stalling problems

This all started after I let my bike sit for a week or two last summer. Before that I had used it almost everyday riding about 80 miles a day (commuting to work, etc.). I ended up overfilling the oil by about 1/4 to 1/2 a quart...accidently...thinking that more had leaked out than I had thought (The low oil light came on). The oil would splash up through the air intake and make a mess everywhere.

After fixing the oil level I let my bike sit for a week because of rainy weather and laziness...I missed the driving comforts of a car a little Wink

So after this little sit and ever since my bike stalls when in neutral or when the clutch is disengaged. It is like the idle speed it just a little too low...the rpms drop to idle...then it begins to struggle to stay running...and eventually it stalls. Sometimes it idles normal for 5-10secs and sometimes it stalls pretty quickly.

The way I have been keeping it from stalling is using the choke to keep the revs up but it sure is annoying to be fiddling with that thing all the time when I stop or get ready to take a turn.

Things I've tried:
1. Replaced the air filter because the old one was dirty and had gotten oil all over it.

I put about 8oz of seafoam in with a full tank (4gal) of gas and I have probably used 1/8 of the tank...so time will still tell whether the seafoam does anything.

Any ideas? thanks!

 

I checked the plugs after the bike sat for 24hours

The plugs look fine other than some oil on spark plug #1 and hardly any on #2.

#3 and #4 are clean.

There are no excess deposits (besides the oil i mentioned) and nothing suggests that the motor is running too rich or too lean.

Would changing the plugs be a good idea anyways?

 

I would definately change the plugs. Most likely some oil has collected in the starter circuit and has clogged the jets in the bottom of the carb bowls. I would give the Seafoam a week to work.

 

Should I also try putting the seafoam through the PVC hose?

 

hmmm.... why don' t you just turn the idle up a bit?

 

I am pretty sure the idle speed is fine

 

Sorry, the way I read this is suggesting the idle speed is low!
If you turn the idle up a bit it may help while you give the seafoam a chance to work, it may eliminate the fiddling with the choke.
Changing the plugs may help, but more then likely it's in the carbs.

 

How do i change the idle speed? its an 82 xj550 maxim. Unfortunately I lost my manual a couple days ago and can not find it :/

 

on my 750 it's tucked in the middle of all the carbs at float bowl level, you can turn it with your thumb and finger ( no tools required )
mine wants to idle around 1000+ rpm