timing

[RossLH]

Fair enough. But yeah, check for vacuum leaks.

After reading through the thread, I realize my bike has very similar symptoms to yours (doesn't like to idle below 2000 RPM, clicks and revs drop cyclically). I know for a fact the carbs need to be synchronized, and I'm hoping that is the only problem. Have you tried synchronizing the carbs?

For a band-aid, I've simply got it set to idle at 2000 RPM. I have to adjust the idle adjustment if I come to a stop after cruising for a while, but it rides just fine.

[mchollan]

No I have not synced the carbs.  I know it has to be done because I just adjusted the valves.  I'll have to build one, I'm pretty sure I have the tubing in the garage.

I looked for vacuum leaks and found squat.  I can't seem to figure out why the bike is running so lean.

I can't even use the band-aid suggested (turning up the idle) becuase my bike will die if I don't have the choke on.  I'm feeling a bit stumped but I refuse to give up.  I'll attempt to build the carb sync and get back with you guys tomorrow.

[RossLH]

What I did with the idle is let the engine warm up on full choke, adjust the choke until it rested at 2000 RPM, then slowly closed the choke while adjusting the idle screw to keep it idling at the same speed, until the choke was fully closed.

Are the intake, exhaust, and jets stock? Sorry if you've already answered that question, I've only skimmed through the thread.

[mchollan]

All stock but I've been reading more and more threads and other forums and I may have another idea.  While I was working on the shims (i also replaced a valve and a few other things) I took the exhaust off (unbolted the headers).  If I didn't seat it properly, which is entirely possible because its not an easy task to accomplish by yourself, the engine would run lean.

I'm going to check that tomorrow and grab a set of gaskets from a local shop.  Hopefully they have them.  I'll let you know how that turns out.

Any chance your lean issue occurred after unbolting the exhaust headers?

[RossLH]

Well I've got a full V&H exhaust, so my carbs have been rejetted. I'm not currently dealing with a lean condition, the carbs are just in bad need of a sync.

[mchollan]

I wouldn't expect carbs being out of sync to cause as terrible conditions as I am experiencing but then again your bike is ridable....
Either way I'll post back when I know more.

[sikiriki]

I find this problem of yours extremely interesting. I have timing set like yours. Retarded ever so slightly as far as I can tell from the pictures. I've put a k&n lunchbox with 20/65/142.5 jets. Ex valves are set to around 0.08mm and intake to around 0.04mm

It pops trough intake every now and then. It runs a little bit lean and Idle is impossible to set.

It idles barely at 1000rpm. With choke on 1500rpm. When hot it rises to 1100 and when I apply choke it dies or rises to 6000 depending how I set the choke lever and give it a little throttle.

Idle mix is at 3.5 but when I try to set ti properly it needs around 5 turns out indicating too small pilot jet.

Popping then almost goes away.

I am satisfied with performance , until 3k rpm it is not smooth. And after some 10 miles when it heats prpoperly it idles rock steady at 1400 rpm. But if i leave it for 10 min it needs choke and some drive to idle fine again.

I plan to advance it one tooth. Just because of popping. It is very silent and rare but it pops trough carbs.

Beergarage tutorial on timing has it advanced slightly. It is only one tooth, around a degree or two. I have no other way to explain it but timing. After going trough everything I just don't care no more and just drive it. But it is not good.

So mine is going to service and advancing it in a week or two. And some iridium plugs just in case the coils are weak.

Maybe yours does not pop trough carbs, i have mine intake valves set relatively tight....yours may be more loose and while not blowing back it cant work good. Maybe I am completely wrong with my diagnosis...

Hope someone can shed some light' but 2 on exhaust cam is going past 12 o'clock not before as mine is now, and as far as I can tell yours too.

Sorry for the long post.

Best of luck fixing.

[RossLH]

I wouldn't expect carbs being out of sync to cause as terrible conditions as I am experiencing but then again your bike is ridable....
Either way I'll post back when I know more.

Hey man, just an update....I synced my carbs today and it fixed the clicking/dropping idle issue. Idles like a champ now. I'd highly recommend synchronizing your carbs, it may do wonders for your bike.

[mchollan]

Good deal man!

I got my exhaust gaskets today but I don't think I'll put them on until tomorrow.  Just out of curiosity, did you build the carb sync setup like other members here, or did you go out an buy one?

Any tips? That's my next set.

Oh and thanks for coming back and letting me know.  I hate when these threads go idle!

