bike won't idle

My bike runs fine and it will idle when the choke is on but even after its warm it won't just sit and idle. Its getting pretty old having to keep the bike running any time I stop. I tried turning up the idle adjustment screw on the back of the carbs but when I turn it enough to make it idle it then won't rev back down. I'm thinking that's because it is then running off the main jets to keep it idling. Any advice would help. My guess is the pilot jets might be plugged up a little.

 

Oh I have the same issue! I just ran some redline carb cleaner through a half a tank of gas and let it sit at idle for a little while. Helped a lot. I can idle at a light around 1200 instead of 2k now. Does yours stumble as you're taking off?

 

Your pilot jets are either clogged or not adjusted correctly (I'm assuming that there are no vacuum leaks). The idle speed screw is just for setting the idle speed, not the fuel mixture. If you haven't cleaned the carbs, now is the time.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14692.html

 

yea maybe a little. has a little trouble starting even after warmed up sometimes if i dont give it any choke. my left 2 carbs have a thick dark goo around the air intake boot connection and around the bottom of the carb where the right 2 dont. im guessing because it sat on the side stand for a year or two before i got it. i have put some carb cleaner in the fuel and i think it helped but i was thinking about putting a healthy dose of seafoam in a low tank of gas and running it till it smokes then let it sit for a day then add gas to dilute and take it out for a run.

 

k-moe thats what i was thinking. i dont think there are any leaks just ethanol gas sitting for a year or two in the carbs. had to have the carbs cleaned on a 92 yamaha virago last spring cause it wouldnt run and was spitting gas out of the carbs. and it was rode every summer till then but this stupid ethanol gas is junk and i cant get anything else where i live. this time im gonna do it myself cause that cost me $160 dollars last spring.

 

Adjust the valves, clean your carbs, sync your carbs, color tune..... no more problem!

 

It's spring and a horde of new riders looking for quick fixes to complex issues will soon be upon us.

Running carb cleaner or SeaFoam through it won't "fix" anything. Nor will fiddling with the mixture screws or repeatedly adjusting the idle.

As OBD said, you've got some work to do.

Pull the carbs and properly service them; some rubber parts will need to be replaced. Accurately wet-set your float levels and do a good precise bench sync. Meanwhile, get your valve clearances in spec so the freshly-serviced carbs can be properly synchronized and tuned.

Valve clearances need to be checked anyway; if they've been ignored the motor's not going to be happy for long.

Get a service manual, do it right and you'll only have to do it once.

Or fight with it all summer while the rest of us are riding.

 

ok sounds like a plan thanks guys.