NC30 sluggish - Fuel or Plugs

[NC30Greenie]

Hi All,
My second post and its a bit of advice required from the font of all knowledge that is greybikes.

Just bought an 89 NC30, in fair nick, however, when started it reeks of fuel, this goes away after a while, also its pretty sluggish, I will add that I just sold my GSXR1000, so its difficult for me to tell if the bike is under powered or not.
it doesn't seem to rev as free as I believe it should. From a standstill it requires a lot of clutch slip to get moving. This gets worse the hotter it gets (its not overheating). I suspect carbs or plugs. I have bought a new set of plugs in case one plug is faulty, which might explain the unburned fuel smell.
So I plan to change them and hopefully this will cure it, failing that if its carbs then my local shop said it will be a couple of hours to strip and clean. I dont do carbs, I just make matters worse

So people, any thing else I can look at.

Thanks in advance.

[dobbslc]

A mate had an NC30 that was running a bit rough, all the plugs sparked when pulled out and rested on the engine but one wouldn't fire under load, replaced that and all was ok.
NC30,s have a very long first gear so need a bit of clutch slip getting away especially compared to a 1000!
The fuel smell could also be a stuck fuel valve in one of the carbs that's flooding a cylinder, if it is you could knacker the new plug if it's fitted by trying to run it.
V4 carbs are a pita to work on if you've never done it before and I'd be surprised if a workshop could remove, strip, clean, reassemble then refit them in a couple of hours.
I'd do the plugs and check for petrol leaks and any split pipes or hoses first.

[Evilchicken0]

Always replace plugs as a set.

It sounds like it's running rich - make sure the choke isn't being left on, follow the cable. Really though it sounds like the carbs need to be cleaned

[Cammo]

I dont do carbs, I just make matters worse

If the new plugs don't sort it you'll need to delve into the carbs.

I certainly wouldn't pay a garage to do the work, the cost is mostly in the labour not the difficulty or parts. It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be - just use the V4 jetting guide here: http://www.400greybike.com/docs.htm

Just make sure you have new carb rubbers and new float bowl gaskets on hand it makes the job much simpler, both can be sourced from Rick Oliver in the UK, stock list here: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=26174

[NC30Greenie]

Thanks Cammo and all.
I will change the plugs this weekend. Having just read the carb set up guide, if the plugs dont sort it I have vowed to give the carbs a go. It will either go swimmingly or i will push the NC30 into the local canal? ;o)

Thanks very much again.

[NC30Greenie]

All,
Thanks again, it was the plugs, well it was the rear right plug, the bike had been firing on 3, no wonder it was er 'sluggish'.
I took the opportunity to spray inside the carb bellmouths with liberal amounts of carb cleaner, new plugs in, sorted.
They dont half go these little NC30's dont they.

Thanks All.