Yep, I said the filter was new. I guess my "new" meant 8 years old new! On reflection, I'm sure the filter just got old, rotted and small pieces were ingested and burned. Maybe why it ran with the mixture screw out and then didn't and the plug got fouled along the way. A buddy said he had a foam filter disintegrate this way, his Harley eat the pieces. As you say learn by mistakes. Will replace and check the filter more often.