So Flick is still not idleing right :(

[Toogoofy317]

I've checked carbs, TPS, Plugs, Vacuum, everything I swear and he is still weird. Whenever I pull up to a red light he just dies. If I start him back up and play with the throttle a bit he will finally idle at 1200 RPM. I tried the white mixture screw and it just never seems to affect the bike. I'm killing my back brakes because I'm having to stay slightly on the throttle to keep him from dying.

HELP!

Mary

[LimaXray]

Have you cleaned the carbs recently?  It could be your pilots are fouled.  Does giving it a little choke help?

The white screw isn't the mixture screw, it's the idle adjustment.  If your pilot circuit is fouled, this is only going to 'help' if you set your idle to like 4k which isn't really what you want.

[jacob_ns]

It's not really doing anything to your brakes to be using them to keep the bike still. The wear on brakes is from the friction. Once you've stopped and you got pressure on the rotor, you're fine.

[Toogoofy317]

Yes, the carbs have been cleaned three times. Sorry, I used the wrong term for the white screw its as if I never even used it. I know the back bakes don't do anything while I'm sitting. But, I cannot use my front brake when stopping because I'm having to keep slightly on the throttle when slowing down or the bike will die. Therefore I can't turn the throttle and pull in the front brake hence why I'm killing my back brakes. No today I got no response out of the choke.

[ben2go]

It could be a vacuum leak.That would be where I would start considering that the carbs have been cleaned that much.

[LimaXray]

Why have they been cleaned so much?  I have yet to have to clean the carbs on my '05.  Maybe I'm just lucky; my woman's '07 EX500 needs an annual carb cleaning to idle at all (&@$&%@!!!)

But, yeah, Ben is probably right, you probably have a small air leak somewhere between the carbs and the engine.  In a very well ventilated area (ie outside) take an on-but-unlit propane blow torch and pass it around the front of the carbs and intake boots while the engine is running.  If the engine revs up or down around a given spot, you've found an air leak.

[Toogoofy317]

Already checked Vaccum had that in my first post. No leaks.

Mary

[Big Rich]

Valves within spec? Could be an exhaust leak too, but that's not very likely.

[twinrat]

have you got a hole in any of your carburetor diaphrams? My bike is an 09 model and has 2 diaphrams per carb.

[joshr08]

how did you check for vac. leak?

[g.brooker]

I have a similar problem in that she dies when taking off from a complete stop. She idles just fine though? It seems as though the carbs are starving for gas. Do you know how to adjust the fuel going into the carb?

Thanks

[ben2go]

I have a similar problem in that she dies when taking off from a complete stop. She idles just fine though? It seems as though the carbs are starving for gas. Do you know how to adjust the fuel going into the carb?

Thanks

Sounds like you have a faulty vacuum petcock.Try running on PRI(prime).If it get's better then replace the petcock with a cheaper upgrade. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56352.0

[ben2go]

Already checked Vaccum had that in my first post. No leaks.

Mary

If you have the stock petcock,and the diaphragm inside gets a hole or tear,it will suck excess fuel into the engine through the vacuum line.Have you checked for this?

[werase643]

don't you have a roommate that goes to MMI?
take it to skool.....

[bill14224]

Already checked Vaccum had that in my first post. No leaks.

Mary

If you have the stock petcock,and the diaphragm inside gets a hole or tear,it will suck excess fuel into the engine through the vacuum line.Have you checked for this?

Mary's bike is only about 5 yrs old.  She doesn't have perforated diaphragms, cracked air or fuel hoses, etc.  It's too new for that.

[sledge]

I could suggest at least 20 reasons why the bike wont idle, from fuel starvation to a loose ignition rotor via low compression but given the nature of the fault and without actually inspecting the bike each one is a stab in the dark............which is why I am not even going to speculate.

You have tried the obvious but are still getting nowhere, its time now to look for professional help.

[ben2go]

Already checked Vaccum had that in my first post. No leaks.

Mary

If you have the stock petcock,and the diaphragm inside gets a hole or tear,it will suck excess fuel into the engine through the vacuum line.Have you checked for this?

Mary's bike is only about 5 yrs old.  She doesn't have perforated diaphragms, cracked air or fuel hoses, etc.  It's too new for that.

You'd be surprised at what will happen to a bike in 5 years.Parts can come from the factor with a defect just waiting to show itself.

[Toogoofy317]

Well, Flick has been babied that I can tell you. I bought him in '07 with 5,000 miles on it he was ridden by a woman seems like he's a ladies man I guess. When I got him I bought the 3 year warranty and maintainance plan. So, the last time the shop saw him was about six months ago a smidge over 2,000 miles since. I trust the guys at the dealership they've been nothing but awesome to me. I have the papers saying that everything has been checked to standards in the owner's manual. I did put new fuel hoses on him about a month ago because I managed to mangle the top of one when taking it off one day. Flick is never left out in the elements he is either in the garage or covered. Only time he is out is at work and haven't had rain in ages while I've been at work. The petcock is working fine. The carbs are synched with a real carb synching guage. I did notice though that another person that I ride with who has an 06' F is getting some of the same issues. He too is dying when making a quick stop at a red light. Also, when first getting started I'm getting a slight back fire. I'm not even sure back fire is the word I'm looking for because it is more like a putt-putt than a boom.

I've inspected the carbs and diaphraghms and everything is beautiful nothing looks worn or torn. I tested the TPS it too is within specs. Looked at the spark plugs they are good too bike is getting a spark. This will mainly be a question for Buddha because he sent me the rejet kit over a year ago and Flick ran fine after redoing the jet but I want to make sure. With the set up you gave me the fuel mixture screws is it two turns out or three. I had it at three but turned it to two today. I will test Flick tomorrow and see how he is.
I do not have the money to take is to a Pro. I'm barely surviving as it is and I can't afford to take it anywhere. My jerk of a roommate wante dto charge me to look at it. I told him that friend's look at friend's stuff for free. If he would have done that I probably would have given him money for it if he had helped but won't even think about it now esp since he failed his last class. My BF has been working on his bikes for over 20 years now and he's quite knowledgable but we are both getting frustrated.

Mary

[werase643]

what fuel are you using?
87 e10 or e15

have you tried 93 lately?

the new blendfuel is about 80k btu compared to gas @ 115k    approx on both....this explains the 20% decrease in fuel econ for many vehicles

[Toogoofy317]

Typically 87 but about every 5 tanks will run 93 through it. RaceTrac gas is terrible. I typically use either Hess or Mobil gas. MPG has also decreased some. I only got 139 before hitting reserve I usually get 150.