Extremely rich mixture, crappy fuel mileage, newbie needs help

[flyanimator]

OK, I finally adjusted the valves and it seems to run a little better now. The exhaust valves were actually within spec but the intake valves were less so I set them at .004" (they were less that .003") so now the engine does not run as rich so that problem seems to be solved. Thank you for all of your help with this issue. I will still be pulling the carbs out this weekend hopefully just to catalogue the jets that are installed and make sure that the "profesionals" that tuned my carbs did not mess anything up. I'm still jhaving the other issue where the engine cuts out at about 5500 rpm (with wot it will reach ~5.5k rpm but won't go any higher). It has gone higher on 2 different occasions but only once soon after it's started up and will not do it after that ( i know this is not exactly a healthy thing to do to a cold engine so please don't bash me. I only do it now because I want to see if what I "fixed" took care of the problem).
Anyway, I'll post more on this problem in my other thread. Thank you to all who helped me with this issue.
-Rudy

 

[williamcryan]

Hi

Hi

I have a 82 GS1100G. I've posted before that I had problems with my #2 plug fouling every 50 miles or so. I rebuilt my carbs, they looked pretty clean prior. I went for a ride and I had about the same mileage as you claim. Luckily, I ran out of gas at the intersection where there was a gas station.
Our Sr. tech guys on this site advised me that it was my fuel valve, the diaphram was leaking and gas was being sucked into #2. I replaced the fuel valve and the bike runs great and my mileage is back to the mid 30's.

How do your plugs look, especially #2?
Bill

 

[gearhead13]

OK, I finally adjusted the valves and it seems to run a little better now. The exhaust valves were actually within spec but the intake valves were less so I set them at .004" (they were less that .003") so now the engine does not run as rich so that problem seems to be solved. Thank you for all of your help with this issue. I will still be pulling the carbs out this weekend hopefully just to catalogue the jets that are installed and make sure that the "profesionals" that tuned my carbs did not mess anything up. I'm still jhaving the other issue where the engine cuts out at about 5500 rpm (with wot it will reach ~5.5k rpm but won't go any higher). It has gone higher on 2 different occasions but only once soon after it's started up and will not do it after that ( i know this is not exactly a healthy thing to do to a cold engine so please don't bash me. I only do it now because I want to see if what I "fixed" took care of the problem).
Anyway, I'll post more on this problem in my other thread. Thank you to all who helped me with this issue.
-Rudy

A good rule of thumb for jetting issues is that if it runs better cold than hot then its too rich and vice versa, so I would say your needle/main is too rich. Could be your inlet needle/seat leaking as well. do you see any gas leaking from the airbox? Is your number 2 plug really rich?