runs like crap

[jrains89]

So i have a 2004 that sat a while. gas went bad, yatta yatta. I've taken the carbs completely apart twice now and still can't get it running right. it's running really lean I THINK. The plugs are black on the last three threads, and then the arm on top of the spark plug is white, i believe this means it's running very lean. I got it to idle, but it seems to get hot very fast. It's 30 degrees out here, bike has been out in the cold, and the exterior of the engine was burning hot within 2 minutes of me starting it. That's probably normal but still. If you grab teh throttle and try to keep it at 2k, it will misfire about every 5 seconds. Also if you rev it up, it takes a couple seconds for it to come back down to correct idle speed, my room mates motorcycle drops back to idle immediately. new spark plugs. i haven't tried the plug wires, but i think it's because it's running so lean. Any tips, other than, clean the entire fuel system again. or any places that are known to get clogged? sorry for the rant.

[bobthebiker]

it may have to do with the fact that, 1. the stock GS jetting is lean, and 2.  you're trying to run it in much colder temps than it is able to withstand.

as middle school science taught us,colder air is denser, which makes the bike run leaner.

[Paulcet]

you're trying to run it in much colder temps than it is able to withstand.

I run mine to work nearly every day.  Been two or three days in the 20's already.  The motor is fine.

[jrains89]

it may have to do with the fact that, 1. the stock GS jetting is lean, and 2.  you're trying to run it in much colder temps than it is able to withstand.

as middle school science taught us,colder air is denser, which makes the bike run leaner.

I know it's made to run lean. It is NOT however, made to run like crap. and 2. 30 degrees is not too cold for the engine to run. also, it did this last week when it was 65 degrees as well.

[bobthebiker]

Do you still have the frame mounted petcock?  if so, is it in good working order?  that may cause the problems you're seeing.

[jrains89]

took it apart and cleaned it out last week.

[Roadstergal]

If you grab teh throttle and try to keep it at 2k, it will misfire about every 5 seconds.

Warmed up, with the choke off?

Have you tried pulling each spark plug wire individually?  It's a quick test to see if it's running on both cylinders.

It has to be something that changed since the last time it ran properly.  If the jetting hasn't changed, I wouldn't suspect that.

[The Buddha]

It is NOT however, made to run like crap.

Really ...
You sure about that ... 
I dunno ... you're prolly missing something ... fuel flow may be OK, frame petcock doesn;t cause starvation till you get it WFO ... you may have a bad float level or a bad some or other. O rings, clogged jets ... 100 things ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[da602krew]

100 things.... more like 1000 lol ! your just gonna have to make a list and check them all. does the right carb still have that lttle black cap on it, they sometimes get lost?

[jrains89]

what is this, little black cap? and where is said little black cap located. and yes this happens with the choke off and very hot.

[The Buddha]

100 things.... more like 1000 lol ! your just gonna have to make a list and check them all. does the right carb still have that lttle black cap on it, they sometimes get lost?

Clown ... 04 dont have that ... its got a million other things ... a whole birds nest in there ... no black cap though.

jrains - sorry, not getting off that easy today.

Cool.
Buddha.

[mach1]

04s have a small black VAC cap on the back of da carb(not sure which side tho)BUT it cant go anywhere unless you take the clamp off.