Quote:
Originally Posted by pat in Santa Cruz
... flow should be strong, not a dribble. Some guys say it should flow like a 14 year old, not a 60 year old. If its strong, look in the carburetor for problems. If its weak, isolate the problem by checking for flow out of the shut off valve. If its weak, the problem is in the tank or valve. If its strong, the problem is between the valve and carburetor.
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The original metaphor I created was "a young boy proudly writing his name in the snow, not an old man laboring to keep his shoes dry."
Critical missing info is the speed when the motor dies: Is it at idle or high speed or any speed or under load or?? It takes surprisingly strong flow to do >45 mph, but not much to idle.
IF you can keep it idling, a quick check to clear a plugged jet is a maneuver I call the carburetor Heimlich. Open passenger side hood with motor idling. Momentarily race engine with throttle rod while simultaneously popping other hand over carb intake throat (probably good idea to wear a glove, but I usually don't). Immediately, before engine dies, release throttle and remove hand. This creates an immense momentary suction that, in my experience, will pull any lodged particle on through and provide an immediate fix, until the next chunky comes along.
Based on what I've read above so far, neither vapor lock nor electrical problems have been ruled out. The "cough, cough" part of your question suggests gas starvation, but sometimes a failing condenser or some other electrical issues will do that, although the dead stop is probably more common.
Steve Schullery