Mule doesn't return to idle well

[BryanR]

My Mule runs strong, accelerated smooth, and responds to throttle quickly. Starts quickly and idles smooth at start-up. At full throttle it runs at consistent RPMs.

But, if I run it at 3/4 or more throttle for more than several seconds and let off the throttle, it doesn't return to idle and typically dies as if it stalls.

I can feather the throttle pedal a couple times and keep it from dying, when it will return to idle.

It doesn't sound like it's idling too slow, but admittedly this is my first mule.

Any suggestions?

[WPVT]

I spent a lot of time fiddling with my carburetor linkage and adjustment when I first got the mule. The relationship between all of the parts is complex, and tricky. You might take a look at your idle speed screw on the carb and notice whether it is seating positively. It sounds like you have a good idle under starting conditions, and a bad idle after returning from throttle.So it would be good to see what position the linkage is in after both and if there is a difference.
Probably the best approach would be to disconnect the carb from the governor and see how the engine acts without it. Then you've taken one important variable out of the equation.

[BryanR]

Right or wrong, I think I have it fixed. I adjusted the idle screw about 3/4 of a turn. It didn’t seem to increase idle speed much, just a little, but now it returns to idle instead of choking and dying.

I’ll give it a couple more test drives to mark it off the list, but so far so good.