1989 B 2200 Engine Missing
 

My B 2200 engine is intermittently missing. It does it at what appears random times. Sometimes it lasts for a few seconds, sometimes several minutes. When it misses it begins as if it's ignition related. The engine acts like it is firing on three cylinders. Then it degrades into power loss. On the highway my speed will drop from 65 to 35-40. The engine never quits and will idle fine. Eventually it will pick up and run great.

ANY ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks..

RE: 1989 B 2200 Engine Missing
 

Sounds like a possible air-fuel solenoid in the carburetor. Have seen them fail a great number of times and give a rough idle. Not so sure about the power loss to the extent that you are describing though. The solenoid controls the carb mixture based on signals from the oxygen sensor in the exhuast. It sticks and mixture becomes set at wherever it happens to stick at. A test that often works to see if it is from the solenoid is this. With the engine running and acting up, take the air cleaner cover off and with a small hammer tap on the top of the carb. Not too hard that will damage the aluminum but firm. Oftentimes the engine will smooth out and run fine as you have just 'unstuck' the solenoid. There is another way to test as well but requires the use of a dwell meter.

RE: 1989 B 2200 Engine Missing
 

The B2200 and B2000 had a computer controlled Feedback carburetor which where complete junk, there are probably atleast a dozen other carburetor related systems that can cause serious problems. Another classic that gives those exact symptoms are the magnetic pickup being bad. Depending on how far gone it is it might have a missfire at idle which leads into irrattic idle, more frequent misfires, cold hard start, poor fuel economy, intermittent lack of power, and eventually non-running condition. If it is the magnetic pickup replacing any of the other ignition components will alleviate the problem shortly but will not get rid of it

I think it is definatly related to an electrical problem because if it was a worn cam lobe or something the problem would be more consistant and less noticable at higher rpms.

The carburetor defaults to a rich condition when there is a malfunction so unless something sticks like babyhuey said it will run rich, bog, get poor gas milage, spit black crud out the tail pipe, plug up the cats, carbon up the combustion chambers and valves, etc.....