Artisan & Turk, thanks for the input. I took the carb apart and found that the venturi hole in the barrel had a sharp edge sticking outward and cut a deep grove into the carb housing. I used a small file and removed the sharp edges. Now the barrel turns easy but I wonder if I am sucking air into the engine that is not going through the venturi?? The engine runs at 12,500 peak and steady at about 12,000+ with an APC 11X6. Does this sound about right?

oldbob