Hello all, I have a meerkat atv I picked up about a year ago, I got it for cheap because the gas tank was cracked and it wouldn't start. I fixed it easily and it starts and runs well. My only issue is it seems to run rich. I have tried the fuel mixture screw at anywhere from 1 to 3.5 turns and it doesn't make much difference (other then the RPMs slightly). Yesterday I removed the slide assembly in the carb and adjusted the C clip up one - to make it run leaner, the clip was in the middle on the 3rd groove. That has helped somewhat.

When I say it runs rich the exhaust is whitish and smells of fuel, the plug comes out black and damp.

Other then that the kids right it quite a bit and it runs really well, it starts easily and does not stumble or stall. It's a bit sluggish when you pin the throttle but I think that is expected.

I'm not sure if I should pull the whole carb and tear it down. Also when I changed the oil yesterday it seemed watery to me, I couldn't quite tell if fuel had gotten into the oil.

Any other ideas would be most welcome!

Thanks,

Slown

 

I'm big on cleaning carbs first. I doubt a cleaning will make it run leaner tho.
If the compression is good and the plug is black, I'd consider a one size smaller main jet.

 

I completed cleaned the carb - No change in fuel richness

I set the valve lash - It was tight, the manual said .004 and .006 but I had tons of ticking, I ended up using .003 on both and the ticking is gone (that took some trial and error)

I set the "advanced carb setting" on the fuel pin to the highest (leanest) notch and it made zero difference.

I think I have adjusted and tweaked everything available to me, the only thing left is to buy a new carb or a carb kit.

Seems like the whole carb would be the cheapest thing to buy. My carb says CK21 and K5 on it, it has the choke lever on the side. I think this is the right one: ATV Bike Carb Carburetor 50cc 70cc 90cc 110cc PZ16 Kazuma Meerkat Redcat | eBay

Any thoughts if I should bother to replace the carb? The fuel mixture screw seems to kill the engine if it's at 1 turn, at 2 turns it runs fine, over 2 turns seems to make no difference at all.

The machine doesn't have much torque but that's expected I think for a four stroke with no manual clutch, pretty good top end though.

Thanks,

Slown

 

The float level could be wrong, it is adjustable on some machines but, even if not, the needle could be allowing a little to dribble through. The other alternatives are blocked air filter or the choke sticking slightly open.

 

The stock filter looked fine, not much to it, I have a high flow filter I got off ebay for a few dollars but it won't fit between the carb and the frame, I'll try removing the air filtration all together and see if that makes a difference.

I can adjust the float level, there is a tab. I thought though if the float level was wrong the fuel would come out the overflow? Either way I'm not exactly sure how to set the float level properly, the float in this carb are two black round pieces of rubber - just like this: http://www.kazumaracing.com/images/i...321-100507.jpg

There is a small tab in the middle, but like I said I'm not exactly sure how to adjust it.

Here is a picture of my air filtration system: Air Filter Hose - Kazuma Meerkat 50cc ATV Engine

Thanks!

 

That kazuma was my sons first quad when he was 4. I remember having carb issues too, ended up buying a new one on ebay. I couldn't have spent more than $20 shipped on it. Those are nice little 50's too. It would tote my fat *** around my backyard too on test runs.