Hard starting problem

Hey, so I pulled my carbs off yesterday since the bike was taking forever to start, even when hot. As I pulled them apart to clean what I could, I noticed the spring that holds the needle and slide down was not seated correctly, so one carb wasn't opening all the way. Fixed that, cleaned the bowls, jets and tubes. Bike runs MUCH better (almost picks the front end up :twisted: ) but still burbles when I hold a certain mid-range rpm and really doesn't like to start, hot or cold. I'm suspecting either the needle and seat are just worn and its flooding or my float levels are off.

I also read that the enrichment circuit in the bottom of the bowl could be to blame for a hard start. Anyone have any suggestions on where to start? If need be, Ill end up replacing what I have to but would like to pin point the issue instead of throwing fistfuls of cash at it.

I searched a bit but didnt find anything pertaining to my bike or my problems.

 

No need to throw fistfulls of cash at it. Just take the carbs apart and clean them. Your problems are most likley from plugged idle and starter jets. When cleaning carbs its is imporntant to take everything apart and clean, take no short cuts it will cause problems. Do it right the first time.
Start searching on carb rebuilding and start reading. Improntant things to get done right are float level and carb slides and valve adjustment.
If you don't have a repair manual get one, it will save you time and aggrevation.

 

Hewentforitsir, Let me ask you something do you want to do it right the first time and ride or do you want to screw around and play with it in the garage all Summer?

 

I thought I did clean everything well lol guess not...all though a buddy told me that these bikes do this strange thing sometimes, they wont start when you crank em but when you lt off the button they start...so im going to see if its actually doing that, then ill pull em back off if thats not it.

 

These bikes take a lot of juice. When you let off the starter button the engine is still rolling over, but all the power that was being used to crank the starter is now being sent to the coil to fire the plugs.

If that's the case, then you have a whole other list to start checking.

But I'd still suspect the carbs aren't clean.

 

My recommendation is to first have your valves checked. I would then get the little wire tool that Len at xj4ever sells for cleaning the starter jets in the carbs. Then you have to check to make sure your floats are set correctly. Then sync, then colortune and then sync and colortune once more. This will probably take care of your issue.

 

OK...So, the bike is starting with the touch of a button, the problem is that it fires up when I let OFF the button...so I guess I have to start tracking that gremlin down.

Aside from that...it runs REALLY well up top, but when I let off around 3k or higher it falls very slowly from 3k down...idle is at 1500. I'm thinking its time to give these carbs a more thorough cleaning, polish the bores on the vac slides and then sync them up and ColorTune... oh, and double check that my floats are in right-side up as well as the fuel level in the bowls...My jets are clean, very clean... Sound like I'm missing anything?

 

Yup, time to start checking the other list.

The Other List:
1.Battery fully charged and tested by the automotive
2.Wires and ground inside the switch. The switch grounds to the handlebars - nice clean connection, no rust or corrosion.
3.Spark plug boots - check continuity
4.Spark plug wires - check continuity
5.Coils - Voltage test

A multi-meter is very helpful. hint hint

But don't neglect the other list. If you haven't checked the valve shims or cleaned the carbs yourself do it so YOU know the condition of your warp drive.

"Make it so." - Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

:lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

Oh damn, I almost forgot....make sure the fuse panel is in EXCELLENT condition.

 

First things first, start there and then go on to different things.
Chances are that it is a carb deal. Idle shouldn't be over 1200 by the way.

 

This is the common symptom of a slightly flat battery. As tskaz said, the starter is using all available power, so it won't fire the ignition until you let go of the button.

Also, as OBD pointed out, trying to sync the carbs is an exercise in futility until your valve clearances are in spec. You can't get a decent vacuum sync with out-of-spec valves.