Learned a new one today that I thought I'd pass on to fellow forum readers: Drove car about 30 miles, all is running perfect. Suddenly, in stop and go traffic it craps. Idling is perfect. Pull away on a green light and motor is like running on three cylinders. Runs kinda OK at constant speed. Very consistent problem. OK, instant problems like that are usually electrical. Stop and check all the plug wires. Nothing seems wrong. Still no change, it idles perfect, but much coughing through the gears, kinda OK at constant speed. I gamble, and run home on the freeway. Funny part was, it actually seemed to run better a higher freeway speeds than at lower speeds.
Got home. Checked for spark. Read the plugs. Changed the plugs. Tested the plug wires. Everything tests perfect. I'm thinking major engine problem. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something vibrating on the throttle shaft.
The set screw on the actuating arm between the hex bar and the carb had come loose. As the arm floated back and forth on the hex bar, that carb responded accordingly. Tightened up the set screw (using blue loctite) and all is well with the world again.
I'm retired, I'm not suppoesed to have this stress in my life any more!
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