149 Carb settings

[donnelly.me]

Hey everybody, I was tuning my carb and I was trying to go by the owners manual. I got it set where it doesn't miss or backfire under load but the govenor still rocks back and forth just a tiny bit. Is this normal? It really seems to run pretty great where I have it and don't want to mess with it again if I dont have to. It took me a while to get it where I thought it was just right. Also, has anyone heard of or saw damage to the engine from running it too lean? I just don't want to hurt anything. Thanks Again.

[Matt G.]

Air-cooled engines need to be run slightly rich, if anything. Too lean and you can warp the exhaust valve, blow the head gasket, take the temper out of the rings, erode the piston near the exhaust valve, etc.

If the governor is hunting it is likely set wrong (put the springs and linkage in the holes shown in the Kohler manual, also likely to be the most worn holes in the linkage) or you have a vacuum leak in the carb. If the throttle shaft has radial play, that would be one potential vacuum leak source; another would be a bad carb-to-engine gasket.

[donnelly.me]

So lean sounds really bad but what should my plug look like? I know it shouldn't be white but I really don't know and I'm a worrier! Is gray okay or does it need to be darker? Also, I wiggled the throttle shaft and it did change the way it ran slightly. Do I need a new carb or is there a sleeve or something that I can install. Now while I'm at it, I have yet another question. Unless the engine is warm I usually need a small spray of starter fluid to get it going but then always runs fine once started no matter where I set the idle. Is this also to do with my carb setting?? Thanks again.

Mark

[Methos]

Originally Posted by donnelly.me

So lean sounds really bad but what should my plug look like? I know it shouldn't be white but I really don't know and I'm a worrier! Is gray okay or does it need to be darker? Also, I wiggled the throttle shaft and it did change the way it ran slightly. Do I need a new carb or is there a sleeve or something that I can install. Now while I'm at it, I have yet another question. Unless the engine is warm I usually need a small spray of starter fluid to get it going but then always runs fine once started no matter where I set the idle. Is this also to do with my carb setting?? Thanks again.

Mark

Mark you should never have to spray it with starting fluid. Sounds like your due for a tune up with a carb rebuild.

[_DX3_]

Originally Posted by donnelly.me

So lean sounds really bad but what should my plug look like? I know it shouldn't be white but I really don't know and I'm a worrier! Is gray okay or does it need to be darker? Also, I wiggled the throttle shaft and it did change the way it ran slightly. Do I need a new carb or is there a sleeve or something that I can install. Now while I'm at it, I have yet another question. Unless the engine is warm I usually need a small spray of starter fluid to get it going but then always runs fine once started no matter where I set the idle. Is this also to do with my carb setting?? Thanks again.

Mark

As for the carb throttle shaft, here is the my link on what you need:
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=10329

You shouldn't have to use starting fluid. You may need to check the timing and maybe a new set of points and a condenser.

Timing link:http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=4405

[donnelly.me]

Okay first of all I want to Thanks!:Thanks to everybody for all your help. This "fun little project would have ended a long time ago without you guys. I went through all your posts and attachments and got the carb setting perfect. It now runs on high idle with no governor hunting and none of that tiny tiny miss that you could barely hear under the exhaust note. I also drove it around and up and down some serious hills with no power hesitation at all! I guess I was just too heavy handed with the screwdriver.

Onto the timing issue.. My flywheel obsevation hole is on th opposite side of the points (149 thing?) I could easily see the S with the line above it. I lined up the Mark with the mark on the engine and my points were closed. I then set the gap and it started without fluid but it took some cranking. The points are in good shape along with the plug wire and plug. Maybe I didnt read the attachment right: Is it suppesed to be at 20 thousandths there or just open because when I put the flywheel on the T for top dead the gap isnt at 20 thousandths. Where am I going wrong?

[_DX3_]

You need a voltmeter or multimeter to set it correctly. When the S mark is centered in the window, the points should "just" start cracking open, not be wide open. With the multimeter the needle should start swinging in the opposite direction as soon as the S is centered up. Forget about worrying if it is set at .020 as this sets it exactly where your engine needs the points to be.

[donnelly.me]

Okay now I think I understand. I have to work the next couple days but first thing Saturday Im going to try again. I will put the S in the window and close the points which should give me a reading of 0.00 through my digital meter. (I can only set it down to 2k ) Then I will open them slightly to get a reading of 1 and tighten the adjustment screw down tight. Sound about right? Thanks Mark

[_DX3_]

That's how I did it. It's kind of tedious but it can be done.

[donnelly.me]

Great! Before I thought for some reason you still had to set up at .20 there. As soon as I'm finished I will check back in and let you know how I made out!
Mark