50 predator was running fine all season..... but sputtered and quit running late fall 2010. Left it until this spring to look at. Spring time came... tried to start and would seem to wanna run but would sputter and stop. Seems to have good cylinder compression ..approx 135-140 psi and holds pressure at 125 for a bit then drops to about 85 and holds there for a minute or so. Changed the spark plug....no luck. I removed in-line fuel filter and tried without it...tank vent checked & not clogged.... fuel lines not kinked... Was told by 2 dealerships originally that I wouldn't need a carb kit...just a good cleaning should do the trick. removed carb float bowl, float and needle and fuel tank then cleaned and filled tank with new fuel.... Seemed to wanna run again briefly then sputtered and stopped. Squirted fuel into cylinder or carb inlet and would seem to again wanna run briefly then stop. Removed entire carb this time and removed jets then cleaned thoroughly with carb clean aerosal....back together and seemed again to wanna start up but no luck running. Opened carb float bowl drain plug to check for fuel in bowl ...Yes...Checked new spark plug for spark...seemed weak and intermittent.... changed with another new spark plug..... Quad started right away and idled and seemed to even rev when throttle depressed. Shut off and started again to make sure it ran again before finishing the rest of quad assembly. Idled fine again but sputtered when throttle depressed this time and then stalled...started a few more short times and then right back to sputtered starts and not running.
Plug to wire connection? plug wire/coil? Over fueling? not enough fuel? Am gonna remove the carb one more time this weekend to make sure of float buoyancy and needle operation and cleanliness.... gonna soak carb in cleaner overnight. Throttle barrel adjustment? Choke barrel adjustment?
Should I also check the intake reeds? but seems to have decent compression. HELP !!