Lately my bike's been running very poor.  It requires FULL choke to start, and requires a degree of choke to stay running.  I can't get the RPM's to a decent level; they're either over 3 grand, or the bike stalls.  I adjust the choke to bring the idle down below 3 grand, and as soon as it drops below 3 grand it stalls, unless I constantly feather the throttle to keep it alive.  If I turn the choke off (even after 10 min of riding) it will die, and won't re-start without full choke, and even then it takes 20-30 seconds of 'cranking' before it starts.

If I get on the highway, as i typically do, when I get off (usually after about 15 miles of 80 MPH riding) then it runs OK, but idles HIGH (around 3 grand) unless I slowly let the clutch out to the friction point, and force the motor to slow down.. at which time it slows down and idles around 1500.  

I'm really concerned about the high idleing/stalling though ... it sounds like carbs to me, and I don't want to screw with them any more.

Any ideas?  I'm going to try some Gumout or STP Carb cleaner in my next tank and see if that makes a difference.

I am no mechanic, so I have no advice about the carbs.  But I have found Berryman's B-12 carb cleaner to be the best.  White metal can with red/blue label.

This stuff would require me to dis-assemble the carbs, no?  That's what I want to avoid if possible (I will cause more damage than I will fix, and I'll end up having to have the shop fix it anyway).

Sounds like a pilot problem. Try turning the idle screws out (if they arent drilled out yet then dont worry about it) a few turns. Otherwise, you may have some dirt clogging up the pilots. It doesnt take much.

I think I may have mentioned this to you on the Ortega ride... When I was riding behind you, I noticed some white smoke from your exhaust.  It seemed to happen just before turns - just a small puff of smoke - so I'm guessing it was happening on the downshift or when you'd blip throttle.  Dunno if that helps the troubleshooters any...

May be time for a little valve adjustment/carb cleaning, how many miles are we talking about?

White smoke is un burnt gas...or other liquid like water...You check for a intake vaccum leak, if that is not it then its lean...Also very very surprisingly...if your choke cable has no play it will do this...I had to deal with a bike that did this for waaaay toooooo long before I figured it was choke cable. I had adjusted the pilot screws till I was blue in the face, and gave up saying it was a motor that was leaking at the rings...Finally werase's constant arse kicking and his compression guage told me to get off my arse and fix it...traced it to a choke cable that already had no play, then one of those misguided night thrashings to get it apart or back together (I forget) kinked the outer, thereby holding the choke slightly open at all times...then I start adjusting the screws to fix it...till last week when I finally figured that if I drop the handle bars left the idle goes down...and up if I drop to the right. Whoo hooo...fixed that and now I just have to undo the rest of the other random changes... So check for that also. BTW I still have a bad motor...I am not changing that stance...preventing me from going over 40...If all that is OK...well time for putting in 40's and setting mix screw to 3 and figuring where it wants to run.
Cool.
Srinath.

Well today I noticed a little oil on the side of the engine (left side, by the shifter) and it looks like it may be oozing out of the head .. could it be a gasket-gone-bad?  Would that cause the bike to run like crap?  I very well may be selling it within a week to two weeks... if I sell it, I'll sell it as-is ... if I don't sell it I'll have the shop take a look, and also do a valve adjustment and carb sync/clean and check the gaskets...

By the shifter...its most likely chain lube. Oil from the valve cover implies a bad valve cover gasket and/or blow by. Replace gasket and check the venting from the top of the valve cover.
Cool.
Srinath.

No it looks like it's oozing out from the 'middle' of the motor (beneath the 'fins' and above the rest of the engine... it's definitely oil, so I'm thinking that's part of my problem .. but would a bad head gasket cause the behavior I've described?  

I'll probably end up having the shop look at the bike next week...

Left side below the fins...or is it in front or at the back...of the motor...Base gasket could be leaking but I have usually nevre seen thm spring leaks once the motor is assembled and been in use for a while fine but I guess its possible.
Cool.
Srinath.

Left side, by the fins, front-to-middle of motor.  I can take a digital pic if anyone wants.  I'm probably going to take it in to the shop, in a week or so, if I don't sell it first, because it's running like a POS, totally.  It won't stay running at a light without either choke or light throttle, and if it stalls, it's pretty hard to get running again (requires full choke almost).

I've tried carb cleaner in the fuel with no luck, but I'm thinking this gasket problem may be the cause??  Would a failing gasket cause a loss of compression, and bad performance??   :x  :x

Quote from: rprataLeft side, by the fins, front-to-middle of motor.  I can take a digital pic if anyone wants.  I'm probably going to take it in to the shop, in a week or so, if I don't sell it first, because it's running like a POS, totally.  It won't stay running at a light without either choke or light throttle, and if it stalls, it's pretty hard to get running again (requires full choke almost).

I have this leak and mine runs fine.  Actually, I have lots of leaks and mine runs good.  

What you are describing really sounds fuel/air related and the cylinder leak you are describing is not fuel/air.

I vote for the choke and/or vaccuum leak thing.  Before you take it to a shop try these two things, one is free and the other costs 4 bucks.

1.  Work the choke cable and while you are doing this, look under the right side of the tank at the front/top of the right side carb.  You will see where the choke cable moves the choke part of the carb lefttoright.  When you find this part, turn the choke on, then off.  Take note of if the choke on the carb actually goes all the way off or not.  Reach up there with your finger and pull it to the right (front brake lever side of the bike).  If it moves at all you have found a problem.  Mine sticks at times and now I know where I can reach up under the tank on the LEFT side of the bike and push to make the choke go off all the way.  I would guess a new choke cable would fix my problem but whatever....  That's my free suggestion.

2.  The 4 dollar suggestion...  Go buy a can of spray carb cleaner (get one that comes with that little red plastic straw that you always lose the next day).  Start the bike and keep it running any way you can.  Take your carb cleaner and spray (easy) around the carb area.  Where the carbs attach to the head, where the carbs attach to the air cleaner yadda yadda.  You're trying to find a vaccuum leak.  If the engine is sucking air from somewhere it shouldn't be, it will suck in the carb cleaner and the rpms will increase dramatically.  When you find the spot where you can spray and the rpm's increase, you have found your vaccuum leak.  I was just thinking...........  there is the vaccuum hose that goes from the left carb to the petcock....  would be worth 5 minutes to check this out.

Good luck!

Sounds like it's worth checking out.  Next time the gas tank is near empty I'll try those (hate to remove a full gas tank .. HEAVY!)  I had the choke cable replaced not too long ago (6 months, maybe) so that's new, but I'll check the action to make sure it's working correctly etc...  And I'll try the carb cleaner trick as well.. what's 4 bucks compared to what the dealer will charge to hunt it down.

Thx.

trust me, if you have to resort to removal/cleaning of carbs, (i had to do when i bought mine, wpouldnt go above 3k) get the carb/parts cleaner, remove rubber rings, needles jets etc., really simple. looks like it will be a Buddha Loves You, but is really simple, good luck  

Someone mentioned air flow .. I wonder if my K&N air filter could need maintenance?  I heard they need oiling or something like that .. anyone know about these K&N filters, and what needs to be done with them?  I'm going to check into that also.

Yep, K&Ns need cleaning but not very often. They don't really filter much! They sell special cleaner, and of course special oil to re-oil them. Most car supply places have the cleaning kits, as well as most motorcycle shops.

If you didn't do anything to the carbs before it started running bad, I'd try the simple things. Remove the air filter for a little ride, and see if that helps. Put in fresh plugs.

I'll remove the air filter and ride it around the block a few times, and I'll look at/change the plugs (they're pretty cheap IMHO).  I'll start there.  Thx.