[yamahonkawazuki]

I wouldn't expect carbs being out of sync to cause as terrible conditions as I am experiencing but then again your bike is ridable....
Either way I'll post back when I know more.

Hey man, just an update....I synced my carbs today and it fixed the clicking/dropping idle issue. Idles like a champ now. I'd highly recommend synchronizing your carbs, it may do wonders for your bike.

indeed it does. setting carbs by eye will get your bike to run  . a good synching, will get it to run NICELY

[mchollan]

I replaced my exhaust gaskets with no change.  I built the carb sync setup and attempted to sync the carbs, but it is difficult because getting the bike to maintain idle is difficult.  Using the choke I was able to get the carbs close to being in sync with each other. 

That still hasn't solved my issue.  Idle is still impossible without the choke engaged. And with the choke engaged it idles really high (3000 rpm).  After opening the throttle the rpms are slow to come back down to 3000.  All of these point to a lean condition but I am unable to find a vacuum leak.

I just want to ride, especially with the weather I have been having (mid 70's in Florida this week)!

[Funderb]

jesus, mick, I don't know what to tell you. The only other possible explanation I can think of is that your ignitor box is going bad.

but before we do that stuff, what exactly is your setup again? Any intake or exhaust mods? Is your gas old and bad? hows your compression these days?

Maybe this, do a resistance check on your signal generator coil, the little guy where the rotor is. if you have a manual it should have the specs for it. I'm not sure if its the same as mine, but mine says between 250-420 ohms. if its out of spec, it could be failing, and sending erratic signals to your ignitor box.

[mustangGT90210]

I replaced my exhaust gaskets with no change.  I built the carb sync setup and attempted to sync the carbs, but it is difficult because getting the bike to maintain idle is difficult.  Using the choke I was able to get the carbs close to being in sync with each other. 

That still hasn't solved my issue.  Idle is still impossible without the choke engaged. And with the choke engaged it idles really high (3000 rpm).  After opening the throttle the rpms are slow to come back down to 3000.  All of these point to a lean condition but I am unable to find a vacuum leak.

I just want to ride, especially with the weather I have been having (mid 70's in Florida this week)!

Where in Florida are you located? I'm feeling a little better now seeing I'm not the only guy in this state missing out on some PRIME!! riding weather south of tampa

This thread has given me a couple ideas on getting my bike into running perfectly. I get some popping in the exhaust, and know the PO(s?) didn't maintain this thing for shaZam!. Between the exhaust gaskets, and carb synch, I've got ideas now I didn't know about before 

[mchollan]

I'm in riverview which is just south of Tampa.

[RossLH]

How many turns out are the idle mix screws?

[mchollan]

I started them at two and a half but now I am at 5.  I don't seem to notice a difference as I back them out with the bike running.

[RossLH]

Five turns is too much. That's definitely contributing to the problem. Tighten them down to 2.5 turns and go from there. Have they been that way since before the carb sync?

[mchollan]

I turned them back to 2.5 turns out.  Again high idle with the choke on.  Stall if I turn the choke off.  If I leave the bike running with the choke on and adjust the screws I notice no change.  Do those adjustment screws only affect the air/fuel ratio on the idle jet?  Could it possibly be that I didn't clean the idle jets properly.....twice?

Thanks again.

[Funderb]

set them to 2.5-3 turns, mix screws will have no effect while the choke is on.

and if you cant see light through your idle jets, fuel will not flow. try getting some copper braided wire that fits in either end of the jet, but not through, and twist it back and forth and see if crap comes out. it helps a lot if you cut off a single strand and can poke it through the idle jet hole. that is the best way to clean tarnished and varnished jets.

ive seen crap continue to come out of jets even after the 4th cleaning on my fzr. it also sat for ... 6mo-1yr

[mchollan]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I took the carbs apart....again...for the 5th or 6th time.  I really lost count.  I took the jets out and soaked them for a day in carb cleaner.  Sprayed the whole thing out again.  Took the jets and ran thin wire my gf uses to make jewelry through them (she was pretty pissed I used her good wire for cleaning).  I reset the air/fuel screws to 3 turns.  I put it all back together and it worked.  Idle with the choke all the way engaged at about 3k RPM.  after about 2 minutes of running I turned off the choke and it settled at about 1200 RPM.   

I just got back from about a 10 minute cruise around the neighborhood and everything seems great! 

Thanks again to everyone that helped me out.  You guys are awesome!