Gas is fine for cleaning the foam filters, especially if you need the filter to be ready to use same day. I like to use good old soap and water though, less messy and you don't have nasty old gas sitting around. I second what swampy junior is advising then. You may want to put in a fresh plug also.

 

If your plug is black you don't have a restriction, you are fouling plug from to much fuel or not burning fuel completely. I would also check the air filter first and try running without to see if it fixes problem. Also check valve clearances. Had the bike sat very long before you got it? Could have varnished intake valve and caused it to stick and not close all the way. Good Luck, you will get lots of help on this site. Bear has ran this model for years and has helped alot of people. Everyone likes to keep everybody running, it's more fun that way. TORK

 

yes, it did sit for a long time. i bought it with 50 miles on it and it now has upwards of 160. hopefully later today i will get to work on it.

 

I would for sure put new gas in it, and mabey some heet to absorb water, since it sat for so long.

 

well all seems to be good. i started it up, and it had the same problem but i had to do yard work. so i let it idle for about an hour occasionally giving it more gas and things like that. i shut it off for like half an hour then went to drive it and everything worked fine. im going to buy some gas additive for it tommorow and maybe that will clean out the carb so i dont have to take it apart.

 

Stay away from any additive that has methanol or ethanol in it. They are both very corrosive and will eat your carb parts andfuel lines in addition to being able to cause very bad water problems Isopropyl alcohol is less corrosive and will not cause you the kind of water problems the other two can.

 

my dad has an 01 arctic cat 300 that did the exact same thing. we took the carb off and cleaned it completly and then put a fuel filter on it and it hasnt done it since