My bike has been sitting for 2-3 years. When I parked it, I didn't drain the carbs. Today I drained the tank and carbs, filled it with fresh gas and it started right up. It won't idle when warmed up. I can only get it to idle by cranking up the idle screw.  I also get an occasional backfire at the pipe when I raise the RPM to 3000-4000. Any ideas? Thanks, R

clean your carbs. 2-3 years = a good amount of varnish.

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on June 21, 2007, 08:26:47 AM
clean your carbs. 2-3 years = a good amount of varnish.

+1  Try some seafoam as well, but a good blast of carb cleaner will help alot.

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on June 21, 2007, 08:26:47 AM
clean your carbs. 2-3 years = a good amount of varnish.

Thanks. Do I need to pull the carbs off the bike or can I squirt carb cleaner into the intakes? R

After that long, I'd pull em off and do a thorough cleaning. Carb cleaner won't penetrate the small holes in the jets on its own, use a wire from a wire brush. You could try just running seafoam through, but I'm the thorough type, and it only takes 45 mins or so.. just don't strip the bowl screws.

LARGE syringe. fill with seafoam.  disconnect fuel hose from petcock. place syringe end in hose. secure. turn engine over while force feeding seafoam to the carbs.

Thats the lazy way. in this case I don't think it'll cut it but doesn't hurt to try