HELP!! opposed twin idiles too fast

I have a mid eighties 18 hp opposed twin that's in great shape for its age appears to have low hours. I can't get it to idle down seems to be a problem with the governor you can gentle push on the throttle plate lever and it will idle right down as soon as you move your finger goes right back up. It also has a sluggish throttle move the throttle up and nothing happen till you get over half throttle before  you get any response. I have checked for leaky gasket  oiled all the linkage so far no  results. Has anyone had these kind of problem ? Could sure use some help otherwise I may have to replace it with a 17 hp intek that I have won't be as impressive looking but it will get the job done. Thanks.

Have you tried turning the set screw that's on the final throttle piece that goes into the carb? Sorry if I didn't understand your question fully

yeah I tried that you mean the idle set screw the throttle lever likes about an eighth of an hitting the set screw you can move it back by hand but goes back as soon as you release it. I think its in the governor system which has several springs that I don't fully understand how it works this is my first opposed twin that I have ever owned. not much info on the internet about them this one seems different than the ones I have looked at maybe older version thanks

To me, it sounds like the throttle cable needs adjusted.

+2 Doug's comment. Check that, slide the sleeve down and that might help.

Also, I think on one of my engines I re bent the linkage to the throttle lever. Made it longer so it fully pressed the throttle lever to the set screw so it's fully adjustable like it should be.

Thanks guys you are probably right just needs adjusting somewhere in the linkage but I have decided to shelve the engine for the time I have had both a new automotive key switch and starter relay to fail all new parts defective from the factory and I'm short on time and money need this project done so going ahead with the intek not going to be easy looks like it will work. Thanks again. Jim

If it idles to fast try bending the tab in the governor

Do you mean inside the engine? be afraid to tamper with anything internally seems to be doing a little better, but still needs some adjustment. thanks

No if u look up fearless fronts governor adjustment try bending it the other way

Yeah I just watched Fearless's video good info but I am dealing with a opposed twin and I tried the same adjustment no good only the spring came off. I think I need a complete governor upgrade but the newer version probably won't match up with my carb. I guess I will just have to use it has is too good an engine not to, I plan on doing a pulley swap on the front to give me a little more speed just have to down shift and use the clutch and brake to control the speed thanks for help still open for suggestions. Jim

Well guys I got my opposed twin to idle today BUT now it surges and chokes at full throttle, win some lose some I guess, but will keep trying maybe I can find a happy medium some where in between.

the old guy wrote:

Well guys I got my opposed twin to idle today BUT now it surges and chokes at full throttle

lean it out a bit, turn in the adjustment screw like a quarter turn and see what happens

Regretfully I had to shelf the opposed twin for awhile due to lack of funds the coil failed quite firing on left side that could have explained why it was surging and choking . I did make a adjustment in linkage where the cable attaches to throttle lever as it was hitting the mount filed a notch so linkage could close a little more seems to have helped. The thing ran great on one cylinder . When I can come scrape up a hundred dollars for new coil and a new auto battery I will resume work meanwhile I am getting th 17 hp intek going. Thanks for the help.

a coil is like 25 bucks, you can find them on amazon. as far as a battery, tractor supply has good ones for 30 bucks or thereabouts

Yeah I know you can get one from Ebay for less than 20.00 dollars and about the same price at Walmart for the standard lawn mower battery. I don't think that the run of the mill mower battery will hold up long against the big twin so I went with a car battery a group 26 type I believe and a new one costs around 80 bucks The plus side is that the auto battery come with 2 year free replacement warranty vs the mower battery is only 3 months replacement free and the car battery has twice the cranking amps over the mower battery. I think I'll save my money.

also make sure to upgrade your battery cables with the added juice in power will ensure the starter gets all that good flow of juice to it and make sure your grounds are upgraded too, ill also be using a car battery there cells are heck of alot better and dont tend to warp like mower batterys after being re-charged if something happens and they run dead, plus the 2 year warranty is a good thing last few months of warranty drain that battery dead as a door nail then take it in trade it out lol

Yeah MTD2fst4u that's what I was thinking so used a heavy duty automotive type switch and starter relay along with heavier gauge wiring thru out I even ran heavy ground cables to a copper plate attached to the frame I've mower seen mowers fail to start only because the engine was grounded good enough. Everything worked great till both the key switch and relay I bought online failed due to poor workmanship I guess you get what you pay for lol. I know of a farm supply store that has some new old stock tractor switches and relays at very reasonably prices plan on checking them out when I get the time. I also have a coupon for a 2500 lb atv winch for 49.95 from Harbor freight good till 1/12/15 I hope to use another reason I went with automotive battery.

Only just seeing this now, but I had some of your exact idling issues with my oppy...

new springs. You can try adjusting the linkage, bending the tabs, that'll all help, but really, and as long as the carb is right, it's the springs that are shot. Even if they don't look like it, they probably are.