Okay, i got the cowl off and was able to get at the carb. When i took the plate of i found that the gold "screen" that bob is pointing out in the pics is about 75% black. The left side off it is so dark i can't see the gold color but the right side of it is clear enough that i can see the gold. It looks like some oily crud got on it. I can't however figure out how to clean it. If there is a screen there it must have the finest little wholes as it really doesn't look like a sreen to me. It feels hard and smooth, almost as if there was a drop of epoxy in there.

Any help would be apreciated.