I have a 650 and believe I am running a little lean. I am at about 800 ft. When cold the engine coughs a lot and when its warmed up it runs very hot. What should I adjust first. I am new to adjusting carbs so if you could explain it like you were talking to a first timer. Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

Check your plugs first. That will tell you the way to go. If whiteish in color, its lean. If black, its rich. Just right is a tan or light tan.

 

pulled plugs and they are black. doesnt this mean rich, but why does it pop when not warm?

 

it backfires probably becuase u are not warmed up yet and giving to much fuel to burn and not burning it.u maybe rich

 

He already figured that out when he pulled the plug and it was black...Start with your air/fuel mixture screw... Refer to your manual...

 

First thing I always ask- have you or anyone else recently worked on it? Is your choke off?

 

nobody has worked on it and my choke is off after startup.

 

Id adjust the idle mixture screw, and try going out(richer). Heres a link to an article, which explains how to do it, and has a list of symtoms of lean and rich.

Its difficult to read plugs,theres too many ways to go wrong. Id go by symptoms, and your symptoms say lean.
jetting and symptoms

 

Thats not true.... If your plug is black your running rich....I had that same poping and Back firing when I was jetting mine and it was rich...Your plug will tell you alot...I would adjust your air/fuel mixture and might even have to rejet...

 

Spudss, which of the 4 internal circuits of the carb were rich? Starting , pilot , midrange, or main? Poping and backfiring are both symptoms of lean, pilot circuit.
Its possible to be too rich on the mid and main, and too lean on the pilot circuit. And have those exact symtoms....poping , backfiring and black plugs. You just confirm what i said about it being difficult to read the plugs and get meaniful information from them.
reading spark plugs