4overbanshee

I am leaking some oil out the front so I will need to tear into it anyways. That makes complete sense. Knowing little about 2-strokes my first thought was a valve train issue (bent valve or broken spring). Thanks for that comparison, helps me understand the problem a lot better before I dive into fixing it. The only other 2-strokes that I've owned have been outboard motors and those have thankfully always ran great for me.

Thanks will do! I appreciate all the help thus far. I will tear into the bike shortly (turbo upgrade on my truck first).. I am wanting to get it ready for next season with moderate riding ...

I don't have one. I will get one. Do you have a preference on which brand to go for on reeds?

Thanks thats helps a lot. I've wrenched on auto engines for years, but wrenching on my banshee is new to me and I appreciate the help. I'm not sure what clymers are??

Thank you for the response! I am a noob still so could you point me in the direction of what I need? Thanks.

It's a 1996 banshee, 4 mil w/a cool head.

I want to start off that I searched but I couldn't find any topics directly related to my problem. On my last trip to the dunes I lost the left cylinder. I was heading back to camp with my daughter and a buddys nephew, I stopped to wait for them to catch up then when I went to take off I had half the power I had before so I limped back to camp. I thought maybe the plugs were fouled so I replaced them, didn't help. The left pipe was blowing cold and the right was hot so I swapped plug wires and the issue stayed with the left cylinder. At that point I parked it for the weekend. Let me back up a little. Over the weekend the bike got harder and harder to start (used to fire up after the first few kicks). I don't recall ridding hard before the bike lost 1/2 power, I was riding slower so my daughter and buddys nephew would be close. Nothing that I can think of would have led to an issue other than maybe sand getting in and blocking fuel. Thats what I assumed. Fast FWD to now. I thought that I would give spraying some carb cleaner in the carb while running (won't idle, had to keep on the throttle).. I removed the filters and sprayed in.. The right pipe was looking normal but the left looked really clean and only had the puffs from the carb cleaner.. The exhaust was cool on the left pipe. I noticed that the left carb was blowing out air/exhaust as I revved the engine. Compression was coming out of the left carb when I revved the engine (not the right at all). I shut it down, but both pipes were hot. I have my thoughts as to what it is, but I am looking for others input and advice before I start on the fix.