Carb cleaning - did I miss something?

[NMCE]

Hey all,
I used some of the good info here to disassemble and clean the carbs on my 2001.  I was getting the typical hesitation and stalling when I touched the throttle.  After the cleaning, it responds properly to the throttle, idles at 1200rpm, and I no longer have to leave the choke on,  So I figured, mission accomplished.

I just took the bike for a test drive though, and it seems really low on power.  Low enough that I stalled a few times starting off lights.  (Although that may be more an indicator of my beginner level skills.)  Going up some easy hills, however, the engine really seemed to be struggling.  It seemed I had to keep the revs up to keep the bike from bogging down, something it wasn't doing even when the carbs needed cleaning.

When I cleaned the carbs, I simply put everything back exactly as it was before.  I suspect this could be many, many things, but is there any obvious step I missed in the carb cleaning, like setting the float bowl level or something like that? 

Or maybe I need to take it apart and redo the reassembly (shudder)...

Thanks again for the helpful info!

[pandymai]

float bowl height will give a change in how well the carbs are working so that would be nice to at least check. also, check the routing of your fuel lines.

as a bit of a DUH moment.. make sure you have gas.

i would also make sure the bike is warmed up and adust the idle again. the bike should be completely warmed up and allowed to idle at 1200ish (a 10-15 minute ride should ensure the bike is at operating temperature)

[NMCE]

I had one of those duh! moments when I was trying to start the bike after putting it all back together.  I had cleaned out the tank as well, and only filled it enough that the fuel switch needed to be on reserve.  Ten minutes of scratching my head wondering how I could have made the bike worse, but at least I didn't start taking it apart again.

I did have a fuel line problem.  I had to damage the line to get it off the tanks, so had to cut it 3/4" back on reassembly.  I checked for a kink, and it looked OK.  I was thinking since the bike gets up the revs OK, it would not be gas starved.  The engine revs can get up there, but it just seems to have a really noticeable lack of power.

I guess I'll be researching setting the float level...

[Paulcet]

To check float level before disassembling, use the U-tube method.

[marc]

What's the position of your mixture screws? (under the carb)

They should be all way screwed in, and then 2 complete turns out (2 to 2.5 turns out is OK to adjust mixture)

[NMCE]

I counted the number of turns when I cleaned it and reset it to the same - I think it was more like 3 or 3 and a half.

I will try resetting it, counting off again so I can end up back at the same place if I need to.

I thought the exhaust seemed a little smoky when before I took it out this time, so I thought maybe it was running a little rich.

Thanks for the tip.  I will be trying tonight -hopefully...

[marc]

nope, turning clockwise you will make the mixture richer.
Turning counerclockwise you will make the mixture lean.