I still like my Thermoquads, but....

I called up an experienced mechanic friend of mine, who owns a smog and repair shop. He used to work on TQs, but likes to avoid them now. He gave me 4 tips to maybe get the TQ working again without disassembling it for cleaning:

1. Get the engine started and when it starts to die, spritz some carb cleaner into the TQ to confirm that it dies because it is starving for fuel.

2. If you don't already have some there, insert a length of rubber hose into the fuel line between the fuel pump and the carb. Clamp the rubber line and run the engine until the carb runs out of fuel. Then release the clamp. The inrush of fuel pressure into the vacuum will often dislodge any blockage at the float valve.

3. Get it running at about 1,000 RPM and then suddenly block off the carb air horn until the engine dies. This will sometimes clean out a plugged idle circuit.

4. Tap the carb all around with the handle of a hammer.