Not sure where to start on idle problem

Ok, bike is back together and running (woohoo), but it won't run unless the choke is on at least halfway. I've done some searching and I know there are many things to look at, I just need to know where to start. Here's some info:

I took the carbs off and cleaned them fairly thoroughly, and replaced the carb joints. I put a new inline fuel filter in, new fuel line, and a new petcock vacuum line, as well as a new air filter. I thought the petcock was leaking so I ordered the fancy z1 enterprises replacement, but I realized shortly thereafter that it was actually the fuel level sender that was leaking. I don't have a spark plug socket yet so I've only taken out and checked 1 and 4, both were dull black, which the book says is an indication of too rich, and I assume that 2 and 3 are probably the same. with the choke on, she idles at about 1500, and has good throttle response. Slide the choke anywhere below halfway and she dies pretty much immediately. I didn't play with the idle mixture screws when I had the carbs off since the book told me not to.

So, any suggestions where to start?

Lohnair

 

Lohnair
I have a 82 xj650rj that I am working on and I am in monterey with similar problems. If you want to get together sometime and consolidate ideas just pm me and we can figure out a weekend.
cheers
irishladjbl

 

Your idle circuits have problems, and you'll need to remove the idle screws in order to clean them.

Pull the carbs out and do it again...

 

Do a 'find' on the phrase 'dog snot' in this thread: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=7 ... +snot.html

It's what got me through a very similar dark time last year (no, I'm not kidding - you may think you cleaned your carbs, but unless you tore them down, you likely didn't REALLY clean them).

 

Heh, I read that thread too. "douche the living dog snot out of them" as I recall. Well, when I tore out the carbs the first time, the bowls were about the only place I found any gum, but I didn't dig into the mixture screws. Oh well, now that I've gotten them out once, at least I know a few of the tricks to getting them out again, shouldn't be too bad. I'll start gathering the necessary desire to take that step. Anything else I should check or look at?

 

If there was gum in the bowls it's everywhere else too.

Also, each cylinder has it's own carb. Some could be lean, some rich and some just right - at the same time. Your problem may actuall be either 2 or 3 is way lean. Sooting up 1 and 4 running it with the enrichner which is making them too rich.