36pd non cdi with a single mikuni and mm muffler

The motor is starting to be hard to start. I have to hold down the key for a long time and it will cough a couple times and shoot a mist of gas out of the carb which sometimes ignites causing a backfire.

It will start but takes a while.

Any ideas on the issue?

Is the starter still turning it fast enough or has it gotten slower?

It may be your coils! Sounds like what i went through. One minute it would start right up. The next i had backfire out carb and muffler and it wouldn't turn over. New set of coils and it starts first turn.

check the valves

Sounds like a rev limiter to me.... Happened to mine when it got drenched. Disconnect it and see if it helps....

Agree on checking the valve lash, spitting back through the intake sounds like they aren't opening at the right times.

Also check battery and connections for good connection- seen them crank for minutes and not start if its not cranking just fast enough.

Checked the valve lash and all seemed good...right at.005.

Rev limiter is disconnected.

Starter spins fast.


I guess I can go back one more time and check the valve lash to be 100% positive. What could cause that mist of gas to be coming out the carb?

Could it be a plug wire grounding somewhere or bad coil? Sounds similar to what mine did when my plug wires were grounding out

Would low oil pressure have this effect. Maybe loading up cuz its not firing. Then backfiring? Idk just a thought.but I guess that may be a problem more after its warmed up?

How does it run once it fires up?

It runs great once its up and running. It dies a lot at idle though.

We hauled six guys and gear all hunting season and it did great on plane.

I had this issue before but it was because the valve lash was way out. I fixed that and it ran perfect for about 6 months. I will run a leak down test but I really hope that it comes out ok.

What wire do i need to pull for the oil sensor just so I can rule it out?

If you have an oil pressure sensor, its screwed into the side of the block between oil filter and crank case. If you don't have one, there's a plug there. You just disconnect the spade connector ensuring it doesn't ground out.