Name that problem!
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield, CT
Well today I took it apart and cleaned it up. The guy I bought if from in June said the carb had just been rebuilt and the gasket on the float bowl was brand new looking. I cleaned it all up. Nothing apparently blocked or clogged put it back together and put it back on and now its completely unrideable. Before I took it off when I hit the starter button if would catch and fire immediately now it cranks over 2 or 3 seconds before it will start. When it warmed up I set the idle at 1000 rms and if I even look hard at the throttle if stutters and blows black smoke out of the pipes, appears to blow fuel back out of the carb then dies. If I hit the throttle hard I can get it to rev up but it backfires and I get steady black smoke from the pipes and a steady mist of fuel comes out of the carb. The only thing I changed was the float was sitting at .750 inches and it was supposed to be between .725 adn .730 so I adjusted it other than that I didn't change anything. Now what? Any ideas?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 3,607
From: Picayune, Ms.
Here is how to solve your problem: (smug reply).
You will have to remove the fuel bowl at least one more time, check and make sure that the spring in the needle that shuts the fuel off when the float rises in the bowl is working, next make sure when you re-install the float that the needle is engaged on the face of the tang and the little spring that you can't see is working. Do this by lifting up on the float gently and make sure the needle seats before the float reaches full travel.
Check to make sure the float seats the needle before it is in a level position, this will keep fuel from getting into the over flow, make sure the over flow tube is clear and free of insects, or other debris. If the float is set to high, excessive level in bowl, it won't have much effect on the engine because when the engine is running even at idle it will suck enough fuel to compensate. Fuel will run out the over flow if the float level is set to high.
Idle mixture is on bottom of carb, Idle adjustment is on right side of carb when facing the bike on carb side.
Idle mixture screw takes the bike up to about 65mph. From there the high speed jet comes into play, but since it takes awhile for the engine to recover I'd bet it is the fuel level that is off.
Sometimes you will never get it "right", and you'll just have to remember to shut the fuel off at the tank when you shut down, otherwise fuel will run out of the bowl overflow.
On the positive side, if you set the level a little high, the little rubber tip will eventually wear itself in and make a good seal. Check to make sure there is a rubber tip on the shut off needle.
You will have to remove the fuel bowl at least one more time, check and make sure that the spring in the needle that shuts the fuel off when the float rises in the bowl is working, next make sure when you re-install the float that the needle is engaged on the face of the tang and the little spring that you can't see is working. Do this by lifting up on the float gently and make sure the needle seats before the float reaches full travel.
Check to make sure the float seats the needle before it is in a level position, this will keep fuel from getting into the over flow, make sure the over flow tube is clear and free of insects, or other debris. If the float is set to high, excessive level in bowl, it won't have much effect on the engine because when the engine is running even at idle it will suck enough fuel to compensate. Fuel will run out the over flow if the float level is set to high.
Idle mixture is on bottom of carb, Idle adjustment is on right side of carb when facing the bike on carb side.
Idle mixture screw takes the bike up to about 65mph. From there the high speed jet comes into play, but since it takes awhile for the engine to recover I'd bet it is the fuel level that is off.
Sometimes you will never get it "right", and you'll just have to remember to shut the fuel off at the tank when you shut down, otherwise fuel will run out of the bowl overflow.
On the positive side, if you set the level a little high, the little rubber tip will eventually wear itself in and make a good seal. Check to make sure there is a rubber tip on the shut off needle.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 473
Likes: 1
From: Largo Fl
miacycles, man u sure know your stuff! I wish you were in my town! I was looking at a care and feeding of the cv carb page by a kawasaki rider and I see this picture. I look at the part I circled in red. Its the part my gf picked up off the driveway when i was rolling the bike into the garage! I couldnt have it in backwards because it wasnt there!
Glad I didnt just throw it out!
Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement! Now I can sleep and try again tomorrow!
Glad I didnt just throw it out!Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement! Now I can sleep and try again tomorrow!
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
miacycles, man u sure know your stuff! I wish you were in my town! I was looking at a care and feeding of the cv carb page by a kawasaki rider and I see this picture. I look at the part I circled in red. Its the part my gf picked up off the driveway when i was rolling the bike into the garage! I couldnt have it in backwards because it wasnt there! Glad I didnt just throw it out!
Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement! Now I can sleep and try again tomorrow!
Glad I didnt just throw it out!Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement! Now I can sleep and try again tomorrow!
Last edited by 2006FLST; Oct 21, 2011 at 05:54 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
That is the most common problem with carbs rebuilt by their owners, followed by diaphragm problems. By the way I am moving to Bluffton,SC, just outside of Hilton Head. I guess I could lie and say I am doing to get closer to you, so I can help you LOL
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Aw shucks--You're embarassing me-- But don't stop LOL. South Carolina bound in around a week. Have most of the shop packed up. Have a guy coming over to look at some of the extra welders, etc.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 473
Likes: 1
From: Largo Fl
Good luck with the move! Sorry I didnt update. Needed to get away from it for a bit. That was part of the problem but didn't solve everything. I can get it to idle somewhat smoothly but when I put it in gear and try to take off it just dies out. I was going to take it into the shop tomorrow but I can't get it running well enough to get there so I took it off tonight and took it apart cleaned it up again. Am going to get a rebuild kit in the am and do it right. The only thing I know for sure is it was running as good as it ever did before I took it apart so it has to be something I did. So wish me luck maybe I can undo whatever it is I didP ! Just one more question, should the float bowl rattle? If I take it off the bottom of the carb and shake it something rattles.
P ! Just one more question, should the float bowl rattle? If I take it off the bottom of the carb and shake it something rattles.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
If it barely runs + puts out black smoke. Did you look at the plugs to see if one or both cyclinders are too rich?
It maybe that your overflow tube is plug, dumping fuel into the engine? Is the oil smelling of fuel?
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