Gunk in Carb?

No. Not normal. What kind of air cleaners do you have? Any backfiring?

A couple sputters at startup. Small backfires. Here’s the air filter:

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What’s that red stuff like? Oily? Greasy? Rubbery?

I asked about your air filters because I’ve seen filters that had that color end caps. It also looks like thread sealer. If all depends on the consistency.

Regardless, if it were me I’d take them off and inspect them thoroughly. The good news? It looks like it’s on the air inlet side so hopefully nothing in the gas circuits.

It looks like someone used silicone gasket material to seal the velocity stacks to the carb top. Take your stacks off and clean that stuff off.

That air filter looks like it hasn't been cleaned in...  forever.   I'd clean and re-oil it or replace it.

Actually, the dirtier it looks, the better it cleans. When they're cleaned and have that reddish tint to them because of new oil, they let a lot of dirt through.

Having them clean makes YOU feel better, not the car.

That red stuff is red Permatex. Looks like where it was used wasn't cleaned of oil as it isn't sticking. REMOVE it ALL, and buy some proper paper gaskets.

Lost an idle jet O-ring? Easy enough to replace, they're in every rebuild kit.

More than likely the red junk is inside the carb too and will need to be torn down  and cleaned. Set the air cleaners in a bucket of Dawn overnight switch them around a few times, rinse and let then dry .

To add to what Alan says, DON'T use compressed air or high pressure water on these air filters. ALWAYS rinse from inside to outside with a soft spray of water after degreasing. Let them air dry in the sun.

Alan's right, these carbs are probably full of crap. A good cleaning is in order.

@MarkusG wrote: "Feel like me and this car are going to build a long-lasting and loving relationship."

It's a bit more like a "Love/Hate" relationship, but we all get used to it after a while and just go with the flow.  It's always something with these little cars.

@Gordon Nichols posted:

@MarkusG wrote: "Feel like me and this car are going to build a long-lasting and loving relationship."

It's a bit more like a "Love/Hate" relationship, but we all get used to it after a while and just go with the flow.  It's always something with these little cars.

Amen to that.

Everybody wants to be with a gorgeous woman. Owning one of these plastic fantastics is a lot like that. It's all good, except for the part where you can't leave her to go to the bathroom without every guy in the joint making his move and pawing all over her, or when you can't just go about your regular business without a bunch of drama, or how she requires large infusions of money and extraordinary attention on a continual basis.

It's a torrid love affair for sure. The trick is turning it into a long-lasting marriage.

High maintenance for the lady and a Speedster, it is what it is and so it goes ~

@Stan Galat posted:

Amen to that.

Everybody wants to be with a gorgeous woman. Owning one of these plastic fantastics is a lot like that. It's all good, except for the part where you can't leave her to go to the bathroom without every guy in the joint making his move and pawing all over her, or when you can't just go about your regular business without a bunch of drama, or how she requires large infusions of money and extraordinary attention on a continual basis.

It's a torrid love affair for sure. The trick is turning it into a long-lasting marriage.

Funny thing, you as a male, talking about us, finally understand what it’s like to be a pretty woman when all the flies are around

Ray, are you saying you feel pretty?

Naaah…..    He’s been watching “West Side Story” on TCM.

Lol Danny that was funny, no just saying how a pretty women must feel like at the attention from the opposite sex

I figured as much. You just gave me a free one LOL!

@Alan Merklin posted:

High maintenance for the lady and a Speedster, it is what it is and so it goes ~

I don't know about all of you, but my wife is pretty low maintenance. The Spyder is too, it almost never lets me down. I just can't stop messing with it!($$$$$$)

Agree with what the others have said; this looks like red silicone that got sucked in; do you have a breather system hooked up to the carb? When used, silicone must be applied very judiciously or else it will somehow end up in your engine's internals fairly easily, where it could plug oil passages and create havoc.