Pulled the Nikki carb apart and cleaned it out. Not much to be seen in the way of dirt or grunge. Stuck it back on and the machine started right up. Moved it up near garage into my wifes parking space (mistake!!!) and let it run and get nice and warmed up. Fiddled around for 10 minutes or so and she died and went right back to the same semi backfire mode. I'm thinking bad ignition now. So I guess I'm going to have to pull the engine out. Got it moved to a better place with a tractor and the 420 crawler.
BTW- that Nikki carb is nowhere near as scary as it looks in the diagrams.
BTW- that Nikki carb is nowhere near as scary as it looks in the diagrams.