Initial Starting Runs Erratic

I have a 1982 XJ 550 Seca. Every time I start the bike when it is cold using the choke (enrichment), it runs at low rpm for the first ten seconds and then it starts to speed up (races) rather rapidly to 3500 - 4000 rpm. I work with the choke to adjust it down to about 2000 rpm, but it is very erratic and tough to keep at a constant speed. It will eventually even out. While it is warming up, it kind of sputters a bit. Once it is warmed up, after I have ridden for about five or ten minutes, it purrs pretty smooth (around 1100 rpm with no choke).

I have been working on plug chopping every so often and it seems that I have to make it ritcher every time I have checked them. They are just barely getting a slight caramel color on the porcelin under the center electrode pin.

I thought I read on one of RickCoMatics posts about plug chopping that if it putters then you are a bit too rich. THis doesn't seem to add up with the colors.

One other thing, If I have ridden for a while and the engine gets hot and then I park it for ten or fiffteen minutes, it is hard to start and I sometimes have to use the choke and crank it for a little while. It is very touchy.

I would appreciate any thoughts.

 

sounds lean to me. a bog is too rich do you get any popping at all. My bike while it isn't erratic does the same. start with choke after a short bit the idle rises bump it down, bump it down after 1 min or so all good.

 

It does a very light pop, more so when warming up. After good and warm, I don't notice the popping.

 

Is there a way with the bike running at idle that I can adjust the pilot screw toward richer and listen for a noticable differance (starts to run poorly) and then set it back a little leaner?

 

Any more help on this one???

 

Yes -- ask RickCoMatic, and he'll preach the Gospel of Tweak to you. He suggests doing precisely as you suggest, in fact -- backing out the pilot screws a hair at a time. If you have or can get ahold of a colortune plug, then that should help matters some. An auxiliary fuel source works wonders for trying to get the carbs dialed in, so you will probably want to buy or fashion one of those as well.

 

How do I route a request to RickCoMatic and point him to this session?

I have read many things on here where RickCoMatic said how to do things like plug chop which I have been trying to do. Every so often I pull the plugs and look at the color and try to make an adjustment if it appears that it is needed. So far I keep tweaking it to be more rich, turning the screws counter clock wise a fraction of a turn at a time.

I do not have a colortune and they are a little more than I can afford to spend right now. New tires must come first. THat is why I have been trying other things without the use of the colortune.