I've had this truck for 4 years 44k on odo. After about a year it died one day (crank, sputter but no start). Had fuel in the oil and wet spark plugs. I had spark. Pulled carb (solenoids both clicked) needle was so worn float was hitting before needle hi the seat. Replaced needle and ran GREAT for a year. Then "like de ja vu all over again" but this time no clicky from the vent solenoid, so replaced it and again was running GREAT until 2 weeks ago when on a cold start it ran like crap, missing and sputtering. Barely made it down to the barn, lots of grey fuel smoke out the tailpipe, exhaust overheat light came on, died and wouldn't restart. Fuel in the oil again. okay pulled the carb again, solenoids both clicking, everything look fine. cleaned, replaced both solenoids and put a kit in it. Still flooding and won't run. I don't know what to check next. ANY help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. (added 12/15/25). Still looking for any suggestions. Today I checked to see if perhaps the fuel pump was putting out pressure capable of pushing the needle of the seat. I have good flow when you crank it, not enough pressure to read on the gauge I was using. That looked good to me....? I think I have it solved anyway. After all of the above, I thought maybe the cat was plugged. Pulled it. Easier than I expected. Nope clean as a whistle. Back to basics: Fuel, check. Compression (175, 190, 185), check. Spark, check.......or maybe not so check. Swapped the plugs and it ran like a top. Prior to this I would clean the plugs by spraying them with carb cleaner, wire brush blow them off and this time it didn't work. The spark I was seeing was not good enough. Got a lesson on cleaning spark plugs with a propane torch, works great. I'm thinking maybe the cold weather along with lots of very short trips is just not enough to keep them clean, as a week later I inspected them and they are already starting to foul. I just ordered a set of BKR5E-11 (one step hotter) plugs. We'll se how that works out.
