riding in the wind

[r80gs@ivillage.com]

I've just bought a 95 KLR650. I understand the bike had sat for some time. I put a new battery on it and with the choke on it starts right up. As soon as I turn the throttle, however, the engine dies. The same thing happens once the choke is half off or more (engine warmed up by this point). I can quickly 'blip' the throttle though and as long as I keep the revs up the bike rides fine. As soon as I try and turn off the choke or close the throttle though, it dies again. I'm guessing that fuel sat in the carb for too long and now part of it is gummed up or something? I've drained the old gas and filled up the tank with 93 octane mixed with a little carb cleaner. I still think I'm going to have to clean the carb out though which leads me to my questions. 1. How do I get the carb off the bike? Section 2-4 of the Kawasaki Service Manual just says 'Remove the carburetor...' - not much help. Do I have to mess about taking off the exhaust, airbox, subframe, etc, or can the carb be wiggled out? Can anyone comment on the latter method (it's the one I prefer!) 2. What's the best way to clean the carb? What kind of solvent should I use and does it matter if any rubber parts (diaphram, etc) come into contact with the solvent? Should I soak everything overnight or what? (I've never done anything like this before) 3. I'm in Colorado, at 5500 feet. Should I change the jets? The Service Manual says that a #135 main and #38 pilit jet should be used above 4000 feet. Are the jet sizes marked on them? 4. About this pilot screw. From what I've read on this group, it sounds like it needs to be adjusted a little to improve idle behavior? Do I first screw it in as far as it goes, fully compressing the spring inside so that it won't screw in anymore and then, what, back it out 2.5 turns or so? Is there any way or any tool that will let me do this once the carb is back on the bike? 5. I ordered some nuts and bolts from Jake Jakeman at Sagebrush. In one of the little baggies is a little black thingy about 1 inch long, with a small hexagonal/allen key head on one end and a knurled knob on the other. There is a ball bearing that presses in next to a number 43 stamped on the side. I have no idea what this is. Perhaps it is a pilot screw adjuster. Anyone know? Jake?? Thanks in advance for your help. Great list! Also, I've got a ripped seat and am missing a LHS side cover. Anyone have or know of a good source to find replacements? Thanks! _________________________________________________________________ iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web http://www.ivillage.com

[Fred Hink]

----- Original Message ----- From: To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2002 1:16 AM Subject: [DSN_klr650] New 95 KLR owner - carb questions - fix idle/response > 1. How do I get the carb off the bike? You can loosen the clamps and take off the choke cable at the handlebars. Wiggle the carb and twist it sideways to remove it. > 2. What's the best way to clean the carb? What kind of solvent should I use and does it > > matter if any rubber parts (diaphram, etc) come into contact with the solvent? Should I > > soak everything overnight or what? (I've never done anything like this before) The best way is to go to your auto parts store and buy a gallon of carb cleaner. Completely disassemle your carb taking off all the rubber and plastic pieces, since this type of carb cleaner will ruin those. Soak your carb pieces for 20-30 minutes and then wash these pieces with water. Let air dry or blow them off with compressed air. > 3. I'm in Colorado, at 5500 feet. Should I change the jets? The Service Manual says that > > a #135 main and #38 pilit jet should be used above 4000 feet. Are the jet sizes marked on > > them? If your bike is completely stock, you can get by with your stock jets and just about any elevation. Don't go smaller as one of our listers found out is not a good thing. Yes the jet sizes are marked. > 4. About this pilot screw. From what I've read on this group, it sounds like it needs to > > be adjusted a little to improve idle behavior? Do I first screw it in as far as it goes, > > fully compressing the spring inside so that it won't screw in anymore and then, what, back > > it out 2.5 turns or so? Is there any way or any tool that will let me do this once the carb > > is back on the bike? Yes, Jake Jakeman sells a really neat tool just for this. Just be careful you don't force this screw in and just stop when it starts to get snug. You can damage the end of this adjusting screw if forced. > 5. I ordered some nuts and bolts from Jake Jakeman at Sagebrush. In one of the little > > baggies is a little black thingy about 1 inch long, with a small hexagonal/allen key head on > > one end and a knurled knob on the other. There is a ball bearing that presses in next to a > > number 43 stamped on the side. I have no idea what this is. Perhaps it is a pilot screw > > adjuster. Anyone know? Jake?? This might be your pilot screw adjuster but it doesn't sound like the one he sent to me. Jake comes up with all sorts of gadjets and I guess you will have to ask him. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com Utah Motorcycle Rally May 30 - June 2 http://www.canyonlandsmotorclassic.com

[r80gs@ivillage.com]

Thanks for your help. I managed to get the carb off the bike without much fuss - good learning experience. I soaked all the non plastic and non rubber carb parts in NAPA carb cleaner for 20 mins, then washed it all in gas. I put the carb back together, backing out the pilot jet 2 revolutions and put it back on the bike feeling great and expecting the bike to work correctly. However, I couldn't even get the bike to start at all (obviously, everything connected..gas, choke, throttle cables). I messed about with the pilot and finally got the bike to start but it will only run with the choke on and as the bike warms up and the choke off the bike stalls. Any attempt to use the throttle stalls the bike. What can be the problem here?? Help much appreciated. _________________________________________________________________ iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web http://www.ivillage.com

[Steven van Twuyver]

Couple things to check here: Make sure that it is not fuel starving. You can do this by temporarily replacing the vacuum line at the petcock with any piece of vacuum line and suck on this vacuum line. You should see fuel flow when the petcock is on. Then hook up the fuel line and do the same thing and see if it will run. Second, if the diaphragm was not properly installed or if it has a rip or pin-hole leak you'll get similar symptoms. Also if any of the jets were contaminated or picked up a speck of dirt after you assembled it you;ll have similar symptoms. -svt- ========================================

>Thanks for your help. I managed to get the carb off the bike without much

fuss - good learning experience. I soaked all the non plastic and non rubber carb parts in NAPA carb cleaner for 20 mins, then washed it all in gas. I put the carb back together, backing out the pilot jet 2 revolutions and put it back on the bike feeling great and expecting the bike to work correctly. However, I couldn't even get the bike to start at all (obviously, everything connected..gas, choke, throttle cables). I messed about with the pilot and finally got the bike to start but it will only run with the choke on and as the bike warms up and the choke off the bike stalls. Any attempt to use the throttle stalls the bike. What can be the problem here?? Help much appreciated.

>

[RM]

On Fri, 15 Feb 2002, David Beyea wrote:

>Problem is that this stretch of the 101 is right next to the ocean and >the side wind can be pretty crazy at times. Are there any tricks to >riding in strong side winds besides not riding?

I like to lean the bike as necessary but keep my body upright. Seems to work best for me.