Ozark 250 will idle, but when throttle is pressed, it seems like it is starving for gas. Cleaned fuel shut off valve and screens, drained carb, replaced spark plug, any idea?

bad carb, needs cleaned

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Sounds like it might be starved for either air or fuel. Have you made sure there is full gas flow from the tank to the carb? Also recheck the needle valve regulating gas flow into the carb. May be that a speck of trash is partially plugging that flow to carb. Should have in-line fuel filter (add on) in addition to the bowl 'filter

clean the carb. look for air leaks.

Is engine condition good???? comperssion should be in the range of 150 psi. have you checked tha air box, filter, inlet track for proper condition and no blockage(dirt dobber nest???). Check for air leaks at the intake manifold by spraying arouind the area with carb cleaner while idling, any change in rpm indicates a leak. Re check your work in the carb. A "cleaned carb " and a properil overhauled and adjusted carb can be 2 different things.

Hey Bayside,,
Sounds like the carburetor needs the attention of a qualified professional..install a new (correct) spark plug,,
Have the pro clean, check, and set the carburetor, you should be ok,,

Did you clean out the old gas and put in fresh? Did you use a fuel stabilizer when you parked it? Have you changed the fuel filter? Have you pulled the spark plugs and inspect them?
If you didn't drain the fuel before parking it, or user a fuel stabilizer odds are you have a bunch of crud (technical term) in your fuel system now. And the crud could have fouled the plugs also; that's why when you try to open the throttle any more than the "blip" it's starving for gas. Probably already has something in a carburetor jet or in a float bowl. So drain out any gas in it, pour some alcohol in the tank, shake it around and drain it. Open up the fuel shut off valve and clean it. Change the fuel filter. Pull out the spark plugs and inspect; if their clean, blow them out with some compressed air and put them back in (after checking the gap) Put in fresh gas and try it. If it still behaves the same way, it's time to open up the carb and clean it. If it's beyond what you're comfortable working on, take it to a reputable shop to have it cleaned. Good luck

I don't have a solution but I do have the exact same problem, '03 or '04 (not sure) Suzuki 250 Quadrunner Ozark,really low hrs, left in storage for 2.5 yrs, gas went bad, cleaned it out, now hard to start and won't idle by itself.
I have taken the carb apart and cleaned it out, but did not replace anything, and it will still not start very easily or idle. Before I took the carb apart I thought it was flooding because it would start with the accelerator wide open, but when I would let off, it would die again. Whats going on?? I really don't want to pay to have it fixed.

vac leak craked boots

THERE IS ONLY ONE THING THAT WILL CUASE THIS, PLUGGED IDLE JETS AND PASSAGES. REMOVE THE CARB AGAIN AND SOAK THE CARB IN A STRONG CLEANER OVERNIGHT TO DISOLVE THE HARD WHITE RESIDUE THE BAD GAS LEAVES BEHIND, JUST RINSING AND BLOWING THEM OUT WILL NOT WORK IN MOST CASES.

sounds like the float is not working properly , could also be the jet. would be a good idea to buy a carb kit, not very expensive and save a lot of grief.