Bike won't idle! Halp plox!

[SemperFudge]

Alright so after finally dealing with the DMV and getting the title transfered, renewing the registration, and getting my license I decided it was time for my first real ride.

So I get geared up and started the bike. This is what keeps happening:

As soon as I start the bike, the RPMs drop if I don't feather the throttle and then engine stalls out if I let go.

I've tried everything! Full choke, half choke, quarter choke, no choke. I fiddled with the idle adjustment. Doesn't matter. If I don't feather the throttle the RPMs drop and the engine dies. If I hold the throttle for more than a couple of minutes I think the engine gets flooded so it dies out. I then have to wait a good 30 minutes before the bike will start again.

I don't know what's going on. I've tried holding the clutch, not holding the clutch, kick stand up, kick stand down. There's plenty of fuel in the tank.

The bike runs, so its not the carbs. It starts and cranks fine, so its not the battery. Before I bought it though the owner said it'll need a valve adjustment soon, but I hear it might not be that either.

I didn't let it run for only one day. But the day before it started up just fine.

What's going on?!?!?

[Jiggles]

Its the carbs

[lgk]

how many miles on the bike?

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Its the carbs

Previous owner said he had just had it serviced, including the carbs, about 2-3 weeks before I bought it. Guessing he lied then? :/

Anything I can do about it? Strong noob here though...

Originally Posted by lgk

how many miles on the bike?

6,350

[lgk]

which idle screw did you mess with?

the plastic knob?

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by lgk

which idle crew did you mess with?

the plastic knob?

This one:



During one of the adjustments the engine revved at 5k and I kinda freaked out and turned the knob back down a little and then the same thing happened. RPMs dropped, engine died.

Turning the knob doesn't seem to do anything anymore after that happened.

[lgk]

how many times did you try to start it?

[choneofakind]

If it was serviced 3 weeks before you bought it, and it's sat since then, they potentially could be gummed up. Run some carb cleaner through it and see if you can loosen up whatever's in there.

At least it starts and runs. When my carbs were massively plugged, the bike wasn't even able to start.

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by lgk

how many times did you try to start it?

A crap load of times and then eventually it wouldn't start (crank but no fire), then I realized I was flooding the engine. So I wait 30-45min then I try again. The bike will usually start fine then but the original symptoms come up again.

I'm trying to hold of trying anymore until I try something new because I'm gonna kill the batter if I keep doing what I'm doing which clearly isn't working.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

If it was serviced 3 weeks before you bought it, and it's sat since then, they potentially could be gummed up. Run some carb cleaner through it and see if you can loosen up whatever's in there.

At least it starts and runs. When my carbs were massively plugged, the bike wasn't even able to start.

He'd rode it to my house about a good hour away and it seemed fine then. I also rode it around my neighborhood for 2 days (nothing hard though, and only for about 10 minutes). However after letting it sit for a day it just wouldn't work anymore.

Really think its the carbs? How do I go about and do what you suggested?

[choneofakind]

Either way, adding a little carb cleaner to the gas can't hurt anything. If it helps, great; if not, oh well.

Buy some carb cleaner, add it in the right concentration to your gas, and then go out and ride.

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Either way, adding a little carb cleaner to the gas can't hurt anything. If it helps, great; if not, oh well.

Buy some carb cleaner, add it in the right concentration to your gas, and then go out and ride.

Okay I'll buy some later and try it out. This is a huge bummer. I really want to ride

[choneofakind]

I'm still betting on carbs.

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I'm still betting on carbs.

You'll get a prize if you're right haha.

[lgk]

i'm betting chone's right, or i'll buy him beer.

unless he's under 21

[choneofakind]

he's under 21

[lgk]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

he's under 21

can't break the law so i hope you're right!!!

[alex.s]

seafoam

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by alex.s

seafoam

Yup that's the plan. Tomorrow I'll grab some seafoam and probably dump the fuel (which the previous owner added. I have no clue how long its been there) and add fresh fuel.

How exactly do I go about it though? Once I add it to the tank, do I just start it and hold the throttle for a few minutes? Let it sit overnight?

[SemperFudge]

So this morning before I wanted to head out to grab the seafoam, I tried starting my bike just to see if it'd work at all.

This time around, the bike would crank but no fire. Eventually after a number of tries, the battery was clearly about to die, so I decided it was game over. I thought I was SOL until I wondered if the mechanic across the street from me, who I usually see for my cars, worked on motorcycles. Lucky for me, the mechanic that day was a huge bike junky. So I grabbed my bike, took it the edge of the street, waited for traffic to clear, and with all of my dad's strength, he pushed the bike as i steered and balanced and gunned it to the other side looking like complete fools lol.

So what was the problem? Battery was dead (obviously my fault) and the bike apparently needed transmission fluid. That was the last thing I would have thought of and no one here or my google search's hinted to that.

The final damage? $95...Was it worth it? Probably not, but since I've yet to give my bike a REAL ride since I just got my license, I'd pay anything to get to ride it now. I'm picking it up tomorrow morning and will update again then

[lgk]

lol wut


whats the transmisson fluid for?

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by lgk

lol wut


whats the transmisson fluid for?

I honestly have no clue. That's what the mechanic told my dad. I'll be sure to get the full story tomorrow because right now this isn't making any sense. I was 99% sure it was the carbs. But hey if it runs, I don't really care what the problem was lol.

[lgk]

just make sure he did NOT put transmisson fluid(atf, dexron, etc) into the crankcase.

if you were running low on oil and he filled it, hold the bike level and make sure he did not over fill it.

[SemperFudge]

Originally Posted by lgk

just make sure he did NOT put transmisson fluid into the crankcase.

Yeah I'm actually pretty worried this guy didn't do anything at all besides charge the battery. I'm not sure if he actually resolved my idle problem. I guess I'll find out soon but for now I'm less excited. I'm gonna lower my expectations a little.

[choneofakind]

Your mechanic just separated you from $95.

For the record, a batter tender is ~$30 and will be perfect for all your battery charging needs.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by SemperFudge

....I've tried everything! Full choke, half choke, quarter choke, no choke. I fiddled with the idle adjustment. Doesn't matter. If I don't feather the throttle the RPMs drop and the engine dies.

What's your fuel level / condition like? If the carbs are dirty or the fuel is bad, try Star Tron Fuel Treatment along with some fresh fuel. It's real good stuff.