HONDA ATC185 Carb question

[1980ATC185]

my plug is always getting fould i rebuilt the carb and i got the bike running

but it idles poorly and fouls plugs

my question is which direction do i turn the pilot screw to lean it out

id appreciate any help

[jeswinehart]

the pilot screw won't do much in the way of leaning or richning your carb up. that's the job of the clip on the needle jet ( needle jet clip position)

initial pilot screw adjustment for you 185 is 2 turns out ( screw it in all the way and back it out 2 full turns),,, then there is a whole page of what to do with it next after you get it running,,,,

needle clip raising the clip ( lowering the needle ) will lean it out.
lowering the clip ( raising the needle ) will richen it up.
stock position is the 2nd. groove.

there are sevral types of plug fouling also,,, wet carbon,,, dry carbon,,, oil soaked and so on. each is a good indicator of what the trouble is.
( electrical, mechanical and so on )

tell us more about the plug and history on the carb when you get a moment,,, chances are somebody on this site has had simalar troubl;es.

john

[1980ATC185]

well i took apart the carb put a kit in it and i raised the needle clip to the top to try and richen it out as for the pilot screw i dont know what its set at and when i mess with the idle screw it doesnt do anything

and i drove it for awhile and the plug is black

thank you for any help
thomas davis

[jeswinehart]

oh lets see,,, more info maybe.
1980 - 81 calls for a ngk d8ea plug while the 1982 and lator calls for a dr8es-L ,,, gapped at .024 - .028
i have hotter plug in a machine ( ngk d7 ) i putt on as was recomended to me + gapped at .030 so you might try a hotter plug.
how's the air filter looking,,, been cleaned latley ?
choke lever is working properly right + ain't leaving the choke half on is it ?
is the spark a yellowish or is it a solid blue arc ? and is the plug a wet black or dry as a fart black carbon ?
i'm assuming this 185 run good for you before correct ???

lots of quistons i know thomas,,,, bear with me.

john

[1980ATC185]

to tell you the truth this was the first carb i ever messed with and i dont know what i need to do to lean the carb out

[jeswinehart]

well you done the correct thing thom by lowering the needle ( raising the clip to the top ) to lean it out. you just don't want to get it to the point of being to lean. it's really hard on the motor ( i toasted a 90cc honda motor a long time ago )
but then again you should get a long time out of a plug on a 4 stroke motor. kinda fustrating to say the least,,, i thing we have all been there.

let us know what you come across when you get to checking it out some more.

john

[1980ATC185]

man you people are helpful any ways i have the right plug in it and i dont know what kind of black it is but its black and as soon as i put a fresh plug in it it runs

i did lower the needle by putting the clip at the highest position
ill try setting the pilot jet a 2 turns out

ill post some pics of the bike soon