Hi everyone,
This will be my maiden post here on 3WW and it's concerning a 3-wheeler that doesn't seem to have a lot of information out there. But prior to my questions, here's the history of this machine.
When I was nine years old, my Pawpaw came across a (vintage at that time) 3-wheeler in one of his bartering deals. It was a 60's/70's Avenger Big Foot made by Adventure Vehicles Inc. I drove that thing for an entire summer in Oklahoma and (not surprisingly) had a few close calls like nearly running over my cousin who fell off the back when I stopped on a hill. When summer was over and it was time to make the trip back home to Kentucky my Pawpaw told me that he would save the 3-wheeler for me and when I was grown up I could take it home and let my little boy ride it just like I did. I visited my grandparents for several years after that and the 3-wheeler was nowhere to be seen. Flash forward 20 years and I am now 29.
After a long period of not visiting Oklahoma (life, family, work, etc.) I made a trip to see my grandfather who was not doing well at the time. He asked me if I remembered the summer I rode the 3-wheeler and asked if I remembered him saying he would keep it for me. I of course remembered like it was yesterday. He took me to a large barn on his property and removed a tarp revealing a (dusty) but nicely preserved piece of my childhood; the Avenger Big Foot!
I cleaned it up as nicely as time would allow, replaced the battery, gassed it up, sprayed some starter fluid in the air filter and cranked the electric start. After a few minutes of what sounded like a bad case of asthma, the 8hp Kohler fired up. I loaded it in the bed of my truck and a few days later headed back home to KY.
Now that you know the background, you understand that although this may or may not be a hunk of junk, it means a great deal to me. I am slowly doing a resto on it and need some help understanding carbureted motors. It starts, and it runs but it won't stay running unless I am pressing the gas. I can ride it, but if I let it idle too low, it'll die and I'll end up pushing it home. It won't start unless it is half choked, and because of that when I test ride it - it accelerates like it is half choked (duh). Parts are non-existent for this thing so I am trying to avoid doing a full breakdown of the motor. Can anyone offer advice on what to do, or what to look for in order to get this thing idling and running without dying? Thank you in advance!
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