Small engine carburator adjustment

[caveman]

      Hey Guys,   Here's wishing that your day has gone well for you,   

       I've been working on my own cars for over 60 years,- - - [I'm 74 plus] - - -    anyway - - -  never too old or proud to learn.     Perhaps some of you youngsters  can help me to  properly adjust the carburetor on my ATV or my mower.     There's a BIG difference between a Car with many cylinders  and a manifold  and a single cylinder.        No manifold and different type  of timing altogether.    I've got a choke and a needle valve for adjustments.     At times - - - I need to close my choke about half way to smooth out the  engine  after it's warmed up.        
      Greatly appreciate your input.           Norman

[Chris]

Norman, Your best bet would be to find a repair manual for that particular ATV. I had to do this when restoring my XL100s because the carb was different than most carbs (only ONE adjuster screw). Not only will it tell you how to adjust it, but it *should* walk you thorough the proper adjustment sequence.

[MOWchanic]

With your mower do you have a 1 peice carb or 2 peice?

The 2 peice carbs need to have a new Needle and seat kit installed in them to get them properly adjusted for our type of use.

The 1 peice carbs which I perfer more (Just more experience) already has the needle and seat installed. Just need to adjust it.

Now in order to properly adjust it snug the screw up and then turn it out about 1 1-4 / 1 1-2 turns and then go from there.

Tyler

[caveman]

      Hey Guys ,   Wishing that your day goes well for you ,

      Thanks for the input.   The manual that came with this ATV is so poorly written  that it "speaks of an ATV and a motorcycle all in the same sentence.      It also excludes any info about adjustments other than to adjust the different components - - -not how to do the adjustments at all.       Also it appears that two or more people wrote the manual without the others knowing what the other had written.      This "thing" was made in China.  I didn't know that until after I already bought it.        I've been pulling a  "RAID"  on it since it arrived.        It's good practice for me to get to learn  about many things that  shouldn't happen to any new item.   [ It slows down on my stone chipping to invent the wheel]     

      I'll try running the needle valve in [gently] and backing it out a turn at a time.   I can get it to idle pretty well but when I  "open it up on a grade - - - - it starts to miss and lose power forcing me to put it in a lower gear  or to smooth out the engine with the choke.   Sorta like it's not getting  enough gas.       [ It has 4  forwards]  Don't seem to have any problem with 1st or 2nd.   

      I Appreciate your input on this,      Have a good one,            Norman

       

[Chris]

How long have you had this ATV? Could your fuel filter be plugged?

[caveman]

   Hi Again  Chris,       

        I got it 28 July 2008 - - -  not yet a month old.    I've only had it out for a "run" about  8 - 10  times other than testing it to see if it would run after some adjustments     It is a very small fuel filter  but looks OK.   
     
        Chris - -  There's a hose coming from the top of the crankcase with what appears to be some sort of filter  connected to the top of it     I can't get any info on it and the only thing I can figure it to be is an air filter for the crankcase.     Is this possible ?  if so  - - -  would " THAT " have anything to do with the engine missing ?     

       I also have a loose hose coming from the bottom of my carburetor and I just can't figure out where it would connect to  I don't see any "ports" that would take a hose.  VERY STRANGE  ! ! !           

      Today  I'm going to get some pictures of these  different views of the engine and TRY to send them so  everyone can help me figure this "THING" out.     

      Other than this ATV  trying to look like it's only half put together with all my problems  with it  - - - -  it runs pretty good when it's running.       It's really getting a hands - on work over.    It really makes me put my brain in gear.  SMILE.     

      Got my camera and will be gone for awhile .    "Talk" with you later,             Norman

[Chris]

   Hi Again  Chris,       

        I got it 28 July 2008 - - -  not yet a month old.    I've only had it out for a "run" about  8 - 10  times other than testing it to see if it would run after some adjustments     It is a very small fuel filter  but looks OK.   

It's THAT new and you're having problems with it!?!? If I were you I'd return it to the place of purchace, that's completely unacceptable!
     
       

Chris - -  There's a hose coming from the top of the crankcase with what appears to be some sort of filter  connected to the top of it     I can't get any info on it and the only thing I can figure it to be is an air filter for the crankcase.     Is this possible ?  if so  - - -  would " THAT " have anything to do with the engine missing ?     

That's your crankcase vent, nothing to worry about there.

     

  I also have a loose hose coming from the bottom of my carburetor and I just can't figure out where it would connect to  I don't see any "ports" that would take a hose.  VERY STRANGE  ! ! !           

That's your carb's overfill line. If the float gets stuck open, instead of gas pouring into your engine it comes out of that line. Gas will also come out of that line if you're on an EXTREME angle or lay it on it's side.

     

Today  I'm going to get some pictures of these  different views of the engine and TRY to send them so  everyone can help me figure this "THING" out.     

      Other than this ATV  trying to look like it's only half put together with all my problems  with it  - - - -  it runs pretty good when it's running.       It's really getting a hands - on work over.    It really makes me put my brain in gear.  SMILE.     

      Got my camera and will be gone for awhile .    "Talk" with you later,             Norman

Pictures would be cool, I'm interested in seeing how this thing looks. It definitely sounds like it's starving for fuel, my XL had this same exact problem when I first purchased it. I had to pull the carb off to adjust it, and I eventually modified the carb so I could adjust it while it was still on he bike.

[caveman]

      Hi  Chris,   

      Your explanations of those hoses took a lot off my mind.      That's interesting about the overflow hose.   Really had me stumped.       When going up a grade and the ATV starts to miss - - - then I'm able to  "smooth it out" with the choke,   I thought it was starving for gas also.     You said you had a similar problem and you modified the carburetor so you could make adjustments w/o removing it.      Are  there some pictures and more detail on how to do this ?   

      My "pictures"  couldn't show the detail I wanted unless I take the outer shell off.      I'm still trying to figure out how to send pictures.       Yesterday I took the ATV up a mountain on a new trail.    The climb was so steep that I stayed in first gear almost the whole time.   The ATV gave me no trouble at all .    First gear at idle plus the brakes worked just fine  coming down.    Perhaps we're getting the bugs out at last.         

      Sure do appreciate the help all " YOU GUYS " give me,     

      Have a good one,      Norman   

[Chris]

I'd show you some pictures but my bike is at my parent's house about 45 minutes away. I don't keep it at my house because I only have 1/4 an acre of land to play on