What's the model number of that engine?
Sitting for years!..... That carburetor is clogged, fouled, gummed... as Joe Namath states in his commercial, "Guaranteed!".
After cleaning and rebuilding the carburetor as needed (kits & other parts available here), adjust it as follows:
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(Carburetor Adjustments - Two Adjustable N/Vs)
(J. Reeves)
Initial settings are: Bottom high speed = seat gently, then open 1 turn out. Top slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns.
Setting the high and low needle valves properly:
NOTE: For engines that DO NOT have a shift selection, obviously there is no NEUTRAL position. Simply lower the rpms to the lowest setting to obtain the low speed needle valve adjustment.
(High Speed) Start engine (it will run pretty rough), shift into forward gear, take up to full throttle. In segments of 1/8 turn, waiting for the engine to respond between turns, start turning in the bottom high speed needle valve. You'll reach a point whereas the engine will either start to die out or spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the needle valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest setting.
(Low Speed) Slow the engine down to where it just stays running. Shift into neutral. Again in segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the top needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running. Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back. Again, at that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting.
When you have finished the above adjustments, you will have no reason `to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.
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Point setting..... Withe the fiber rubbing portion of the points aligned with the flywheel key, set the points so that a .020 gauge will go thru BUT a .022 will not. That'll get you extremely close to the factory setting.
The portion of the armature plate that the coils set upon has a very slight bevel to them. The metal portion of the coils should be aligned with the inside portion of the bevel for proper clearance between the coil and the flywheel magnets.
Gas tank... if empty... put a gallon of gas in there first, then the oil. Putting oil into a empty gas tank first will result in having pure oil pumped directly into the carburetor.
I'd recommend Champion J6C spark plugs for that engine due to the engine's age. Gap them to .030 .
Mixture should be 24/1... 1qt of 50/1 oil to 6gal gas.
