New boots! Still won't idle.

[frosty5011]

Took the carbs off, confirmed the pilot jets were stock, cleaned the hell out of the pilot circuit and slapped 'em back on.

Now she's POURING white smoke out of her exhaust. Perhaps I did something right and she's a bit rich now?

~Mike

Mr. Mikey....

Does it at least idle now without cutting out? You may have cleared some blockage that didn't get eliminated before in one of your previous cleanings. Or you may have a float and/or needle valve stuck in the open position.

 

[Jethro]

Haul it on out to Moosehead... We'll fix it, then we'll drag race it at the track Sunday!!

 

[UncleMike]

Haul it on out to Moosehead... We'll fix it, then we'll drag race it at the track Sunday!!

You know what? I've driven trucks for the past ten years. Last fall I traded in my Silverado on a Grand Am. If I still had the truck, I just might do that.

 

[UncleMike]

Mr. Mike....

Does it at least idle now without cutting out? You may have cleared some blockage that didn't get eliminated before in one of your previous cleanings. Or you may have a float and/or needle valve stuck in the open position.

No gas in the crankcase, so I'm leaning toward clearing a blockage.

 

[beby99]

I started her up. She required full choke and idled first at around 900rpms, then slowly climbed to around 3000 over about five seconds or so and stayed there for about 5-10 seconds before slowly loosing rpms until she stalled.

UM....was the choke on full the whole time before she stalled?

 

[UncleMike]

UM....was the choke on full the whole time before she stalled?

Adjusting it won't save her. She'll die anyway.

 

[beby99]

ok humor me, as she slowly climbs to 3k try backing off the choke untill she drops to 1500.

 

[UncleMike]

ok humor me, as she slowly climbs to 3k try backing off the choke untill she drops to 1500.

She'll die right away. I can get her down to about 2000 where she'll hold for a little bit before dying.

 

[UncleMike]

Leaning out the mixture didn't work. WTF is making her smoke?

 

[Hoomgar]

Leaning out the mixture didn't work. WTF is making her smoke?

Mike, are you certain of the state of the valves in this thing. More and more as I read, I am thinking valves.

 

[UncleMike]

Mike, are you certain of the state of the valves in this thing. More and more as I read, I am thinking valves.

I have no idea the state of the valves. They're now on my list to check. More tools to buy, more gaskets.

But wouldn't bad valves affect more than simply idle performance?


BTW - Still getting readings on the battery that climb up to in excess of 17v. No good.

~Mike

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

There are some very tiny bypass ports, engine side of the throttle plates, near the top of the carb throat.
As part of the pilot circuit, these must be clean or the bike will starve while idling.
You say the bike will run if you throttle it some. This of course by-passes the choke and to an extent, depending on throttle position, the pilot circuit. Running better when at least partially by-passing the pilot circuit suggests the pilot circuit isn't clean or there's a vacuum problem.
Just because it's simple, I'd try adjusting the mixture screws. Try 1 turn out first, then 1 1/2 turns out, then 2 1/2 turns out. If no help, this also suggests the pilot circuit isn't working right. If it does help, good.
Those small holes I mention need special attention.
Is this bike stock? Air filter housing seals and filter are sealed well?

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

17 volts means the regulator is bad.

 

[UncleMike]

There are some very tiny bypass ports, engine side of the throttle plates, near the top of the carb throat.
As part of the pilot circuit, these must be clean or the bike will starve while idling.
You say the bike will run if you throttle it some. This of course by-passes the choke and to an extent, depending on throttle position, the pilot circuit. Running better when at least partially by-passing the pilot circuit suggests the pilot circuit isn't clean or there's a vacuum problem.
Just because it's simple, I'd try adjusting the mixture screws. Try 1 turn out first, then 1 1/2 turns out, then 2 1/2 turns out. If no help, this also suggests the pilot circuit isn't working right. If it does help, good.
Those small holes I mention need special attention.
Is this bike stock? Air filter housing seals and filter are sealed well?

Yes, the bike is stock. I just re-did the seal on the filter lid, and it has new boots all the way around.

Sounds like I still haven't cleaned enough of the pilot circut, but could this account for the smoking?

Thanks for helping, Keith. I could use as much as I can get. The damned bike is getting worse, not better!

~Mike

 

[UncleMike]

17 volts means the regulator is bad.

Lovely. Just what I wanted to hear. Luckily I already have a backup.

 

[DimitriT]

White smoke is water vapor. It's a good thing. Blue smoke is oil, that's bad. And black smoke is gas, that's bad too but not as bad as blue.

Are you sure your seeing white smoke and not blue. Does the smoke smell like oil?

 

[UncleMike]

White smoke is water vapor. It's a good thing. Blue smoke is oil, that's bad. And black smoke is gas, that's bad too but not as bad as blue.

Are you sure your seeing white smoke and not blue. Does the smoke smell like oil?

Doesn't look blue to me, but then I'm colorblind.

No, it's definitely white.

 

[Guest]

Haul it on out to Moosehead... We'll fix it, then we'll drag race it at the track Sunday!!

Borrow a truck and get the guys to fix it. Then take out your frustrations on the track and beat the crap out of her\\/

 

[UncleMike]

Borrow a truck and get the guys to fix it. Then take out your frustrations on the track and beat the crap out of her\\/

It's at least 11 hours away!

 

[UncleMike]

I've got a compression gauge coming tonight. We'll see how those valves/rings are doing.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll take the carbs off and clean 'em again.