Carb, Not ideling. I have Xj650 questions.

This is my first post but I have been readin up on the forum for imformation.

I bought this bike for very cheap. It is very rough looking, but after I got it home and threw a new battery in the bike it ran well. I drove it around the block and got back to the house to hear it idle. When I stopped it was idling fine. After I shut it off there was fule stuck on, and was leaking on one of my carbs. So I figuered the float was stuck. I started it back up an tapped it a bit to see if it would loosen up, and it did. The fuel stopped leaking. I the next day I ran it again, it started fine but this time it wouldnt idle. I figuer it is time to clean the carbs a bit. I took the bowls apart and found this.

The #1 carb (starting right to left)(Oh #1 was the one with the stuck float) I get the bowl off an pry the bowl off. It was stuck on. I found that some one before me took it off an broke the gasket. They gooped some sort of cocking onto the rest of the gasket an the missing peices. I notice a nice long stringy peice of cocking was smushed into the bowl. I assume thats why the float was stuck.

#1 Cleaned bowl an ordered new gaskets.

#2 cleand an fine. For some reason this was the only carb that had the adjustment screws brass plug removed??? It is nice an movable.

#2 cleand... still confused about why only one plug was removed lol.

#3!!! this carb... I am not sure Why at all.. but the small jet was just setting in the buttom of the bowl. I guess It vibrated out. Maybe they never screwed it in all the way.

#3 cleaned.

#4 good an cleaned.

Now here is what I want to know. Should I take the rest of the plugs out an clean the adjusting screws. I mean I know I should, but could I get away with not doing this? I know it is a stupid qeustion so I am just going to go out side an start drilling the plugs out now.

Also, Is it possible that the small jet that was not screwed in vibrated loose when I went to ride it then cuasing it not to idle?

Aside from idling the bike ran nice. Choke worked, an the bike rode well. I am just waiting for my new gaskets to put the carbs back on an see what happens.

I normaly never mess with my carbs. I figuer I need to learn though. The only issue Is that I am short on time. I move soon where I will be in a apartment. It is fun to learn though even tho I am rushed. This forum has been very helpfull.

 

You need to do a complete clean of the carbs. If that junk was going on with just the bowl removed, what else could be wrong.

 

Yes, I will do this. This carb was just cleaned. There is hardly any varnish or any sing of build up at all. I am going to take it apart the rest of the way though an check it out. It is very clean. A lot cleaner than I though it would be. I just noticed something. The "What I am guessing is idle adjustment knob" was all the way out. So far that when I tryed to adjust it in that when nothing happen I assume some thing els was wrong. It was so far out I when I started adjusting it in I never got a response. IF the knob in the center is the idle controle, than I think this was the problem. All in all though I am glad I took it apart. I am learning alot, and There where things that need fixed inside the carb obviously.

Soooo I am new to this.. But is the knob in the center of the carbs for ajusting idle? Heh, sorry I am new to carbs. I mean I have some experince with small eninges... but there all singal cylendar lawn mowors heh. When you throw 4 into on.. I get scared an confused. I can pick out some stuff tho from taking othere carbs apart. Idk, I just need help lol. I am getting worried that when I throw them back on the bike wont run!

 

Yes that big knob in the center of the carb rack is the idle screw. It opens and closes the butterfly valves in the carb body. I'm with ktcubed though a thorough cleaning is in order. Go to the FAQ section and read gamuru's how to clean your enrichment ciruit well. Also read Rick's Carb cleaning the whole nine yards. Both were extremely helpful for me when I rebuilt my carbs. Don't be scared of the work as it's not very hard. you just need to be very detailed and thorough. And don't hesitate to ask questions. There are alot of people in this forum who can help (and who know tons more than me), and we all want you to succeed.

 

This forum is full of information. I have been reading the carb how to for the past week. I have a 9 page print out that I take around with me an read then reread. I just took the rest of it apart. This thing is very clean on the inside. Witch suprised me since the out sides are so ugly. I am just waiting for my gaskets to get here to rebuild it. I got the plugs out, and I am just wondering, I screwed all of them down they were anywhere from 3-3.1/4 Of a turn to bottum them down. So would 3.0 be a good starting point when I am adjusting them back? From what I have been reading I must be lucky because all of my plugs were in except the one. I used my drimle then threw a screw into it, tapped it out. Then all of the screws simply ran down an out with the flick of my wrist. They were SSSoo easy to move. I don't know why but that excited me. I was afraid they would be a hassle. Now putting it all back to together will work out.



Oh an Rick Masseys write up is Awesome.

 

The usual starting point when you back out your mixture screws is 2.5 turns. Mind you this is just a starting point and will probably need to be adjusted later in the tuning process.

 

Yep, I am just a little worried about tuning. I have always had a hard time tuning them. guess I start the bike, screw in the #1 carb screw till I hear it having a hard time running then back it up enuff for it to settle. Then start on the next one.

Oh an thanks for helping, I really appreciate the help.