Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't that a symptom of being rich?

What is your elevation and jets?

 

I'm not exactly sure... The guy I bought it from said it has a jet kit in it, but I really don't know much about this stuff. (which you'll discover with this next question... ) I need to remove the gas tank to get to the carbs and answer your question correct? I've been riding for 3 years, but have zero years working on motors... thanks for the help!

 

I'm not exactly sure... The guy I bought it from said it has a jet kit in it, but I really don't know much about this stuff. (which you'll discover with this next question... ) I need to remove the gas tank to get to the carbs and answer your question correct? I've been riding for 3 years, but have zero years working on motors... thanks for the help!

Yes, you have to remove the carbs and the float bowls to access the main jets in most cases.

He meant elevation, i.e., how high is it where you live, and has that changed since the bike was jetted?

 

I would concur that it's a rich issue as the choke is not needed.

Common things to address rich (assuming jet kit):

Clean/replace your air filter - Restricted air flow causes the engine to draw more fuel.
Stuck float.
Lean the idle circuit
Lower the needles further into the emulsion tubes
Smaller main jets
Lower float height.

 

oh... actual elevation.. I thought that was a carb term or something. I'm in Mount Pleasant Michigan... it's like 770 ft here. But, no, I don't think that's changed since it's been jetted. In you guys opinion, should a wrenching noob give this a shot, or should I take it in?

 

if you have an airbox, remove the cover that holds the filter inand retain the filter with some tape to see how it runs with a little less restriction.

 

Just to be clear, you're talking about doing this:

then, taping the air filter to is doesn't move at all?

 

I think his plan is to see if the airbox is restricting the flow, so yeah. Personally, I'd just remove the filter and run it briefly to see if it improves. If it does, that's further confirmation that the issue stems from a rich condition.

If you have an aftermarket K&N filter in there, you may need to clean and re-oil it.

 

Is removing the gas tank a pain? Do I need to get new gaskets or anything to put it back on? Does it have to be empty?

 

not sure on yours, bot it should be a few bolts for the tail, a couple for the seat and a couple more for the tank. you can move the tank to the side to expose the airbox. you wont need to remove the fuel lines for this. you may have a paper filter when you should have a k&n or just a dirty filter.

 

cool, I'll pull it out and see how it runs. I'll post back with what I find out. Thanks a lot!

 

Also, I forgot... Yesterday when I got home (after one of the longer trips, so it wasn't running well) there was a little smoke coming out around the left side Carb. It wasn't too much, but there was def. smoke coming out.... would this be related do you think???

 

Was it from the carb or maybe the valve cover hose that feeds back into the airbox?

I'd say noob or not you'd be better of doing it yourself. One you will learn and two it will save you $80 an hour.

 

not exactly sure what it's called, but here it is... only it was on the other side.. and for some reason there's a hole (not a crack...a perfect hole... very small.. this must have been drilled or something) where the X is... and some smoke was coming out of that hole...

 

sounds like your overheating the bike. does your water temp gauge work? does your fan work?

 

my gauge goes up... to the middle... but that's about it.. not sure if it works or not.. what's a sure fire way of finding out if it's over heating?

 

does your fan ever come on while riding, or just at stops?

 

Is the gage marked with temperature readings? If so, it shouldn't go over 220°F as a maximum (stopped at a light, and the fans come on), and on a mild day running 45mph or more, it should indicate 180°F consistently.

 

The gauge isn't marked with temps... it just sits about half way... still way in the blue zone.. it doesn't appear to be hot sitting on the bike or anything.. Not sure about the fan.. should it kick on when it's just idling?

I took the air filter out.. not sure if it looks bad or good, but I don't think it's too bad. It is a K&N see below... also what's the best way to clean it?

There was fluid... looks like rusty water.. in the air box.. is that ok?

Here's the hole in that black thing I was talking about... there's really not a lot of smoke that comes out.. but I do see some..

Also, there's this thing on the bottom of my gas tank.. that isn't wired to anything.. it was just sitting underneath dangling.. what is it?

Thanks for any help!

 

don't think it's supposed to smoke this much... I just had it at idle for a while in my driveway, and the fan never kicked on... Would over heating, cause the same symptoms at running lean?

Check this out.. I thought the smoke would come out of that hole again this time.. but it came out of the airbox.. any thoughts????

http://www.kalcotter.com/smoke.html

 

You want to plug that hole up and get the fluid out of the airbox. Could be steam maybe you've got more of that fluid can you tell what the fluid is... is it water or is it oil?

 

maybe a cracked head... once engine heats up enough and fluid flows through engine it might be getting in the cumbustion chamber? I'd check your spark plugs and see what the tips look like?

 

my advice now... stop mucking about and take it to a qualified mechanic. you said that you were a noob, and it looks a lot like you have more than just one problem. sure it may take $75 an hour, but you are getting well past newbie quick fixes and it appears as though it will cost you a lot more in the long run, and then you will look like an asshat when you finally do take it to the mechanic, and then you may have actually caused more problems and thus will pay more.

 

yeah, don't like the sounds of a cracked head.... think that's a real possibility?

 

have you stored your bike outside in the rain?

 

I haven't... but I've only had it a few weeks... so who knows.. I know it was out to the road for sale for a little while.. could have got rained on then.

 

i would correct the small things. tape that hole closed on the airbox, remove water. then drain about a quart of oil into a pan to see if you are mixing oil and coolant, you can alos do it to the coolant side to check for oil. if they both come back clean, i would say its a rich issue. does the exhaust reek of gas when its warm?