Not a mechanic of any sort, nor have I done any work on the bike myself, don't know anything about the bike 'cept it's nice to ride. Got it out after not riding most of the rainy winter, and had to get the battery charged. It's a new battery, got it in October. After the charge, it started right up. Couple days later, it had trouble starting. It actually did start eventually, but when I gave it gas, it stopped and wouldn't start again. When it was on, the idle seemed weak, even with the choke out, so I tried to adjust that and may have gone the wrong way. (pretty dumb, right?) Either way I turned it, it made no difference, when before it has. Tried to push start it to no avail. Just killed the battery again trying and trying to start it. Any ideas? Should I try jump start it with another vehicle?
Problem number one is the weak battery, slow charge it for 6 hours or so; then see if it will start. If it starts, you will need to stay on the throttle enough to keep it running until it warms up; after it warms up, you can adjust the idle back to where it needs to be.
Hopefully, you treated the gas with stable before letting the bike set through the winter, if not, you may have gummed up the idle jets, which means the carbs would more than likely need to come off for a cleaning.
As suggested, make sure the battery is good first. But, it sounds to me like the low speed/idle jets are completely clogged. Mine did this just last year, and it's symptoms were; hard as hell to start at all, would only start with full choke (warm day), would quit if the choke was pushed in at all, would quit if any throttle was fed into it.
Had to take carbs off and clean the jets. Low speed jets were completely clogged. No amount of Seafoam in the tank would have helped since jets were clogged.
John is most likely correct on the idle jet issue... Not as scary a job as you think... There are instructions on the main MOOT page under Tips & Tricks on pulling the carbs..
Even after riding it that one day? The jets could still be gummed up? I read the Tips and Tricks thing, and watched a youtube video . . . . anyone know a mechanic in my area?
Quote from: jpeleven2002 on February 27, 2012, 02:16:31 PM
Even after riding it that one day? The jets could still be gummed up? I read the Tips and Tricks thing, and watched a youtube video . . . . anyone know a mechanic in my area?
Sounds like an opportunity for a week-end garage session... Anyone willing to help out in San Antonio?
Quote from: jpeleven2002 on February 27, 2012, 02:16:31 PM
Even after riding it that one day? The jets could still be gummed up? I read the Tips and Tricks thing, and watched a youtube video . . . . anyone know a mechanic in my area?
Yup, mine was running, what I thought was fine, put it up, came back a week or so later to the symptoms I described above. Might be some gummy in the gas, might be it was building and just finally closed, not entirely sure but if the battery doesn't solve your problem more then likely the jets. BTW, when mine did clog it also had a healthy dose of Seafoam in the tank at the time, yet it still closed up completely. Sh-tuff happens...
ok, charged the battery and it started ok with the choke out. Revved it for a minute then put the choke in and it died. It started again, and I tried adjusting the idle and it unscrewed all the way off! What's the story on this? Do I have to screw it all the way in,and then back off? Eventually, I put the choke in but had to stay on the throttle or else it would die. So, do the above suggestions still apply? Once I get the damn knob on again, should I still take it in to get the carb cleaned? Or should I just start it and ride the hell out of it? Thanks for your comments and suggestions, by the way.
jp.. I had a similar situation and it only got worse with riding, but I didn't know about SeaFoam at the time.
I wish I knew someone in S.A. that could help you pull the carbs..
under a 3 hour job..
Some can do it in two,
newbies may need a little longer..
Quote from: jpeleven2002 on February 28, 2012, 12:04:19 PM
ok, charged the battery and it started ok with the choke out. Revved it for a minute then put the choke in and it died. It started again, and I tried adjusting the idle and it unscrewed all the way off! What's the story on this? Do I have to screw it all the way in,and then back off? Eventually, I put the choke in but had to stay on the throttle or else it would die. So, do the above suggestions still apply? Once I get the damn knob on again, should I still take it in to get the carb cleaned? Or should I just start it and ride the hell out of it? Thanks for your comments and suggestions, by the way.
Interesting, probably not a completely clogged set of idle jets then, or it wouldn't run at all without choke nor with any throttle. As for the idle adjustment knob, not sure how that is put together now. I'd follow the idle adjustment cable to the carbs and see if you can't get it back in place. Adjust it the "other" way now. BTW, it takes very little adjustment to make a couple hundred rpm difference.
You'll get a clear shot of installing the knob when you take the carbs off...
Yep slow speed jets clogged. BEST way is to pull em and clean em. Can use Seafoam, use it at a much stronger than suggested mix rate and get it running let it circulate through system. Let it sit for a day or two, then go ride it!!!
Only takes 10 day or so for the jets to try and clog..
any harm in riding it with the choke out? I put some seafoam in it after it warmed up a little today, then let it run some.
Well you may blue the pipes and maybe foul the plugs but I have rode with the choke on before and it worked but as been said plenty of Seafoam ride around with the choke and slowly try to push it in as you are riding.
I'm a bonehead. Ok, so remember how I said I spun the idle adjust knob all the way off? I fit it back in, and started the bike again, full choke, and adjusted the idle up to 2000rpm. Let it warm up some, then, crossing my fingers, put the choke in and the engine stayed on! Revved it some, adjusted rpm to 1000, and it idled so great that I took it for a slow ride, then put it through it's paces on the highway. So I guess it wouldn't stay on because it wasn't getting ENOUGH fuel?!? I guess carb work may not be necessary at this time after all! We'll see how it starts tomorrow . . .
Can't add anything. Other than like what was said use seafoam now and before sitting up.
I would also run two times a week when sitting up. Being in San Antonio I would think you have a very short off season.
Glad to hear it's running as advertised again; you dodged the gummed jets curse.
Excellent, that's why you always try the simple stuff first.
That's great sounds like it is ok.
I like it when it's easy.