How do you know if your running too Rich?

[Bry21317]

I have a friend who is a boat/Jetski/Motorcycle mechanic and he has told me to make sure that I run my Force 125 HP rich. I had installed Boyeson reeds, which they say to add 1- 1 1/4 turns richer to the mixture, when they are installed on this engine. I now have my mixture screws set at about 2 1/4 turns out, which is pretty rich. It seems to have some oily mixture that is left sitting on my driveway when I run it on the hose, that comes out through the exhaust.<br /><br />It is running perfect when I get on it on the lake. But right at the start it hesitates for a split second, then it takes off like a rocket, after about 2 seconds. Sometimes it will just take off when I hit the gas.<br /><br />Does anyone know any suggestions?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Bryan Cox

 

[JB]

Re: How do you know if your running too Rich?

Hi, Bryan.<br /><br />If you run rich, there will be leftover, unburned fuel in the exhaust. That is what you are seeing. <br /><br />Except for clean-up, no worries.

 

[Bry21317]

Re: How do you know if your running too Rich?

Thanks JB.<br /><br />Bryan

 

[Dhadley]

Re: How do you know if your running too Rich?

Bryan, the reason you need to run rich at idle is to protect the reeds. About the only thing that hurts them is if the motor runs lean at idle and "sneezes" or "coughs". When it does, fire comes up to the intake and burns the reed tips. <br /><br />Just run the idle circuit rich enough to prevent the "lean sneeze" and the reeds should last a very long time.<br /><br />Good luck!