I put a new gas tank on my trike cuz the old one was rusted out. The first time I tried to ride after that, it was missing and sputtering at any kind of high rpm above idle. All I did was replace the rusted out crapper with a plastic tank. Baffling. I even had a lawnmower tank strapped of for a few days to go for a short ride before the new tank. It worked fine. Even more baffling. And yes if you are wondering, I put the lawnmower tank back on just to see if it was the new plastic causing the problem. It still freaked. It's not the tank. What would cause a sudden freakout like that?
So, I figured that I got something in the carb and did a cleaning as I just rebuilt the sucker weeks before. I cleaned and cleaned and always ended up with the same problem. Missing and sputtering at any rpm over idle. It would idle all day long however. Finally I resorted to trying a new main jet. I went from a 87 to a 85 and by doing so richened it up a little right. Or does that lean it? I get confuesd. Anyway, bam, I was in like flinn. Sucker ran like a raped ape. Then about 20 min in to the next ride it started freaking again, but not as bad. The question remains, why the sudden freak out when it was kicking ass before even with a lawnmower tank? The new tank has a larger capacity. Will the extra weight of the gas mess things up? Wait, it wouldn't run with the small lawnmower tank either. It's gotta be jetting right? The clip and needle is set to the leanest position possible. Any richer and the problem gets worse.
The problem gets worse at elevation also. At home when I ride, it is fine. When I get to the mountains, it boggs and freaks. Not as bad as it was, but it is still doing it. It's gotta be the jet right?
Well anyway, now I hear tapping or knocking in the engine. Bad things man. That's where I am at now. I am going to check the cam chain tension, valves, timing, and compression tomorrow. Then once everything is checked, adjusted and hopefully ok, I'll try to run it again to see if it freaks out. If it does, I'll try an even smaller jet. That's all I can do unless someone has a better suggestion.
When I had the carb off, I noticed that the intake valve is seariously covered in black tar looking buildup. I mean it looks wet with the crap. I have searious reservations about that, but the puppy idles like a champ and does not smoke at all. The plug is a little black and not wet at all.
What does anyone think and thanks in advance??
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