OK guys here's an update. I installed a new Kohler carb last night on the C-160. High speed it sounds much better, but I cannot get her to idle down now. I've made every possible adjustment on the idle speed screw and the idle mixture screw. She just sputters and smokes. Just a little throttle and she runs fine. I also noticed that gas is coming out of the carb after it is shut down now too.

I guess the head needs to come off huh?

Thoughts?

I think you still have carb problems - even though its a new carb. Fuel shouldnt come out of the carb when you shut it down - the needle valve isnt shutting off the fuel.

I'd take off the bowl and check out the float/needle valve. Maybe before you pull the float off try and blow (with your mouth not an air gun!) through the fuel inlet. Gently raise the float and see if it shuts off the (air flow).

It is possible that a brand new (ie empty) carb can dislodge the needle valve or even go out of adjustment with regards to the float height. When the carb is full of fuel, the float is riding on a "cushion" of fuel. When the float bowl is empty the float can bounce around, unrestrained and the little tabs can bend a little. I've seen this before on automotive engines.

Flooding really shows up at low speed (high speed the engine can deal with the excess fuel). Was the smoke black (excess fuel) or grey (burning oil). And spluttering at low speed is classic carb/fuel problems. Valve problems would affect how it runs at high speed too.

Keep us posted....

Mike,

Thanks for the reply. It was black smoke. I'll take the bowl off and give it a look.

Thanks,

My thoughts exactly!

needle valve isnt seeting right. thats one, who in the world ever thought h2O was good in any engine was on crck as for carbon on the intake side i doubt yu are seeing carbon more like sludge buildup from gas uildup. no big deal, is your head gasket good?

Is that why the military used water injection in fighter aircraft and bombers up into WW II? Racing aircraft still use them. So do some racing boats. It cools the combustion chamber enough to allow higher compression/ more complete combustion/ higher power. It also eliminates cabon deposits. Ever notice that most all engines run just a touch smoother in foggy weather? The water mist being brought in through the intake just might have a little bit to do with that. No one has said to take a garden hose and spray it full blast down the carb (Although I have a '66 Ford Fairlane with a 289 2v that will run that way.). A FINE mist of water introduced into the intake will soften carbon in the cylinder and allow the compression/combustion to drive it out the exhaust.

sorry my friend but i know of much better ways to keep my engine clean, keep carbon to a minimum and keep water out of my engine. FYI the militry also dumps tons of jet ful and unused fuel into the oceans every day, that doesnt meen they are knowledgale people. think we all can agree that kohler, tecumseh, briggs and in your case ford would never recommend using water for any internal reasons in air cooled engines, and no i never seen any serious differnce when it was misty out, maybe we should call NASCAR and tell them only to race on misty days! any smart, reliable, self respected good small engine mechanic would find other ways to clean carbon buildup. but if you want to do it that way, lets all have a bi annual feed your engine water day so everyone will have a good running engine...
by the way if i sound alittle disturbed its because i am, am be real my friend you cannot compare what people do to V-8 engines to a small air cooled engine, i can run diesel in my truck but i woudnt put it in my wheel horse.....