Bought it new in 2004, never had a problem. Last summer I got some bad gas which started the problem. Since then I cleaned tank, changed all lines, installed new carb, new coil and plug wire. Gas cap vent line is clear as are all vent lines. Starts well and idles fine but will not throttle up without backfiring and stalling. Any thoughts?

 

If the new carb was a Chinese replacement, it may not be jetted for your bike. Give it, or preferably the original carb, a good clean out with compressed air. It may be wise to fit an in-line filter. However the paper element type has a habit of air-locking if it is run dry, so you can have difficulties re-starting after going onto reserve if you fit one of these.

 

Thanks for the reply. I already installed a filter (glass with a clear fuel line), running out of gas is not the problem. Yes. it is a new Installed after market carb but I already checked jets and installed size called for in Kodiak manual (same size as was in stock carb). Bike starts easy and idles great, however when given gas it sputters and threatens to die. Checked bowl level with gage and adjusted accordingly. Installed new coil and plug wire. Same problem. All this started when I filled tank with premium Sunoco (might have been bad or old). Engine started to sputter, backfire and kicked a water/liquid mixture back into the air box. I haven't checked the timing or the valve lash but I'm thinking that it would not start and idle normally if either was the problem. A real head scratcher. BTW, it is now filled with regular gas.

 

Electrical problems can cause these symptoms too. Most obvious, faulty plug. Have you checked the charge rate, anything over 15v at the battery, with engine running, is overcharging.

 

Allot of times the jets on a Chinese carb are different than stock like a 155 stock carb is different than a 155 zoom zoom zoom zoom are a little smaller.