Did you replace your tappet adjusters, or inspect them for wear? They wear with a channel in them where they push on the valve tip. When you adjust them, turn the adjuster, that channel get s repositioned and if bad enough will give false readings. OFten the tip is flat out pitted and must be discarded.
Pull your #4 and take a look.
I got 30 adjusters from a salvage yard one time. Fully 1/3 of them were worn past using, 3-4 had deep pits. New ones were cheap enough I just bot them, OEM.
All NEW/NOS tappets and nuts.
Checked the gap, its still nice with slight resistance.
Checked the floats, all looks good, plenty gas coming when turned on.
Checked the plug gap, good also, but did notice some carbon deposit on the electrode. I'm guessing its from the initial startup when the idle was at 4000 RPM. Doesn't seem to have gotten worse after today's short run.
I'm guessing this has to do with the idle mixture now? Pop hasn't gone away, and after talking to Jerry, I AM noticing it happen when decelerating as well, not just at idle. This is getting annoying, want it to get smooth enough for a good dynamic timing, then install the Hondaman ignition.
Checking the idle screws next, good idea or is there something else I should look into? Thanks for the help with this Ron.
@Charlie, thanks!