Tom that's my fear with my current engine. Last year when my brother and I with very limited knowledge and experience finally got my engine started, we were able to lean it out then back it off.

This year I had someone else fiddle with it, worked fine then someone else fiddled with it making sure the story I told about stalling and 'hard landing' wouldn't happen again. It seemed a bit lean so I retuned it but after that day never seemed to tune correctly. I lean it out until it stops whinning louder like you are supposed to but the SLIGHTEST bit too much and it will shut down. Then I try to back it off waiting for the whinning to lessen a bit denoting a decrease in rpm and a slightly rich running as you are supposed to...but I turn and turn and turn and nothing seems to happen so I just kinda guestimate. The engine idles very nicely and starts decently now, but when I go to take off it sputters very bad then finally 'catches' and that's every flight for me! Takes me 1/3 the runway just for it to catch then go throttle up. If I lean it out it seems to be running too lean and if I go full power if will stop. It's almost like I am stuck with this running like this at least for the first flight until it gets warmed up and gets some of that previous flights goop out. Each time I fly is a bit different also. If I cut the throttle all the way I can do a nice landing one day, then the next I have to land with throttle trim to keep it from coming in too hot. Other days I have to keep one notch up on the throttle and trim throttle almost all the way down. It's actually kinda fun fine tuning my landings like this. But hey, you'll have that I guess. I still think that this engine isn't perfectly tuned however and like I said I worry it was run too lean for too long.
Anyway to find out how my engines health is? My compression is awesome, and the plane screams through the sky. I just have to deal with some crazyiness when it's on or near the ground. As long as it doesn't stall though, it's not a federal case.

Elad, 2k bill!? OUCH. What was it may I ask? Transmission? Those front wheels drives and some 4x4's are expensive to fix a transmission I have been told.
They told me it would be $170 which is alot less than I thought it would be. But the guy didn't seem very sure that was the problem. It's kinda like , well this is definetely what you need first (plugs, throttle body, tune up, oil change, wires, etc) Which is correct. Only time will tell. I just hope that's all it is and I kill two birds with one stone. The past due checkup/tune up and fixing this issue.

S