New problem

[mandosi]

My R65 has been starting fine every morning untill just the last few days. It acts like it's flooded...no choke at all and just the slightest throttle will get it firing but it but it's sluggish and takes about a minute to open up and rev ok...runs fine once it warms up. It sounds stupid but I washed it and put new foam hand grips on that's it...seems like I'm missing something simple...any idea's?  
Steve

[Bob_Roller]

Are you shutting the fuel petcock off after you park it for the night? Are you parking it on the side stand overnight?

[Jon_P]

when you say it acts like it is flooded does it smell of gas? do you have a inline fuel filter? have you run the fuel way down when you normally dont do so?

my guess is that you might have something in one of both the idle jets. i think changing the grips and giving it a bath are not a problem but one of those wierd cosmic happens.  and now my add for sea foam! the best fuel cleaning additive since the creation of fuel itself! or do like i'm doing and tear them down and give them a fresh rebuild.

[mandosi]

I think it's in the weird cosmic catagory...center stand at night, inline fuel filter,haven't run the gas down, although yesterday was the first time I got to reserve before filling up...idle jet's sound like a good place to start...when you look for cause and effect it gets confusing, especially when your brand new to bikeing...thank for the tips!

[thrang]

Just a suggestion, have you dropped the carb bowls and checked for any contamination in the bottom?

[Semper Gumby]

I would also look at the timing just to be sure.  Also take off the tubes between the aircleaner and the carb, stick a finger down the throat of the carb and move the slide to make sure it is not stuck.  It usually moves easily in one direction and then slowley in the other - I can't remember which.  A stuck or sticking slide could be part of the problem.

I had this happen and also I had the diaphram come out of its groove on the top of the carb.  This also prevented the slide from moving up and down properly.

Good luck.

[Justin B.]

It would be nice to know what year bike.  If it is the later models then several have reported that a coil on it's way out seems to cause hard starting, and once cracked can have problems if it gets wet...

[mandosi]

Thanks for the help...it's an 1981 I have dropped the bowls and did find a bit of debris in there...small bit's of cleaned them good and still tough to start when cold. I checked the air filter just to see if a homeless mouse decided to move in but it was fine. I'll look into the carb's more and check the condition of the coil...could be the last time I ever wash this bike!!

[Lowen]

If you found crud in the carbs you might want to pull the petcock out and see if the screen is getting clogged. I had a problem with the stock tank lining turning into a lot of large brown flakes.

[Jon_P]

yep what lowen said, and being you found stuff in you carbs i would say pull them, break them down at least the idle jets, when you that far in might as well give everything a freshing up. i really would guess that one idle jet is corroded with some crud.

[thrang]

No ones mentined it, but have you checked the leads and plug?

I had a similar problem (that drove me half daft trying to chase down) on the Bimbo that turned out to be cracked wire just as it runs into the moulded plug cap.  

[mandosi]

There are some cracks in the wire at the plug but they've been there since I bought the bike. The bowls did have crud and I was thinking I'd pull the screen to see what condition it's in...as for the carbs...I'm new at this but maybe I'll give it a go and see how I do...thanks again.

[Jon_P]

if you give rebuilding the carbs a try i wish you better luck than i am having, and i have always been real good with carbs. i would bet you wont have any problems. mine was a salvage bike so who knows when it ran really well last.

[Justin B.]

The only thing I can think of that might be affected by a wash would be plugs/wires/coils/connections.  Or, it could be a coincidence...