more often if engine is used at low speeds.
Probably things are out of kilter in all of them.<br />1.Pull the plugs and ground them to the engine and check for strong spark. Better yet get a spark tester and you should jump a 1/2 inch strong blue spark. If not you gotta start checking ignition components.<br /><br />2.When the engine is attempting to idle does choking it help?<br /><br />3. Pull the airbox off the carbs and watch the throats while its running, does gas leak out while your attempting to idle?<br /><br />When you cleaned the carbs what exactly did you do. Did you remove the carbs, completely disassemble them, gain visual access to the high speed, mid-range, and idle jets, soak them overnight in carb cleaner, and blow them out with compressed air? Did you replace the float valve, float, and re-set the float adjustment? Did you install news gaskets? A common thread in a lot of posts on this board appears to be incomplete carb rebuilds. People with symtoms of carb problems even after they have "rebuilt" their carbs.<br /><br />If you can rule out insufficient spark its gotta be your carb. It is eihter too rich, probably from a stuck open or incorrect float adjustment. Or, it is too lean from crud still left in 1 or more jet orifices.<br /><br />Also you should check your compression.
