Does this look like a bad seal around the carb? I have never had an engine with this much gunk around the base of the carb before and my engine idles too fast no matter what I do. It's a Novarossi 528XR and it has almost two quarts through it. I thought maybe some of you experts could tell by looking. The temps are fine and it runs great it just won't idle slower no matter what LSN setting I try.

I am amazed it runs at all with that much buildup. That or you just never wash your car, which is equally bad.

This is what it looked like before today, the buildup is from four or five tanks of nitro. But thanks for nothing.

You asked whether or not you have a bad seal, I answered and it was yes, your seal looks very much destroyed, judging by the buildup, unless that buildup took a long time to get there, in which case it is your wash habits, not your seal at fault. So you are welcome for nothing.

In the case of your idle, did you try your idle screw too, or just your LSN to change the idle? If not, I would start there.

This is a strange one
the only way a leak could be there is if the engine is backfiring and spitting fuel back through the carb and out of the connecting tube.

is there any fuel on the air cleaner?

would the 4to 5 tanks be on the same day? If not shame on you.

Adjust the idle screw slightly higher than you want then adjust the LSN when you get the engine to tick over to its highest richen slightly and then adjust the idle down to where you want it.

To check if it is correct do the pinch test.

you're brave in just taking the filter off befor cleaning the motor and surrounding areas(one drop of dirt and that motor is______@%%^%^%^$##!!!)

The filter is dry. I am gonna clean it tonight and run it tomorrow. If all else fails I will buy a new o-ring. I haven't messed with the mid needle, I have heard that you aren't supposed to or maybe I just read wrong somewhere.

edit - yes it was run 4-5 tanks today, I thought the carb might be leaking and caused my Idle to be too high, I will tinker some more tomorrow.

The leak is before the fuel and air mix so the problem is the idle. The seal is only the attachment of the cleaner to the carb. I belive a rich mix compensated by a high idle to keep it running is spitting a little fuel back through the carb every once in a while, gravity pulls the fuel down throu the gap in the seal it will not cause any mixture change as it is before the fuel and air mixes.

If fuel is escaping then it is possible dust may get into the engine after the filter so make sure the air cleaner is strapped down air tight

If the low speed needle is turned all the way in it can catch the mid needle and turn with the low speed so I would check the mid needle anyway.
set the mid needle first then the low making sure they dont stick toghether (only if the mid needle needs adjusting).

example if the LSN has been turned out 3 turns but the MSN has stuck for 1 turn the LSN has only been turned twice or the other way of course.

Good luck for tomorrows tinkering lat us know how you get on.

mabey seal up the hsn that looks like where the heaviest buildup is.

I think you may be right but i dont think this is the main reason. The fuel pipe does look a little too wide for the nipple, check it to see if the pipe is still fully flexible at the end check that the everything is fully tightened (fuel nipple).

Everything should realy be checked after each use as they do take a good hammering and the single cylinder engine bouncing up and down anything up to 500 times per SECOND causes even the tightest threads to come loose.

http://www.*********.org/engine-tuning.htm

If your idle is too high and too rich you will get some fuel pushed back through the carb. That is what it looks like is happening here. It looks like this is only a two needle adjustment on the carb and does not have a mid speed valve. The screw you see in the middle of the carb just below the intake is the idle adjustment screw. Just turn this counterclockwise about 1/8 of a turn and your idle speed should drop, then adjust your low speed needle on the end clockwise if you need to lean it out a bit.
Hope this helps!!!

The seal is only the attachment of the cleaner to the carb ....what the heck does this mean...see above for context.

the pipe connecting the air cleaner (thats the spongey thing or maybe a wire mesh covered paper cone) to the round hole on top of the carburetor (the hole is there to let air in you know) secured with tightly fitting cable ties (also known as zip ties).

I can rewrite it with shorter words and pictures if want me too (maybe not)