Hey, I have a 97 Indy 500 and it sometimes has this odd issue. Ussually happans in deep snow when I get stuck ill stop and pack down the snow around the sled and then get back on to go and it will act as if it has very little power. I can pick the rear track up out of the snow and drop it to make sure its not bound up but it is still doesnt have enough umph to grab the belt to move itself. Strangely if you pick up the hood it seems to gain more power as if the dash was so restricting on air that it leaned it out alittle bit when you took it away. Seems to me that the plugs are loading up for some really strange reason. But once you get it onto a trail and moving to try and blow it out it will no blow out. So I ussually end up having to change the plugs. So I have two questions. One is has anyone had this or a similar problem? Second is Im wondering if there oil injector is way to rich and its loading up the plugs badly. I looked at the oil injector where the cable pulls and the cable is screwed all the way out exposing the most threads possible which I assume means its adding the most oil at wide open throttle. Is there a marking on the lever arm to show where it should be at wide open? Thanks!

Better have a look at the needles and seats. Older 500s with Mikuni carbs were pretty notorious for this problem. My brother had a 1997 Indy 500 with the same troubles, and my 1998 Indy 500 did it also. Makes the sled start hard, and run pig rich.

If the needles and seats are bad, don't just clean them and put them back in, or you will wind up taking the carbs back apart again. Replace the needles and seats with viton tipped ones, as opposed to the original brass ones.

Thanks alot, Ill deffinitly have a looksee at that. What am I looking for with the needle and seat though? What would constitute 'worn' ? And do you have a good idea where I might be able to get these viton tipped ones? Thanks again!

sounds to me like you plug up the exhaust. not letting the engine breath. this is causing your plugs to foul. happens alot to deep powder riders, and the fact you said it happens only when you get stuck in deep snow!!! look int a snow deflector. had very similar problem when i went from fuel injection to carbs on my 94 indy 500 efi. can pick up a snow deflector relatively cheap. mounts just infront of the exhaust outlet. could send a pic you can actually rig something up cheap. if you have no ther problems running on trails, starting, WOT, or any of that, just when youre stuck in deep snow. dont think its youre jetting in general. if this wasnt a common problem. why would the manufacture snow deflectors? eliminated my problem