Posts: 3478
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya!!
I'm thinking both responses are spot on. Since the motor is at least running, I would run some straight decarbonizer into the throttle body throats after the engine is warm. Set it at high idle (1500 RPM's or so), then start spraying into the throats with either pressurized seafoam or mercury powertune. The motor will start to sputter a bit and blow white smoke but keep doing it for a couple of minutes. After that, and if you can physically get it done, spray continually into the throats to kill the engine. After it kills (or you manually shut off), spray more into the throats for a bit, then let the engine sit for 30 minutes or so to let the decarbonizer really dig into any carbon build up. After sitting, start it up and take it for a drive...get it up to speed to clean all the gunk out through exhaust. Be prepared, though...there is a possibility that with plugs of age in there, one could easily foul out going through this process, so having an extra plug or two along might be a good idea for a quick on-the-water replacement.
Second, replace the plugs and fuel filters. If you have a fuel/water separator on the rig as well, remove, empty and replace the filter, and let the fuel sit in a clear glass jar just see if there is anything foreign that might have gotten in. The engine most likely has some sort of filter on it as well that, if for just peace of mind, replace it as well.
If the plugs have never been replaced, they are most likely not within spec for gap, and for their age, I'd say well over time to be replaced. Not sure of the type of plugs the engine uses, but if they run $3.00 or so per plug as many of the older, earlier carbed engines/two strokes had in the past, it is also peace of mind to replace yearly as well after spring start up and clean out of any fogging oil that may have been used.
Steve
|
