My step-son's 90 (two-stroke) got a little to deep in the creek. I have taken the air box apart and installed a new dry uni-filter. It will start and and idle fine with or without the filter. It acts as if it starving for fuel. Any suggestions will be appreciated...

 

I'm not familiar with that machine, but I assume there is an in-line fuel filter somewhere between the gas tank and the carb. I'd change that for sure. That could create the symptoms you are seeing. I'd also drain the gas tank to be sure there are not a few drops of water in there. A single tiny drop of water can ruin a fuel filter and cause your symptoms. That might not be it, but it certainly could be, and it is a cheap and simple thing to do and it can't hurt anything.

 

i would say there is water in the carb bowl. drain the bowl (might as well give the carb a good once over too) and try again.

 

If draining the carb bowl does not fix it you may want to try cleaning the factory air filter system and put it back on. I had to change jets for the factory carb to work with anything other than the original filter system.

 

Tomorrow I'm going to remove the carb and give a cleaning and inspection. Last night I was thinking that it was acting as if the bowl was slow in filling up. It try to rev up with throttle > stall > bowl fill > etc. -etc.

 

what your describing really sounds like water in the bowl... fuel floats on top of water. at idle the carb is pulling fuel from the very top of the bowl. after about 1/4 throttle is starts pulling more from the bottom where the water is.

 

You were correct! I just drained the bowl via the screw and tube and behold there was water with a small amount of trash. It started and ran perfect after this. Now I have to solve the starting issue. It will start fine with the kick starter--except it will not return. When you hit the start button all you get is a strong click. There's a relay under the seat and I have located the starter. Both of this are "clicking at the same time. I tried the bump the starter trick with the handle of a hammer to no luck. The starter is pretty hard to get to. I charged the battery and it appears to be good. Could it still be the battery? Can you disassemble the starter if removed? It may be frozen.